What support can I get?

Accessing KiwiSaver through ACC

KiwiSaver is a superannuation saving scheme that has been introduced by the Government. If you are a New Zealander aged under 65 years and living in New Zealand, you are eligible to join KiwiSaver. In general, if you start new employment you will be automatically enrolled in KiwiSaver, but you can opt out if you want to. And even if you don’t start new employment, you can opt into KiwiSaver through your employer, or by contracting directly with a KiwiSaver scheme provider.

On this page

  1. KiwiSaver and ACC
  2. How KiwiSaver is different when you’re receiving ACC payments
  3. Opting in and participating in KiwiSaver through ACC
  4. Making contributions
  5. Using ACC entitlements to ‘employ’ people
  6. KiwiSaver notices posted to ACC
  7. ‘Employer’ information requested by KiwiSaver scheme providers
  8. Further information about KiwiSaver

KiwiSaver and ACC

If you receive weekly compensation from ACC – including weekly compensation following an accidental death – you can choose to have KiwiSaver contributions deducted from your entitlement.

How KiwiSaver is different when you’re receiving ACC payments

Optional participation

If you receive weekly compensation from ACC you can choose to make contributions to the KiwiSaver scheme, but you are not required to (even if you were making contributions before your injury).

People being paid weekly compensation by their employer

You may be paid weekly compensation by your employer (if the employer is either an accredited employer or has an ACC employer reimbursement agreement). In these cases:

  • ACC is not involved in your KiwiSaver membership or your KiwiSaver contributions.
  • If you were contributing to the KiwiSaver scheme before your injury, your contributions will continue to be deducted from the weekly compensation paid by your employer.
  • If you want to stop your KiwiSaver contributions, you have to apply to Inland Revenue for a contributions holiday.

Opting in and participating in KiwiSaver through ACC

Can I opt in or participate in KiwiSaver through ACC?

‘Opting in’ is when you join KiwiSaver for the first time. To opt in to KiwiSaver through ACC you need to be:

  • receiving weekly compensation from ACC, and
  • over 18 years of age and under 65 years (at the time of opting in), and
  • normally resident in New Zealand (or be a State Servant serving overseas).

If you don’t meet these criteria you may be able to join, set up or continue deductions, see the notes for people who can’t opt in via ACC below.

‘Participating’ is when you’re already a KiwiSaver member, and you ask your ACC to make deductions from your weekly compensation entitlement.

If you receive weekly compensation and are already a KiwiSaver member then you can choose to participate in KiwiSaver through ACC.

Once you opt in or participate in KiwiSaver through ACC, you must continue making KiwiSaver contributions unless you are awarded a contributions holiday by Inland Revenue.

Notes for people who can’t opt in via ACC

You may still be able to join, set up or continue KiwiSaver deductions if one of the following situations applies to you:

  • Under 18 years old
    People under 18 can opt in to KiwiSaver through a KiwiSaver scheme provider, and then ask Inland Revenue to set up their KiwiSaver deduction. (In this case, Inland Revenue will instruct ACC to set up your KiwiSaver deduction.)
      • 65 years old, or older
        People 65 years old, or older, and who are already KiwiSaver members can ask ACC to make KiwiSaver deductions. (ie you can not join KiwiSaver after age 65, but existing members can set up or continue making deductions.)
          • Normally resident overseas (except State Servants serving overseas)
            People normally resident overseas can’t opt in (join) KiwiSaver, but if they join KiwiSaver and then move overseas they are able to set up or continue deductions. The exception to this rule is State Servants who are serving overseas. These people can opt in to KiwiSaver even if they live overseas.

            How do I opt in or participate through ACC?

            If you receive weekly compensation from ACC, and you choose to opt in or participate in KiwiSaver through ACC, you must give ACC a completed KS2 KiwiSaver Deduction form. This form instructs ACC to withhold KiwiSaver deductions from your weekly compensation payments, and transfer this money to Inland Revenue. The requirement to supply a completed KS2 form applies even if you were already making KiwiSaver contributions before you started receiving weekly compensation from ACC.

            The KiwiSaver deduction form (KS2)

            Before ACC can start making KiwiSaver deductions from your weekly compensation we must have received a completed KS2 form from you.

            You can contact Inland Revenue to request a KiwiSaver Employee Information pack, which includes the KS2 Form, or you can ask ACC to send you a pack.

            Making contributions

            How much can I contribute to KiwiSaver?

            KiwiSaver contribution rates are 4% or 8% of your taxable weekly compensation entitlement. (Even if you had a different contribution rate applied to your wages or salary, the only rates applicable to weekly compensation are 4% and 8%.)

            You choose the rate you want to contribute, and you can switch between the two contribution rates by giving ACC a written instruction to change the rate applied to your weekly compensation entitlement.

            Once a KiwiSaver contribution is set up, all future payments of weekly compensation to you will have the deduction applied. This includes backdated weekly compensation payments covering periods before you joined KiwiSaver.

            The only exception is if weekly compensation is paid to you during a contributions holiday. These payments will not have KiwiSaver contributions deducted.

            You can make voluntary payments directly to Inland Revenue at any time. Voluntary payments can be made as well as, or instead of your regular deductions.

            Will ACC make employer contributions to my KiwiSaver account?

            ACC will not be making employer contributions to your KiwiSaver account.

            Can KiwiSaver be deducted from all my ACC entitlements?

            KiwiSaver contributions can only be deducted from weekly compensation entitlements. This includes weekly compensation paid to a surviving spouse, partner or dependents following an accidental death.

            KiwiSaver contributions can’t be deducted from other ACC entitlements such as lump sum/independence allowance or payments for home help.

            Can I stop making KiwiSaver contributions once they have started?

            Once a KiwiSaver contribution has been set up, the only way to stop making deductions is to apply to Inland Revenue for a contributions holiday.

            Starting and stopping contributions holidays

            ACC must receive a Contributions Holiday Notice from either Inland Revenue or you before we can stop your KiwiSaver deductions. Inland Revenue will only send ACC this notice if you list ACC as your employer when you apply for your contributions holiday.

            A contributions holiday can be for up to five years. There is no limit to the number of contributions holiday you can take. Voluntary payments (payments you make directly to Inland Revenue) can still be made during a contributions holiday.

            You can stop – or revoke – your contributions holiday and ask ACC to start making KiwiSaver deductions again by advising us of this in writing.

            Similarly, if you have been granted a contributions holiday, and then later asked ACC to re-start your deductions, you can then ask us to (once again) stop your deductions, as long as your contributions holiday is still valid.

            Who qualifies for a contributions holiday?

            If you have contributed to KiwiSaver for more than 12 months, Inland Revenue will automatically accept your contributions holiday application.

            If you have been contributing to KiwiSaver for less than 12 months, you will need to meet Inland Revenue’s ‘financial hardship’ criteria before they will accept your contributions holiday application.

            Using ACC entitlements to ‘employ’ people

            If you directly employ someone to provide home help or attendant care services you may have obligations as an employer, including KiwiSaver obligations.

            If you are in this situation, you should seek advice on your obligations from Inland Revenue.

            KiwiSaver notices posted to ACC

            You can hand completed KiwiSaver forms to your case manager, or post it to:

              ACC
              PO Box 242
              Wellington 6140.

            ‘Employer’ information requested by KiwiSaver scheme providers

            If you receive weekly compensation from ACC and apply to join a KiwiSaver scheme then your KiwiSaver scheme provider may ask you for any of the following information:

            Employer name

            Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC)

            Employer IRD number

            48-142-397

            Employer postal address

            If your case is handled by a case manager at a local branch, give your branch postal address. See Locate ACC branch by map for this information.

            If your case is handled by a case co-ordinator at a contact centre, give the ACC Corporate postal address (ACC, PO Box 242, Wellington 6140).

            Employer street address

            If your case is handled by a case manager at a local branch, give your branch street address. See Locate ACC branch by map for this information.

            If your case is handled by a case co-ordinator at a contact centre, give the ACC Corporate street address (ACC, Shamrock House, 81 – 83 Molesworth Street, Wellington 6011).

            Employer phone

            If your case is handled by a case manager at a local branch, give your branch phone number. See Locate ACC branch by map for this information.

            If your case is handled by a case co-ordinator at a contact centre, give the ACC Claimant Service Centre phone number (0800101996).

            Payroll contact name

            Provide your case co-ordinator or case manager’s name.

            Payroll email

            Provide your case co-ordinator or case manager’s email address.

            Employment commencement date

            Contact your case co-ordinator or case manager to find out the date you started receiving weekly compensation.

            Employer contribution rate (pre April 2008)

            0%

            Employment contact name and signature

            Please ask your case co-ordinator or case manager to write their name and add their signature to your KiwiSaver application form.

            Further information about KiwiSaver

            If you want any more information you can either: