Financial Assistance for HIV Positive People in New Zealand
Despite substantial improvements made over the last decade in the treatment of HIV, people in New Zealand living with the virus continue to face significant and diverse challenges in maintaining their health and wellbeing.
The Wellness Fund offers direct financial assistance to HIV positive people who live in New Zealand where alternative sources of assistance are unavailable.
Who can apply
Any person who has a confirmed positive diagnosis for HIV/AIDS and is on a low or limited income with a valid Community Services Card (issued by Work and Income New Zealand) may apply for assistance - in accordance with the criteria below.
The Fund is currently limited to a maximum of $500 per person per year and covers health related costs associated with with HIV/AIDS.
Due to current limits on the fund, the National Collective of Positive People have resolved to temporarily reduce the maximum amount of any grant to $300 per person.
Current criteria for Wellness Fund Applications
The current criteria for Wellness Fund Applications are as follow:
- Hepatitis Inoculation
- Body Positive Positive Health Healthcare Scheme
- Baby Formula
- Travel/Registration Costs to attend a HIV Meeting or Hui (within New Zealand)
An application outside this criteria can be considered under exceptional circumstances, but will be referred to the National Collective of People Living with HIV for approval.
IMPORTANT: The Wellness Fund WILL NOT cover any retrospective payments, i.e. it will not cover any payment or service where a payment has already been made. As such, grants will only be made payable to the organisation or company providing the service required and never to an individual.
How to apply for assistance
Applications can be made with the assistance and support of your local HIV Peer Support Organisation - Body Positive Inc, Positive Women Inc or INA, or through your regional New Zealand AIDS Foundation office in Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch.
Alternatively, applications can also be made directly by completing a Wellness Fund Application Form and forwarding it along with all relevant supporting material for the application to:
Body Positive Inc.
Att: Wellness Fund,
PO Box 68-766,
Newton,
Auckland 1145
If you do not have access to a printer to print the downloadable application form, please contact us so we can post one to you.
Where does the money in the Fund come from?
The Wellness Fund is maintained entirely through donations and bequests from the community. A significant proportion of this is from the World AIDS Day street collection which is managed by the New Zealand AIDS Foundation.
As the funding available at any one time will vary, depending on donations versus numbers of applications, you may find that approval of your application might be delayed until such time as funding is available to meet your request.
The current criteria for Wellness Fund Applications are as follow:
- Applicant must be a New Zealand Resident/Citizen currently living in New Zealand with HIV/AIDS
- Applicant must have a current and valid Community Services Card (issued by Work and Income New Zealand)
- Maximum income threshold is $15,000 for a single person, or a household threshold of $25,000 if in a partnership
- Application must be for a HIV Health Related Medical Expense or one of the following additional reasons:
- Hepatitis Inoculation
- Body Positive Positive Health Healthcare Scheme
- Baby Formula
- Travel/Registration Costs to attend a HIV Meeting or Hui (within New Zealand)
An application outside this criteria can be considered under exceptional circumstances, but will be referred to the National Collective of People Living with HIV for approval.
IMPORTANT: The Wellness Fund WILL NOT cover any retrospective payments, i.e. it will not cover any payment or service where a payment has already been made. As such, grants will only be made payable to the organisation or company providing the service required and never to an individual.
How to apply for assistance
Applications can be made with the assistance and support of your local HIV Peer Support Organisation - Body Positive Inc, Positive Women Inc or INA, or through your regional New Zealand AIDS Foundation office in Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch.
Alternatively, applications can also be made directly by completing a Wellness Fund Application Form and forwarding it along with all relevant supporting material for the application to:
Body Positive Inc.
Att: Wellness Fund,
PO Box 68-766,
Newton,
Auckland 1145
If you do not have access to a printer to print the downloadable application form, please contact us so we can post one to you.
Where does the money in the Fund come from?
The Wellness Fund is maintained entirely through donations and bequests from the community. A significant proportion of this is from the World AIDS Day street collection which is managed by the New Zealand AIDS Foundation.
As the funding available at any one time will vary, depending on donations versus numbers of applications, you may find that approval of your application might be delayed until such time as funding is available to meet your request.
