Injured in an accident: ACC cover

Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC)Verified 14 Oct 2026Official pages checked daily

If you are injured in an accident in New Zealand, ACC can help pay for your treatment. Examples are a fall, a sprain, a car crash or an injury at work. If you cannot work, you may also get payments for lost income. ACC is a 'no-fault' scheme. Everyone in New Zealand can apply, including visitors. Usually your doctor makes the claim for you.

Key facts

Who can apply: Everyone in New Zealand can apply, whatever their age, whether or not they work, and whether they live in New Zealand or are visiting²
No-fault scheme: You can apply whether you caused the injury yourself or someone else caused it²
How to apply: See a GP or another treatment provider and ask them to lodge an ACC claim for you²
Your claim must be accepted first: ACC must accept your claim before it pays anything¹
Hospital emergency care: If you need emergency treatment in hospital because of an accident, ACC pays the cost³
Other treatment costs: ACC usually pays part of other treatment costs, for example surgery, physiotherapy and medicines³
Physiotherapy (physio): Once ACC accepts your claim, it pays most of the cost of physio. You can go straight to a physiotherapist, and they can lodge the claim for you³
Work injury: first week: Your employer must pay you 80% of your usual earnings⁴
Non-work injury: first week: You can use sick leave or other paid leave (such as annual leave). If you have no paid leave, you get no income for the first week⁴
From the second week: ACC pays⁴
Weekly compensation: Up to 80% of your earnings before the injury (before tax). It is not paid automatically. You must apply for it⁵
Topping up to 100%: If you get ACC for more than 5 days, you can agree with your employer to use 1 day of sick leave for every 5 days of ACC, to top up your 80% to 100%⁴
Aged 65 or over: You can get weekly compensation for up to 2 years. The same 2-year limit applies if you were injured between ages 63 and 65⁵
ACC phone number: 0800 101 996²

Who is this for, and what are the requirements?

Anyone injured in an accident in New Zealand can apply to ACC. This includes citizens, residents and visitors on temporary visas.
ACC covers injuries. As well as ordinary accidents, this includes: injuries or conditions caused by work, some injuries caused by medical treatment, some injuries caused by giving birth, and injuries caused by crime (such as assault or sexual abuse).
New Zealand residents or citizens who are injured while briefly overseas may also be covered in some cases.
Weekly compensation is only for people who cannot work because of their injury. To get it: ACC must accept your claim, you must be in an eligible type of employment, you must have a medical certificate saying you cannot do some or all of your usual work, and you must give ACC all the information it asks for.
When you apply for weekly compensation, ACC does not look at your household income. Your partner's income or job does not affect it.

How do I do it? Steps and process

Get treatment for your injury
If your injury is serious, go to a hospital emergency department. If it is not serious, see a GP. For sprains and strains, you can also go straight to a physiotherapist (physio). You do not always need a referral first.
Tell the doctor it was an accident
Explain when, where and how you were injured. Your doctor or other treatment provider will make the ACC claim for you. Usually you do not need to fill in a form yourself.
Wait for ACC to accept your claim
ACC pays only after it accepts your claim. ACC usually pays only part of the cost, so the clinic or physio may charge you the rest. Ask about the cost before your appointment.
If you can't work, talk to your employer about the first week
Work injury: your employer pays you 80% of your usual earnings for the first week. Non-work injury: you can use sick leave or annual leave for the first week. If you have no paid leave, you get no income that week.
Apply for weekly compensation
Weekly compensation is not paid automatically. You must apply to ACC and give them a medical certificate from your doctor. See 'Applying for weekly compensation' on the ACC website, or call 0800 101 996.
Go back to work when you recover
Weekly compensation usually stops when you return to your usual hours and duties, or when your doctor says you can do your usual work. If you do lighter work or fewer hours, your payments will be reduced.

What documents do I need?

A medical certificate from your doctor saying you cannot do some or all of your usual work (needed to apply for weekly compensation)
Any other information ACC asks for (when you apply for weekly compensation)

What should I watch out for?

If you were injured in an accident, tell the doctor: 'This was an accident and I'd like to make an ACC claim.'
ACC is a no-fault scheme. You can apply even if the accident was your own fault.
ACC covers injuries, not ordinary illness. If you are sick, the clinic charges its normal fees. See our guide on enrolling with a GP.
If you need dental treatment because of an accident, ACC will pay part of the cost.
While you get ACC weekly compensation, your employer cannot force you to use sick leave or annual leave instead.
Everyone who works in New Zealand pays an ACC levy. For employees, it is taken directly from your pay.
If you have experienced sexual assault or abuse, ACC's Sensitive Claims Service provides treatment and support. You do not need to report it to the Police first.
The ACC website has some guides in languages other than English.
This page is a summary of public information. ACC decides whether to accept your claim and how much you get.

Common questions

Do I have to pay to see a doctor if I get injured in New Zealand?

You may have to pay part of the cost. ACC usually pays only part of treatment costs, so the clinic may charge you the rest. ACC pays the full cost of emergency treatment in hospital after an accident. ACC pays only after it accepts your claim. Ask the clinic about the cost before your appointment.

I'm visiting my children in NZ on a visitor visa and had a fall. Does ACC cover me?

Yes, you can apply. Everyone injured in an accident in New Zealand can apply to ACC, including visitors on temporary visas. See a GP or another treatment provider and ask them to lodge an ACC claim for you. ACC decides whether to accept your claim.

How do I make an ACC claim? Do I have to fill in a form myself?

Usually you do not need to fill in a form yourself. See a GP or another treatment provider and explain when, where and how you were injured. Tell them: 'This was an accident and I'd like to make an ACC claim.' They will lodge the claim for you.

I got hurt at work. Who pays my salary for the first week?

Your employer pays you for the first week. They must pay you 80% of your usual earnings. From the second week, ACC pays. Weekly compensation is not paid automatically, so you must apply to ACC with a medical certificate from your doctor.

How much does ACC pay if I can't work because of an injury?

ACC pays up to 80% of your earnings before the injury (before tax). You must apply for weekly compensation. You need a medical certificate saying you cannot do some or all of your usual work. If you get ACC for more than 5 days, you can agree with your employer to use 1 day of sick leave for every 5 days of ACC to top up to 100%.

Can I go straight to a physio for a sports sprain?

Yes. For sprains and strains, you can go straight to a physiotherapist, and you do not always need a referral first. The physio can lodge the ACC claim for you. Once ACC accepts your claim, it pays most of the cost, so the physio may charge you the rest.

Can I get ACC if someone assaulted me?

Yes. ACC covers injuries caused by crime, such as assault or sexual abuse. See a GP or another treatment provider and ask them to lodge an ACC claim. If you have experienced sexual assault or abuse, ACC's Sensitive Claims Service provides treatment and support. You do not need to report it to the Police first.

What is the ACC phone number?

The ACC phone number is 0800 101 996. You can call this number for help, for example when you want to apply for weekly compensation. The ACC website also has some guides in languages other than English.

Answers are based on the verified content of this page — the official source always prevails.

Where can I check the official information?

Who can get public health careImmigration New Zealand · immigration.govt.nz
Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC)Ministry of Justice (Victims Information) · victimsinfo.govt.nz
PhysiotherapistsHealth New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora · healthnz.govt.nz
Taking sick leaveEmployment New Zealand · employment.govt.nz
Working after 65: ACC levies and entitlementsGovt.nz · govt.nz

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The AI answers using this guide and official New Zealand government websites.

Enrolling with a GP and who can get publicly funded healthcare

In New Zealand, you usually see a family doctor (GP) first when you are unwell. If you are eligible for publicly funded health services, you can enrol with a GP clinic for free. After you enrol, visits cost less, and you get reminders and screening services. Enrol before you get sick.

Getting help for your mental health

You can get free help if you feel stressed, anxious or low, or if you are worried about someone else. The main service is 1737. You can call or text 1737 for free, and trained counsellors answer 24 hours a day. Many areas also have free mental health support services that you can contact without a referral. If someone is in danger right now, call 111.

Prescription costs and dental care

Most people in New Zealand pay NZ$5 for each prescription item. Children, older people and some cardholders pay nothing. If you pay for 20 items in a year, you can get a Prescription Subsidy Card. Basic dental care is mostly free for eligible children and teenagers under 18. Adults usually pay for dental care themselves, but people on a low income can apply to Work and Income for help.