COVID-19 information for clients

The wage subsidy is treated as income and may affect your weekly compensation payments. Email us and let us know the amount you have received and the time period it relates to. We will adjust your weekly compensation payments if necessary.

Email covidsubsidy@acc.co.nz

If you're being paid weekly compensation you can accept COVID-19 wage subsidy payments from your employer. We need to treat this subsidy as earnings and may need to adjust the level of weekly compensation you receive from us. Email us and let us know the amount you have received and the time period it relates to. We will adjust your weekly compensation payments if necessary.

Email covidsubsidy@acc.co.nz

Cover for the COVID-19 virus may be available if you're diagnosed with the virus and you meet the criteria for a work-related gradual process, disease or infection under section 30 of the Accident Compensation Act 2001.  

We would need information to understand your work tasks and environment and to what extent these could have caused the illness. We would also need to understand how prevalent the disease is in the community and other possible sources for the disease, such as exposure from family or friends.

If you believe you've contracted the COVID-19 virus at work, speak to your healthcare professional for guidance.

Find more information on the injuries we cover:

What we cover

What we don't cover

Where the criteria for a work-related gradual process, disease or infection under section 30 of the Accident Compensation Act 2001 is met ACC may be able to provide support. 

We would need information to understand where the COVID-19 exposure occurred, including the work tasks and environment and to what extent these could have caused the illness. We would also need to understand how prevalent the disease is in the community and other possible sources for the disease, such as exposure from family or friends.

We are unable to provide support where the COVID-19 exposure was outside of work.

Physical injury resulting from a vaccination, including the COVID-19 vaccine, may be covered if the criteria for treatment injury are met. Under ACC legislation, the injury must be clearly caused by the vaccination and must not be a necessary part or ordinary consequence of the treatment.

For example, inflammation and pain around the site of the injection, flu like symptoms, fatigue are common with vaccinations (an ordinary consequence) and is unlikely to be covered. Infections (such as cellulitis or septic arthritis) due to the vaccination, and anaphylaxis resulting in injury are not ordinary consequences and are likely to be covered.

The support we can provide would depend on a person’s circumstances and needs. This may include medical treatment, compensation for loss of wages or salary and rehabilitation to help the claimant regain independence. There may be support provided in the case of death.

Please contact your health provider if you have any questions related to your vaccination.

For example payment assistance, transport assistance, equipment or home help. Or if you're concerned about a client in a vulnerable situation.

If you have a dedicated ACC contact, continue to phone them directly. Otherwise please call us and follow the voice prompts or email us.

Phone 0800 101 996
Email claims@acc.co.nz

Please contact your health provider if you have any questions related to your ongoing treatment.

Clients can give consent for some services to be delivered at all settings of the COVID-19 Protection Framework through the use of online tools, like Telehealth, where clinically appropriate. If you have questions about the ability to use Telehealth at orange or red light settings, please contact your health professional to explore the options available to you.

ACC providers and Telehealth

Telehealth can be used to continue client recovery for mental health services. This now also covers:

• sensitive claims (ISSC)
• psychological services
• clinical psychiatric services
• sexual abuse assessment and treatment services (SAATs). 

Assessment and therapy sessions can continue throughout COVID-19 for these services by Telehealth. This is only if you and your therapist agree that it's the right approach and that the services are consistent with what we can cover. If you have any questions related to ongoing treatment, contact your provider.

Non-acute (elective) services are likely to be carried out as normal in those parts of the nation in the orange traffic light setting.

Procedures are likely to be delayed or rescheduled for those regions in the red setting.

You should contact your surgical service if you have any questions about your procedure.

Our support for clients in vulnerable situations continues, as does making payments to clients and health providers. We’re also maintaining our lodgement and claims processes. To help you find a therapist, use the Find Support website.

Find Support website

If your care worker (attendant care, personal care and home help) is employed by an agency, the agency will manage the process to ensure workers are fully vaccinated by 1 January 2022.

If your care worker is not employed by an agency, the obligation to be vaccinated will be their responsibility.

Please note that an amendment to the Public Health Order came into effect on 8 November 2021. All family care and support workers are now required to have had their first COVID-19 vaccination by 15 November 2021, and their second vaccination by 1 January 2022.