WINZ Funding

You can get hair removal and voice training funded through work and income’s disability allowance. Just follow the steps below.

Get Quotes

Call voice training and/or hair removal places for quotes. Ask for each session’s cost as well as how many are needed and how frequently. This can be an email or an official quote.

Fill in the Form

Go to the WINZ Website and sign up for a MYMSD account and client number, this is a fairly simple process, add your preferred name and they’ll use it for pretty much everything.

Print off the Extra Help Form from the WINZ website here: https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/documents/forms/extra-help-application.pdf You can put your preferred name in the first section, then the legal name below it.

Health Practitioner Letter of Support

Fill out the form as best you can, the section of interest is the disability benefit section, get a health practitioner to complete their section of the form, also ask for a letter for support from them explaining what gender dysphoria is that hair and voice contributes to it, and why shaving is not an option. Should look like this:

Dear MSD, This letter is in support of _____ being supported in accessing essential medical treatment to address their gender dysphoria secondary to hirsutism and previous masculinising puberty resulting in unwanted voice changes, _____ experiences significant gender dysphoria in relation to both the presence of facial hair and the act of shaving. To address this I request that you support them by funding laser hair removal and/or electrolysis, _____ and experiences significant gender dysphoria in relation to their voice as a result of previously undergoing masculinising puberty. Funding for voice training therapy with a speech therapist would be greatly appreciated in addressing this. These issues impact _____ on a daily basis and negatively contribute to ongoing gender dysphoria and social anxiety, impacting them during work and study. Thanks,

Other Documents

Also download a copy of the letter of support from Gender Minorities NZ from here: https://genderminorities.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/WINZ-hair-removal-letter.pdf

Obtain a proof on bank account and a scan on your photo ID(Passport, Drivers licence, Kiwi access)

Submit the Form

Call WINZ or fo into a branch and state that you’d like to claim the disabilities allowance. If calling ask if you can upload your documents online.

Upload all of your quotes, supporting letters and a scanned copy of the Extra Help form as instructed by the person on the phone, they may ask you for additional information such as proof of income and other identification documents.

Alternatively you can visit a WINZ office to do this process in person, make sure you have all of your documents with you including letters of support and quotes and make an appointment.