If you need some help to manage your money or property, you can do this informally (using supported decision making) or more formally (enduring power of attorney).
Supported decision-making
Supported decision-making describes how you make small and big decisions about your life, including your money.
This kind of decision making is empowering, it's a way of making choices where the person who the decision is about is in charge. Sometimes, a person can't easily tell what they want, or a doctor might say they can't make big decisions by themselves.
Learn more about supported decision-making in New Zealand at this article Supported Decision Making
Naming someone to act on your behalf
You can ask someone you trust to help you work with some government agencies.
For example, you might want the person to:
- help you make applications or do your banking
- get your letters and manage your paperwork
- make phone calls or write letters for you.
You can decide what the person can or can’t do.
Visit these government websites to find out how it works:
For ACC claims
Giving someone authority to act on your behalf (external link)
For tax matters (Inland Revenue)
Name someone to act on your behalf (external link)
For Work and Income benefits and payments
Having someone act on your behalf (external link)
For Kāinga Ora tenancies
Advocating on behalf of customers (external link)
Giving someone power to make decisions for you
You can give someone legal power to look after your personal affairs and property if you can’t. This is called enduring power of attorney (EPA).
Visit the Office for Seniors website to learn more about enduring power of attorney. (external link)
In some cases, a person might apply to the Family Court to appoint a welfare guardian or property manager to look after your money and property.
Information and advice from IHC
IHC has resources to help parents and other people who support a person with an intellectual disability.
The IHC Advocacy toolkit covers these topics, and others:
- Supported decision-making.
- Financial property matters for people with a disability.
- The Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988.
- Future planning for parents (wills, trusts, letters of intent).
You can find the toolkit on IHC’s website.
Visit IHC website to download the IHC Advocacy Toolkit. (external link)
Tip: The toolkit is at the end of the page under the heading ‘Documents you might be interested in’.
Last updated on Wednesday, 8 November 2023