The Ministry of Social Development's Disability Support Services (DSS) offers two types of funding for hearing aids: the Hearing Aid Subsidy Scheme and the Hearing Aid Funding Scheme. Depending on your circumstances and type of hearing loss, you may be able to get help from one of these schemes. 

Hearing Aid Subsidy Scheme

DSS Hearing Aid Subsidy Scheme provides $511.11 (including GST) per hearing aid to adults who:

• are over the age of 16

• have a permanent hearing loss and need a hearing aid

• are New Zealand residents who ordinarily live in New Zealand and are not covered under the Hearing Aid Funding Scheme.

The subsidy for each hearing aid is available no more than once every six years. 

The Hearing Aid Subsidy Scheme does not cover any additional costs, such as hearing assessments or hearing aid fitting services that audiology clinics may charge. 

Only audiologists and audiometrists who are full Members of the New Zealand Audiological Society (MNZAS) can be approved assessors and can access the DSS Hearing Aid Subsidy Scheme for their clients. 

More detailed information can be found on the Disability Support Services (DSS) website 

Hearing Aid Funding Scheme

Adult New Zealand residents over 16 years old with a permanent hearing loss who are living in New Zealand may be eligible for the DDS Hearing Aid Funding Scheme, which covers the cost of your hearing aids if you meet one of these criteria:

• Have had a significant hearing loss since childhood

• Have both a hearing loss and another impairment that limits your ability to communicate safely and effectively e.g. visual, intellectual or physical.

• Have had a sudden significant hearing loss within the last six months

• Have a community services card and are either working more than 30 hours per week, in full-time study, seeking employment, engaged in voluntary work, or are the main carer of a dependent person

If you are accessing the Hearing Aid Funding Scheme through your DHB, you won’t have anything to pay. If you are using a private audiology service, you will need to pay them a fitting fee for their time, because the Hearing Aid Funding scheme only covers the cost of the devices. You will not have to pay for repairs if your devices are funded under the scheme, but you will have to pay for batteries.

More information is available from the Disability Support Services (DSS) website or in the Guide to Getting Hearing Aids - Hearing Aid Funding Scheme

If your hearing loss is a result of an accident or long term occupational noise exposure, you may be eligible for some fundings towards hearing aids and assistive listening devices. Find out more HERE.

Veteran's affairs may fund for hearing aids if you have hearing loss or tinnitus because of a Qualifying Service, or you could get Weekly Income Compensation because hearing loss or tinnitus is stopping you from working. For more information HERE.

NZ Audiological Society Hearing Aid Fund

"If you are in extreme financial difficulty and cannot get assistance from government agencies or elsewhere, the NZAS may be able to help. If you feel you meet these criteria, contact your audiologist or audiometrist for information."