An ACC Employer Reimbursement Agreement enables employers to choose to pay weekly compensation directly to employees, effectively making the payment on behalf of ACC. Employers then seek reimbursement from ACC.
What are the benefits?
An ACC Employer Reimbursement Agreement:
- allows you to be directly involved in the claims process
- makes it easier if you want to ‘top up’ compensation payments over the statutory 80 percent of gross weekly earnings.
It also makes the claims process easier for employees. They can promptly receive their weekly compensation and any other benefits you may offer them as an employee, directly from one source.
Who can join?
The programme is open to all employers and covers both work and non-work injuries suffered by employees.
It best suits employers who:
- have dedicated payroll staff and/or
- have complex payroll systems and/or
- make regular deductions on behalf of their employees, such as health insurance and superannuation.
How does it work?
Once you have signed an ACC Employer Reimbursement Agreement, you take responsibility for paying weekly compensation directly to injured employees.
ACC will:
- calculate the weekly compensation payable to the employee
- determine the period for these payments based on the medical certificate supplied by the employee’s treatment provider
- advise you how to apply for reimbursement.
It is important to note that:
- we will only reimburse you based on a current medical certificate
- if you want to pay your employees more, you will only be reimbursed for the amount we calculate.
Responsibilities under the Agreement
The ACC Employer Reimbursement Agreement is a legal agreement that outlines the responsibilities of both you and ACC.
The Agreement authorises you to make weekly compensation payments to your injured employees on ACC’s behalf, based on the calculations we provide.
- Once signed, the Agreement is in place until it is officially terminated, in writing.
- The Agreement specifies dates and deadlines that you and ACC must meet.
- You must use your best endeavours to find alternative work for injured employees, even if the injury is not work-related.
- You must consult ACC if your situation changes, eg your business merges with another company or becomes insolvent. Otherwise, the Agreement automatically expires.
What if I want to stop direct payments?
You can ask ACC to resume weekly compensation payments at any time.
How can I apply?
- Contact your ACC account manager or the ACC Business Service Centre
- We will send you an ACC Employer Reimbursement Agreement.
- Read the Agreement. If you wish to proceed, simply sign it and return it to ACC.
Last updated: 9 February 2011