Advocate
Getting East Coast locals who live with diabetes what they need to manage their diabetes can be a smooth process. We chat with Lana Reed, a social worker at Pinnacle who serves the Tairāwhiti region.
CGMS AND WINZ
B
y chance, Lana Reed was waiting in line at the Gisborne Work and Income office with a client’s forms for the Disability Allowance when a staff member approached her. She turned out to be the manager of the service centre who recognised her name and said, ‘let’s meet’. The meeting was fruitful, and, to streamline the previously confusing process, a case manager was specifically assigned to handle all disability allowance applications from people living with diabetes. Lana has been in her current job as a social worker for two and a half years, and Kim Cameron, the local clinical nurse specialist in diabetes, started not long after her. That’s when Kim asked how they could get the Freestyle Libre Continuous Glucose Meter funded for those receiving a benefit. Together, and with the cooperation of WINZ, the pair invested a lot of time into creating an easy process. ‘Our WINZ service centre here’s really good. They’ve understood what needs to be done, and they’re able to do it.’ IDENTIFYING THOSE IN NEED
Lana’s work covers much of the East Coast, from Matawai, down to Gisborne and completing its circuit at Hicks Bay. Pinnacle also has a rural clinic in Te Karaka, which is 30 minutes outside Gisborne.
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DIABETES WELLNESS | Autumn 2023
Kim will identify a patient from her case load who will qualify. She carries the WINZ forms with her and will go through them with each client. If the client is unable to fill out the forms themselves, then Lana will visit to help. ‘Some of our patients might’ve had a stroke and can’t write. I go through it all with them, explain it, and then I’m able to write the forms for them.’ Once they sign it, she can then deliver the paperwork to the WINZ service centre and follow up if need be.
‘We’ve worked really hard for this and to see the outcomes for our patients has been amazing. The fact that our small rural communities are all starting to know about it and are all wanting it and are seeing the benefits is amazing.’ ‘It means they’re not worrying about it. There’s somebody out there who knows what they’re doing. A lot of our patients feel a bit whakamā about going into WINZ or requesting support. They feel they won’t get it. So they have somebody who knows the system, who knows what to ask, and who makes sure that things are getting done properly.’
PAYMENTS
WINZ will pay up to a maximum of $70.04 a week for the Disability Allowance. This payment is not taxed. How much you get depends on the extra costs you have because of your disability. It can be used to pay for a Freestyle Libre subscription. Or it can be used to pay for a medical alarm, MedicAlert membership fees, medical fees, or counselling. It can even be used towards gardening and window cleaning if the client is unable to do these tasks themselves. According to the WINZ website, you do not have to be on a benefit to quality for a Disability Allowance. But WINZ will consider how much you and your partner earn, as well as your assets. You can also apply for the Child Disability Allowance if you are caring for a child with a chronic condition. CGM
The time it takes from lodging the forms with WINZ to having the Freestyle Libre arrive in your letterbox takes is, on average, about four to six weeks. Firstly, MediRay sets up an account for a patient, and that is where WINZ will redirect the Disability Allowance payment to. ‘What WINZ and MediRay do is a lump sum at the beginning, so they’re always in credit. And they’re coming before the patient needs it. So if the road closes for
