How to apply for weekly compensation
Weekly compensation is financial support to help cover your income if you have an injury and need time off work for more than 7 days. The injury could have happened at work, at home, or anywhere else in Aotearoa New Zealand.
There are a few steps to take before applying online using MyACC.
On this page
Steps to take before applying
Visit a health provider for treatment
If you’ve been injured in an accident, it's important to look after yourself, see a health provider and get treatment. This could be your doctor, a physiotherapist, after hours medical centre or the hospital emergency department.
The health provider will lodge an injury claim
The health provider will send us a claim form with details about your injury so we can work out what support you need. They will lodge an injury claim on your behalf. If they are a doctor they will also send us a medical certificate if you need time off work. If you received treatment elsewhere, you would need to see your doctor for a medical certificate.
Fit for selected work
Work can play an active role in most people’s rehabilitation after an injury. A safe and timely return to work can improve your physical and mental wellbeing. It can also lead to shorter recovery times.
Fit for selected work means you could work reduced hours or do alternative duties. Talk to your employer to see if there are options to partially return to work while you are recovering.
If your employer is unable to offer reduced hours or alternative duties, you are still eligible for weekly compensation. You do not need a ‘fully unfit’ medical certificate.
We can support your income up to 80% until you recover to being fully fit. If your employer can find some options for you to return to work they will pay you for these hours on top of weekly compensation. This means you can earn up to 100% of your pre-injury income
Learn more about recovering from injury at work
Fully unfit
If you are unable to work at all, your medical certificate will say you are ‘fully unfit’. This is used when:
- you’ve been admitted to hospital
- you need to quarantine as a result of your injury and can’t work from home
- it would be unsafe for you, or others, if you returned to work.
We can support your income up to 80% until you recover enough to start getting back to work.
Fully fit
This means you're able to work and do your regular hours and tasks. You are not eligible for weekly compensation.
Tell your employer about your injury
It’s your responsibility to keep your employer informed. Let them know about your injury and support you might need while recovering. Show them your medical certificate.
Download our handy guide to help you talk to your employer about your injury and when you might be able to return to work.
Conversation guide for injured employees
Apply for weekly compensation
There are two ways to apply for weekly compensation:
- Online using MyACC. Register and log in to find the application in the 'Get support' section.
- Contact our claims team.
It'll take around 8 to 10 minutes to complete an online application. You’ll need this information when you apply:
- employment details, like work hours and contact details for your manager and payroll
- the bank account number you'd like us to pay into
- your IRD number and tax code.
You can choose which day of the week you'd like to be paid on. It's often helpful to keep the same weekday as your regular income.
Why use MyACC?
Use MyACC to request support for your recovery anywhere, anytime, using your mobile or desktop device. It’s easy and convenient to:
- apply for weekly compensation and view upcoming payments
- view your ACC claim and update your contact details
- request support to help you recover from your injury like equipment or home help
- enter any hours if you’re getting back into work, and more.
If you haven’t received a registration code by email or text, or don't want to use MyACC, contact us to apply for weekly compensation over the phone.
Phone 0800 101 996 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm)
What happens next
We’ll check your application. How fast we can process this depends on the time it takes to get the details we need from:
- you
- your health provider
- your employer
- Inland Revenue.
If you’re self-employed or a shareholder-employee, it can take us a little longer to process your weekly compensation application. This can depend on whether your tax return has been filed with Inland Revenue, or if we need to estimate your earnings.
We'll be in touch and let you know if we've accepted your application. You’ll also receive a text message or letter from us confirming when your weekly compensation is set up and ready to go. Once you're set up you can easily view upcoming payments through your MyACC account.
Checking your application
- We’ll check the information provided, including your claim details and medical certificate.
- Once everything has been checked off, we’ll send you a text message to say your application is being processed.
Process and set up your weekly compensation
- We'll get your earnings information from Inland Revenue.
- Using this earnings information, we will calculate your weekly compensation.
- We’ll set up your payments. Once your application is checked, it usually takes a week to process and set up your weekly compensation. This could take longer if there is missing earnings information.
- If you have a MyACC account, you’ll receive a further SMS text message when your weekly compensation is set up. If not, a payment notification letter is sent by post 1 to 2 days after set-up is complete.
Tip: Use MyACC to view upcoming payment dates and amounts
If you need to cover your income urgently, please contact us.
Learn more about how payments work
In 2023 we provided 148,509 people with weekly compensation because they couldn’t work due to their injuries. In dollar amounts this was $2.3 billion.
Contact us
If you want to know more about how we can help, talk to your recovery team or contact our claims team.
Phone 0800 101 996
Email claims@acc.co.nz