NZ Government Content

Injury cover

The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) provides 24 / hour seven day a week no-fault personal injury cover for all New Zealanders.

ACC can help if you are injured yourself or support someone who has been injured and needs short- or long-term care.

If you are injured as a carer

A recent survey of carers found that 42% had received an injury in their caring role. If you are injured, ACC can assist with your recovery and help you get back on track.

If you are supporting someone recovering from an injury

If the person you support is a client of ACC, their ongoing needs will be managed by an appointed ACC case manager. If you feel they need more help from ACC than they are getting, feel free to contact their case manager to see if they can get additional support.

What help is available?

Following an injury, ACC will organise an assessment and may co-ordinate a range of help, depending on the injury and your situation. The types of help provided by ACC could include the following:

  • Treatment - ACC can contribute to a wide range of medical and related costs, including doctor's visits, treatment from various other health professionals, surgery, X-rays, prescription costs etc.
  • Managing at home - if you're having trouble managing at home following your injury, ACC may pay for various types of home help (cleaning, laundry etc) and personal care (like showering, eating, getting in or out of bed or dressing). ACC may also pay for childcare if there is no one else reasonably available to help you.
  • Your work situation - ACC can help with weekly payments for loss of earnings if you are unable to work because of your injury. If necessary, they can also arrange a rehabilitation plan to help you get back to work. 
  • Getting to and from the places you need to be - if you need to travel to work or to receive treatment, ACC can help cover the costs of transport and, in some cases, overnight accommodation.
  • Serious injury - if your injury is more serious, ACC may be able to pay a lump sum amount and fund things like car and home modifications.
  • When someone dies as a result of an injury - various grants are available from ACC if you or a family member dies as a result of injury. ACC understands this is a very difficult time so they'll do everything they can to make it easy for you to deal with ACC.

Injury prevention and wellbeing programmes

ACC also has a range of programmes and information of interest to carers:

Who to contact

  • If you're injured, get treatment as soon as possible. Your health professional will help you fill out an ACC claim form. After receiving this, ACC will contact you by phone or letter to let you know if your claim is approved.
  • If you need further treatment, talk to your health professional first. They'll work out what treatment you need and, if it's for the injury ACC has approved cover for, apply to ACC for help to meet the cost.
  • For all other types of help, talk to ACC about your needs. They can give you more information about their services, including how to apply. Call 0800 101 996.

If you get stuck

The Code of ACC Claimants' Rights (or "code") helps guide how ACC works with people making claims. It sets out what you can expect in your dealings with ACC and specifies your right to:

  • be treated with dignity and respect
  • be treated fairly and have your views considered
  • have your culture, values and beliefs respected
  • a support person or persons
  • effective communication
  • be fully informed
  • have your privacy respected
  • make a complaint.

Contact ACC if you feel your rights have been breached or if you'd like more information about the code. Visit www.acc.co.nz or call 0800 101 996.