People with intellectual disability are facing yet
another financial blow following changes to the Protection
of Personal and Property Rights Act that remove a government
subsidy for court-mandated financial
examinations.
From 3 October 2024, the Public Trust
began charging $247.27 per hour to review property
managers’ annual financial statements – a process that
ensures a person’s money is being properly managed.
Previously, those with less than $20,000 in assets were
protected from these costs by a government subsidy. That
protection has now been taken away.
“Removing the
subsidy is effectively charging people for being poor and
disabled. It’s not right,” said Tania Thomas, IHC
Director of Advocacy. “These are not people with savings
or assets – many live week to week.”
The new fee
applies to the person under protection in many cases, an
intellectually disabled person living on a benefit. Public
Trust has confirmed that fees cannot be
waived.
“These fees are being charged to people who
often have nothing to spare,” said Tania. “They are some
of the most financially vulnerable people in New Zealand –
yet they’re now being asked to pay for a safeguard that
exists to protect them. It’s deeply
unfair.”
People with intellectual disability already
experience some of the highest rates of hardship in the
country:
- They are twice as likely to live in
hardship before age 40, and three times as likely between 40
and 64, compared to others. - Nearly half would not be
able to pay an unavoidable bill within a month without
borrowing. - They are four times more likely to go
without a proper meal, and three times more likely to cut
back on fruit and vegetables because of cost. - Many
go cold in winter because they cannot afford heating, and
almost half can’t afford a holiday.
IHC is
urging the Government to reinstate the subsidy or introduce
a hardship exemption so that people with intellectual
disability are not left paying for a process that was
designed to keep them
safe.
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