Children's spectacle subsidy service
On this page you'll find how to get help with glasses costs for kids under 16, who is eligible, how to claim, and finding an optometrist in New Zealand.
Disability Support Services funded vision services for children
Enable New Zealand Limited administers the children’s spectacle subsidy for Disability Support Services (DSS). The children’s spectacle subsidy is to help families with the cost of certain vision services for eligible children 15 years of age and under.
We do the following:
Process claims from approved assessors for the children’s spectacle subsidy.
Check the child is eligible and meets DSS access criteria.
Provide advice, education and support to approved assessors.
Manage the annual budget allocated for the children’s spectacle subsidy.
In 2020/2021, we approved 28,099 claims for the children’s spectacle subsidy.
Approved assessors may claim the children’s spectacle subsidy
Before we can approve funding, the child or young person must have an assessment with an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
The optometrist or ophthalmologist must be:
an approved assessor for the children’s spectacle subsidy.
registered on the Disability Support Services (DSS) Accreditation Framework.
How to register on the DSS Accreditation Framework
How to claim the children's spectacle subsidy
Disability Support Services criteria for children’s spectacle subsidy
Visit the DSS website to find out:
who can get the children’s spectacle subsidy
how much you can claim for
how the subsidy is paid.
Who can get the children’s spectacle subsidy
Or download our brochure for parents, whānau, or guardians.
Download our children's spectacle subsidy brochure
Finding an optometrist
For help finding an optometrist, visit their national website.
New Zealand Association of Optometrists
Enquiries about our children’s spectacle subsidy service
Please contact the Service Manager, Professional Services at our Head Office, Palmerston North.