Resources for employees
Here you will find videos and guides to help you understand and learn about weekly compensation if you are an employee.
On this page
Video 1 | What to expect from your first weekly compensation payment
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A navy blue background displays the white ACC logo. Text appears alongside it: He Kaupare. He Manaaki. He Whakaora. Prevention. Care. Recovery. The background wipes to a peach/pink colour. A small tag in the top right reads: PAYE employees. Large text appears on-screen: What to expect from your first payment.
Transcript
Upbeat, gentle instrumental music plays in the background
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A male presenter with a beard and curly hair tied in a bun, wearing a cream sweater, sits in an armchair in a modern office room with wood-panelled walls, a potted palm and couch in the background — there is an open laptop and mug on a wooden side table beside him. He speaks directly to the camera.
Transcript
Kia ora. There are several ways we can manaaki, or support you, in your recovery from injury. If you've been injured and can't work, ACC's weekly compensation can help replace some of your lost income. But how is your first payment worked out if you're a PAYE employee? Weekly compensation usually starts from day eight after your injury, once your application is approved. If your injury happened at work, your employer should pay you for that first week. If it happened outside of work, talk to your employer about using sick or annual leave.
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The screen splits vertically. The presenter remains on the right. The left side turns white and displays the text: Weekly compensation is up to 80% of your average weekly earnings. Below the text, an orange animated pie chart fills up to represent the 80% portion.
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We calculate your payment based on 80% of your average weekly earnings before your injury. Tax and deductions still apply, like a student loan, KiwiSaver, or child support.
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The video cuts back to the full shot of the presenter in the office.
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For the first four weeks, we use a short-term rate, which is based on your earnings in the four weeks before your injury. There is also a maximum weekly amount based on a 40-hour week. Your first payment from ACC may not be paid on your chosen payday, but you'll get a notification once it's made.
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An orange graphic overlay appears on the left side of the screen with the text: Visit MyACC my.acc.co.nz
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You can also log in to MyACC to see your payment breakdowns and track future payments.
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The overlay disappears, returning to the full shot of the presenter.
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Here's the key thing to remember: your first payment covers the time from when you became eligible for weekly compensation, not necessarily the day you applied. Contact us if you're unsure; we're here to help. Here's a summary of what we've covered.
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The screen switches to a graphic on a white background. On the left, the heading ‘key takeaways’ sits above an orange pencil icon. On the right, a numbered list appears line by line:
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You're usually eligible for weekly compensation from day 8 after your injury
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Your first payment may not be paid on your chosen payday
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Your first payment covers the time from when you first became eligible
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We apply a short-term rate for the first four weeks
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The video cuts back to the full shot of the presenter in the office for the closing statement.
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To learn more, visit our website. In the next episode, we'll explain how weekly compensation payments can change and what impacts this. Hoki mai anō.
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The screen returns to the navy blue background with the ACC logo in the top left. Large text in the centre reads: Use MyACC to apply for weekly compensation and manage your claim. Contact details appear at the bottom of the screen, in the following order: website www.acc.co.nz, email address claims@acc.co.nz, and the free call phone number 0800 101 996.
Transcript
The upbeat, gentle instrumental music fades out.
Video 2 | How weekly compensation payments change
Visual
A navy blue background displays the white ACC logo. Text appears alongside it: "He Kaupare. He Manaaki. He Whakaora. Prevention. Care. Recovery." The background wipes to a peach/pink colour. A small tag in the top right reads: PAYE employees. Large text appears on-screen: How weekly compensation payments change.
Transcript
Upbeat, gentle instrumental music plays in the background
Visual
A male presenter with a beard and curly hair tied in a bun, wearing a cream sweater, sits in an armchair in a modern office room with wood-panelled walls, a potted palm and couch in the background — there is an open laptop and mug on a wooden side table beside him. He speaks directly to the camera.
Transcript
Kia ora. There are several ways we can manaaki, or support you, in your recovery from injury. Weekly compensation isn't the same for everyone. It will vary based on your employment type and it can change over time. For the first four weeks, we'll use the short-term rate if you're a PAYE employee. That's usually 80% of your average weekly earnings in the four weeks before your injury.
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The screen splits. The presenter remains on the right. The left side turns white and displays an orange icon of a dollar sign with circular arrows. Text reads: Permanent employees long-term rate. Below this, the formula appears: Income ÷ Weeks worked.
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After four weeks, the long-term rate kicks in. If you're a permanent employee, it's based on your income from your current job divided by the number of weeks worked, up to 52.
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The text on the left changes to: Non-permanent employees long-term rate. The formula below changes to: Income ÷ 52 weeks.
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If you're a non-permanent employee, we average the income from all your non-permanent jobs over 52 weeks. This helps reflect your usual income more accurately if you've had casual, seasonal, or multiple jobs, if you're on a fixed-term contract with less than a year left, or if you'd given notice to leave your job before your injury.
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The video cuts to a close up shot of the presenter in the office.
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If you return to work part-time or on alternative duties, you can still receive some weekly compensation. We adjust your payments so your total income doesn't go over what you earned before your injury. This adjustment is called abatement. It makes sure your earnings and weekly compensation are balanced fairly.
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The screen splits again. The presenter is on the right. The left side displays a large orange icon with an exclamation mark in a circle, with the text: Important. Receiving other income? Let us know.
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It's also important to let us know if your earnings change while you're receiving weekly compensation. Like if you return to work, get a pay rise or holiday pay, or if you leave a job.
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The video graphic disappears by swiping to the left. It’s still the close up shot of the presenter in the office.
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This helps avoid overpayment, which we will ask you to pay back. Payments usually stop when you fully return to the job you were doing before your injury, or when your health provider says you're ready. Keep your medical certificate up to date and check MyACC for payment details. Here's the key thing to remember: weekly compensation adjusts to match your situation, so it's fair and accurate, and we're here to help. Here’s a summary of what we’ve covered so far.
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The screen switches to a graphic on a white background. On the left, ‘key takeaways’ appears above an orange pencil icon. On the right, a numbered list appears line by line:
- Payments change depending on your situation
- You can work and still get some weekly compensation
- Tell us about any income changes
- Check MyACC for payment details
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The video cuts back to the presenter in the office for the closing statement.
Transcript
To learn more, visit our website. Hoki mai anō.
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The screen returns to the navy blue background with the ACC logo in the top left. Large text in the centre reads: Use MyACC to apply for weekly compensation and manage your claim. Contact details appear at the bottom of the screen, in the following order: website www.acc.co.nz, email address claims@acc.co.nz, and the free call phone number 0800 101 996.
Transcript
The upbeat, gentle instrumental music fades out.
Video 3 | How we calculate weekly compensation
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A navy blue background displays the white ACC logo. Text appears alongside it: "He Kaupare. He Manaaki. He Whakaora. Prevention. Care. Recovery." The background wipes to a peach/pink colour. A small tag in the top right reads: PAYE employees. Large text appears on-screen: How we calculate weekly compensation.
Transcript
Upbeat, gentle instrumental music plays in the background
Visual
A male presenter with a beard and curly hair tied in a bun, wearing a cream sweater, sits in an armchair in a modern office room with wood-panelled walls, a potted palm and couch in the background — there is an open laptop and mug on a wooden side table beside him. He speaks directly to the camera.
Transcript
Kia ora. There are several ways we can manaaki, or support you, in your recovery from injury. If you're getting weekly compensation while you're unable to work, you may notice your payments change. We'll explain why and show you how payments are calculated if you're a PAYE employee. ACC usually pays up to 80% of the income you earned before your injury — based on your earnings over a set time. This is before tax and other deductions. How we calculate this depends on your employment type and the time you've spent away from work or working at reduced hours. Let's run through three examples.
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The screen switches to a graphic on a white background titled: ‘Example 1: Short term calculation’ with an orange dollar sign icon below. The calculation appears line by line on the right:
- Earnings of $5,000 ÷ 4 weeks = $1,250
- ACC pays 80% = $1,000
- Minus tax and deductions – $300
- Payment received = $700
Transcript
For the first four weeks, we use the short-term rate. Here's an example. If you earned $5,000 in the four weeks before you were injured, that's $1,250 a week. ACC will pay 80% of that, which is $1,000. After tax and deductions like student loan or KiwiSaver, your payment might be around $700.
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The graphic changes to ‘Example 2: Long term calculation: permanent’. The calculation appears line by line:
- $58,800 ÷ 49 weeks worked = $1,200
- ACC pays 80% = $960
- Minus tax and deductions – $280
- Payment received = $680
Transcript
After four weeks, the long-term rate applies. As a permanent employee, we look at your total income from your employer and divide by the number of weeks you worked, up to 52 weeks. Let's say in this example you had three weeks of unpaid leave over the past year. This means we divide your total income by 49 weeks. So, the payment works out to be around $680 after tax and deductions.
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The graphic changes to ‘Example 3: Long term calculation: non-permanent’. The calculation appears line by line:
- $52,000 ÷ 52 weeks = $1,000
- ACC pays 80% = $800
- Minus tax and deductions – $200
- Payment received = $600
Transcript
If you're a non-permanent employee, we add up earnings from all your jobs in the past year and divide by 52, no matter the weeks worked. This better reflects your usual income if you've had casual, seasonal, or multiple jobs, if you're on a fixed-term contract with less than a year left, or if you'd given notice to leave your job before your injury.
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The video cuts back to the full shot of the presenter in the office.
Transcript
Whether you're permanent or non-permanent, some things may affect your compensation rate, like receiving weekly compensation in the past year or taking agreed unpaid leave. Talk to us if you're unsure; we're here to help. Here's a summary of what we've covered so far.
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The screen switches to a graphic on a white background. On the left, the heading: ‘key takeaways’ appears above an orange pencil icon. On the right, a numbered list appears, line by line:
- Examples are for guidance only
- Your payment depends on your employment type and time worked
- Tax and deductions apply
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The video cuts back to the presenter in the office for the closing statement.
Transcript
To learn more, visit our website. In the next episode, we'll share how weekly compensation is calculated when you return to work. Hoki mai anō."
Visual
The screen returns to the navy blue background with the ACC logo in the top left. Large text in the centre reads: Use MyACC to apply for weekly compensation and manage your claim. Contact details appear at the bottom of the screen, in the following order: website www.acc.co.nz, email address claims@acc.co.nz, and the free call phone number 0800 101 996.
Transcript
The upbeat, gentle instrumental music fades out.
Video 4 | Returning to work while receiving weekly compensation
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A navy blue background displays the white ACC logo. Text appears alongside it: He Kaupare. He Manaaki. He Whakaora. Prevention. Care. Recovery. The background wipes to a peach/pink colour. A small tag in the top right reads: PAYE employees. Large text appears on screen: Returning to work while receiving weekly compensation.
Transcript
Upbeat, gentle instrumental music plays in the background
Visual
A male presenter with a beard and curly hair tied in a bun, wearing a cream sweater, sits in an armchair in a modern office room with wood-panelled walls, a potted palm and couch in the background — there is an open laptop and mug on a wooden side table beside him. He speaks directly to the camera.
Transcript
Kia ora. There are several ways we can manaaki, or support you, as you recover from injury, like helping you get back to work. Recovering at work can help people get better sooner and improve mental wellbeing. With some temporary adjustments, most people with non-complex injuries, like sprains or strains, can safely recover while working. If your employer can offer options like reduced hours or alternative duties, you can still receive some weekly compensation.
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The screen splits vertically. The presenter remains on the right. The left side turns white and displays the text: Earn up to 100% of your usual pay when you recover at work. Below the text, a navy blue and orange pie chart graphic appears.
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This helps you as you ease back into work, and it also means you could earn up to 100% of your usual income, instead of the 80% you'd get from weekly compensation alone.
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The video cuts back to the full shot of the presenter in the office.
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When you're ready to return to work, your weekly compensation payments will change as you start earning again. We'll adjust your payment so your total income doesn't go over what you earned before your injury. This adjustment is called abatement. Let's look at an example where you return to work part-time.
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The screen switches to a graphic on a white background titled ‘Example: Return to work abatement calculation’ with an orange dollar sign icon below. The calculation steps appear line by line on the right:
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$1,000 x 80% (ACC pays 80%) = $800
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$300 (work done) + $800 (ACC payment) = $1,100
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$800 - $100 (adjusted ACC payment) = $700
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$300 (work done) + $700 (new ACC payment)
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Payment received = $1,000
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If you were earning $1,000 a week before your injury, you'd get $800 from ACC. If you then earned $300 from part-time work, we adjust the ACC payment through abatement to $700, so your total still adds up to $1,000.
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The video cuts back to the full shot of the presenter in the office.
Transcript
Here's the key thing to remember: weekly compensation adjusts to match your situation, so it's fair and accurate. It's important to let us know in advance if you start returning to work so we can make an adjustment and avoid overpaying you.
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The screen splits again. The presenter is on the right. The left side displays a large orange icon with an exclamation mark in a circle, with the text: Important. Receiving other income? Let us know.
Transcript
You can let us know by logging in to MyACC and entering your work hours, or by calling us. You'll also need a secondary tax code if you're earning and receiving weekly compensation, so have a chat with Inland Revenue.
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The video returns to the full shot of the presenter.
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Here's a summary of what we've covered so far.
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The screen switches to a graphic on a white background. On the left, the heading ‘key takeaways’ appears above an orange pencil icon. On the right, a numbered list appears:
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You can work and still get some weekly compensation
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Tell us if your work or income changes so we can adjust your payments
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Use MyACC to log work hours and check payment details
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Recovering at work can benefit physical and mental wellbeing
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The video cuts back to the presenter in the office for the closing statement.
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That's everything you need to know. Kua rahi ngā kōrero. Remember, you can visit our website for more info. Haere rā.
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The screen returns to the navy blue background with the ACC logo in the top left. Large text in the centre reads: Use MyACC to apply for weekly compensation and manage your claim. Contact details appear at the bottom of the screen, in the following order: website www.acc.co.nz, email address claims@acc.co.nz, and the free call phone number 0800 101 996.
Transcript
The upbeat, gentle instrumental music fades out.
Video 5 | Applying for weekly compensation
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A navy blue background features the white ACC logo. Text appears alongside the logo: He Kaupare. He Manaaki. He Whakaora. Prevention. Care. Recovery. The background wipes to a peach/pink colour. A small tag in the top right corner reads: all employment types. Large text appears on-screen: Applying for weekly compensation.
Transcript
Upbeat, gentle instrumental music plays in the background
Visual
A male presenter with a beard and curly hair tied in a bun, wearing a cream sweater, sits in an armchair in a modern office room with wood-panelled walls, a potted palm and couch in the background — there is an open laptop and mug on a wooden side table beside him. He speaks directly to the camera.
Transcript
Kia ora. There are several ways we can manaaki, or support you, in your recovery from injury. If you've been injured and can't work, ACC's weekly compensation can help replace some of your lost income — up to 80% in most cases. But what exactly is it, and how do you apply? Weekly compensation is financial support to help while you recover. But it's not automatic; you need to apply. Here's what you need to do.
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The screen splits vertically. The presenter remains on the right. The left side becomes white, displaying a numbered list:
- Check you're eligible
- Register for MyACC and apply
These are highlighted in bold and change to orange text when spoken about.
Transcript
If your claim is approved, check if you're eligible on our website, or call us on 0800 101 996. Then register for MyACC and complete the online application form. Or call us if you'd prefer."
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The view switches to a full graphic on a white background. On the left, the heading ‘What you will need’ appears above an orange clipboard icon. On the right, a list appears line by line:
- Work hours and unpaid leave taken
- IRD number
- Tax code
- Bank account details
- Employer's contact details
Transcript
You'll need to share some details like your work hours and any unpaid leave taken in the past year, IRD number, tax code, bank account details, and your employer's contact details. If you're self-employed or a shareholder, we may also need extra information like your financial statements and accountant's details.
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The video cuts back to a close shot of the presenter sitting in the chair in the office.
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Processing times can vary. The sooner we get all the information from you, your employer, health provider, and Inland Revenue, the sooner we can complete your application. If your situation is different, don't worry, just call us. We also have tailored information on our website for all employment types. Here's a key thing to remember: weekly compensation can help replace part of your income while you recover, and we're here to help. Here’s a summary of what we’ve covered.
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The screen switches to another graphic on a white background. On the left, the heading ‘Key takeaways’ appears above an orange pencil icon. On the right, a numbered list appears:
- Weekly compensation payments aren't automatic
- Apply using MyACC or call us
- We'll get in touch if we need more information
- You'll get a message when your first payment is made
Transcript
Now you know how to apply.
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The video cuts back to the presenter in the office for the closing statement.
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Explore our tailored weekly compensation videos designed for PAYE employees, self-employed, and shareholder employees. To learn more, visit our website. Hoki mai anō.
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The screen returns to the navy blue background with the ACC logo in the top left. Large text in the centre reads: Use MyACC to apply for weekly compensation and manage your claim. Contact details appear at the bottom of the screen, in the following order: website www.acc.co.nz, email address claims@acc.co.nz, and the free call phone number 0800 101 996.
Transcript
The upbeat, gentle instrumental music fades out.
Guide 1 | Your first weekly compensation payment
This guide is for PAYE employees, it explains what to expect when receiving your first weekly compensation payment from ACC, and what you and your employer need to do. Download, print or share this guide with whānau and friends.
Guide 2 | How weekly compensation payments change
This guide explains how your weekly compensation payments can change and the difference between short-term and long-term rates for PAYE employees. Download, print and share this accessible guide with whānau and friends.
Guide 3 | Calculating weekly compensation for employees
This guide walks through weekly compensation examples for PAYE employees, and explains how payments adjust as you return to work. Download, print or share this guide with whānau and friends.
Last published: 28 November 2025