Cooking and meals
If you’re disabled or have a health condition and need help with day-to-day tasks, you may be able to get help with your cooking, meals, food shopping or diet.
Who can get help with meals
There is government support available if you need help with meals because you:
- have ongoing or age-related health problems
- are disabled
- were injured or disabled in an accident
- are recovering after hospital treatment and need help for a short while.
You can also arrange your own help, but you’ll need to pay for it yourself.
Types of help you can get
Help with cooking and meals includes:
- getting meals delivered
- preparing meals, for example, a caregiver helps you prepare food or makes sure you have food for the day
- shopping for essentials or special food you need, for example, a caregiver may take you shopping or do the shopping for you
- seeing a specialist if you need a special diet.
How to ask for help
The help you can get from the government depends on your personal circumstances, for example whether you have family or whānau who could help, or if you’re over 65.
If you’re disabled or have health conditions
Arrange a needs assessment through your doctor or Needs Assessment Service Coordination (NASC) team if you:
- are over 65 and have health conditions
- have an ongoing health condition that will last for more than 6 months
- are disabled.
Help with special diet costs
If you’re on a low income, you can apply for a Disability Allowance to:
- help with the cost of visiting a dietician
- pay for the extra cost of any special food you need because of your disability or illness, for example if the special food you need costs more than the same regular food, you can claim for the difference in the cost.
After a stay in hospital
If you’re in hospital and need some help for a short time when you get home, the hospital can arrange help through the Needs Assessment Service Coordination (NASC) team or sometimes through the District Nursing Service.
If you find that you need help after you’re back home, talk to your family doctor or the doctor treating you.
After an accident or injury
If you need help because of an injury, the health professional treating you lodges a claim with the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC).
If your claim is accepted, your case owner at ACC can arrange the help you need. They will carry out an assessment to work out what you need.
Help at home after an injury — ACC
Help for veterans
If you have a service-related injury or illness, you may be able to get some short-term help with cooking and meals. The Social Rehabilitation programme may be able to help for up to 6 weeks.
Attendant Care — Social Rehabilitation
Contact Veterans’ Affairs to talk to a case manager about what you need. They’ll:
- help you get the support you’re entitled to from other government agencies
- recommend help from Veterans’ Affairs if no other service is available.
General support for veterans and families — Veterans’ Affairs
Contact us — Veterans’ Affairs
If you cannot afford to buy food
If you’re on a low income, including a benefit or a pension, you maybe able to get help paying for food. Check with Work and Income to see what help you can get.
If you cannot get government help
You can pay for services yourself, for example Meals on Wheels. If you have a needs assessment, ask the NASC team to suggest services in your area.
65 years or older
Your SuperGold Card offers discounts for all kinds of food businesses in your area. Some supermarkets have a SuperGold Card day where you can get a discount off your groceries. Check with your local supermarket if they have discounts for SuperGold cardholders.
Discover benefits with SuperGold — SuperGold
Age Concern has information about different nutrition programmes.
Nutrition — Age Concern New Zealand
Meals on Wheels
If you or someone you’re caring for would like to get Meals on Wheels, you’ll first need to speak to your doctor or other health professional. They’ll let you know if you’re eligible for the service and will make the necessary arrangements.
Use the search on Citizens Advice Bureau’s website and filter by your location to find information about the Meals on Wheels service in your area.
Find your local contacts for Meal on Wheels — Citizens Advice Bureau
Buying online
You may be able to order food online and get it delivered to your home from supermarkets and other food stores. There is usually a delivery cost for this service.
A lot of stores also offer click and collect. This is where you order the items online and the store picks them for you so they are ready when you get to the store.
Is food shopping online better for your budget? — Sorted
Food banks
There are charities that provide food and meals to people in their communities.