As required by law, from 1 July 2010, we will increase some ACC payments due to inflation.
Weekly compensation
- A 1.50% increase will apply to most clients who have been receiving weekly compensation for more than 26 weeks
- Clients who are currently receiving weekly compensation for ‘loss of potential earnings’ are not eligible for this increase
- The maximum amount of weekly compensation the law allows us to pay will be $1,717.98 per week.
- The minimum amount of weekly compensation will be $408 per week. This figure is 80% of the adult minimum wage of $510 for a 40 hour week.
The 1.50% weekly compensation increase is based on the Labour Cost Index.
To check this figure see:
- Labour Cost Index (Salary and Wage Rates): March 2010 quarter – tables 1–9.2 (XLS912K) at the Statistics New Zealand website (external link).
- go to the tab labelled 'Table 1 (continued)', and
- look at the percentage change for all sectors combined.
Grants and allowances
- A 2.05% increase will apply to clients who receive an independence allowance or lump sum compensation.
- A 2.05% increase will apply to death by injury grants as follows:
- the funeral grant will be up to a maximum of $5,541.23
- survivor’s grants will be $5,940.91 for a partner and $2,970.47 for each child under 18 and each dependant
- weekly childcare payments will be $126.33 for one child, $151.58 for two children and $176.86 for three or more children.
For more information about grants and payments for a death by injury see ACC2403 Grants and payments to help when there’s a death by injury (PDF192K).
The 2.05% grants and allowances increase is based on the Consumer Price Index.
To check this figure see:
- Consumers Price Index: March 2010 quarter (XLS465K) on the Statistics New Zealand website (external link).
The Department of Statistics publishes the changes to one percentage point (2.0%), while ACC is required to apply the changes to two percentage points (2.05%).
The increases will be included in the payments received by affected clients from 1July.