Hundreds of elderly people have appealed against losing their housework help.
The Otago and Southland district health boards have to keep helping the elderly until the outcome of their appeal.
By Thursday, the district health boards had 241 appeals - 130 in Otago and 111 in Southland. A total of 442 letters have been sent in Otago and 479 in Southland.
About three weeks ago, the boards started sending letters to about 1600 elderly who get an hour and a-half, or less, help a week, to tell them the service is stopping.
Members of a "high risk" group numbering about 400 are allowed to keep their help and will not receive letters.
The letters give elderly people a three-week notice period, with two weeks to appeal.
The appeal process takes another two to three weeks.
The boards are yet to start assessing those receiving more than an hour and a-half, which will be done face-to-face, or by telephone.
The boards hope to save about $4 million annually through the changes.
Age Concern chief executive Susan Davidson was not surprised so many appeals had been received.
Elderly receiving help had been assessed as needing it, so withdrawing it would cause distress.
Age Concern believed elderly people receiving large "help packages" could be targeted, as they could perhaps manage on a little less, rather than taking some people's help away completely, she said.
