ACC cover

The ACC covers everyone who gets injured in an accident in New Zealand. This is regardless of your age and if you’re working or retired.

While ACC covers everyone, they do not accept all claims.

• What we cover — ACC
• What your levies pay for — ACC

ACC levies at age 65 or older

Regardless of age, everyone who works or owns a business in New Zealand must pay the ACC earner’s levy. This is automatically deducted from an employee’s pay.

You need to pay ACC levies on your earnings until you stop working. Receiving New Zealand Superannuation (NZ Super) or the Veteran’s Pension does not change this requirement.

The levy applies regardless of whether you’re:

• an employee
• an employee who pays their own levies
• self employed
• an employer
• a shareholder-employee
• earning income from overseas.

For more information, visit these links.

• Understanding levies if you work or own a business — ACC
• Calculating your levies — ACC
• Receiving income from overseas — ACC

If you have an accident and cannot work

If you’re injured because of an accident which stops you from doing your job, you may be eligible for financial support to replace some of your lost income while you recover. This is called weekly compensation.

Weekly compensation

You do not get this automatically. You need to apply for it.

There are eligibility requirements you must meet to get this financial support. For example:

• ACC must accept your injury claim
• you need to qualify under one of the eligible employment types
• you have a medical certificate showing you’re unable to do some or all your usual work duties
• your application includes all the information ACC has asked for.

ACC does not assess household income when processing an application for weekly compensation. Your entitlement is not affected by your partner’s income or employment status.

Applying for weekly compensation — ACC

How much you get

Weekly compensation is up to 80% of what you earned before your injury — before tax and deductions are removed.

ACC will calculate your payments based on your situation. You can get an idea of what your weekly compensation might be, at these links:

• Calculating weekly compensation for employees — ACC
• Calculating weekly compensation for self-employed — ACC.

When payments stop or reduce

Payments usually stop when 1 of the following happens:

• you return to working the hours and duties you were doing before your injury
• your health provider says you’re able to do the same work and hours as you were doing before
• you’re over 65 and have reached the 2-year limit for weekly compensation.

You can get ACC’s weekly compensation payments and NZ Super or the Veteran’s pension at the same time if you qualify, but there’s a 2-year time limit on this. At the end of 2-years, your weekly compensation stops.

If you get ACC payments and NZ Super

If you return to work but do alternative duties or reduced hours, your weekly compensation payments will be less. How much you get depends on your earnings.

Weekly payment time limits for under 65’s

People aged between 63 and 65 have the same 2-year time limit on getting weekly compensation as those over 65.

If you’re injured before you turn 63 and cannot work, you can get weekly compensation payments until you turn 65.

There are eligibility requirements to meet in both situations.

Other support from ACC

ACC can also support your day to day recovery by helping with the cost of things like:

• medical bills and treatment costs, such as physiotherapy and hospital care
• rehabilitation costs to help restore your independence
• home help with daily tasks and personal cares
• aids and equipment to help you with your everyday tasks
• travel costs to get to your treatment or rehabilitation.

This support may still be available even after weekly compensation payments stop.

Types of ongoing support — ACC