ACC expects to save about $7 billion between now and 2029 by getting long term claimants off of weekly compensation. It's part of a suite of changes that, if were all implemented, would save the Crown entity about $25b over that same timeframe. The changes include cuts to social rehabilitation programmes, tightened penalties for non-compliance, and legislative reform. The agency says its role is to support people back to work and independence and people won't lose what they are entitled to under the law.
But advocates for ACC claimants remain concerned that people who aren't ready to return to work are being exited from the Scheme, without proper rehabilitation. ACC has been under strict instruction from its Minister Scott Simpson to reduce the long term claims pool - which includes anyone who has been on weekly compensation for one year or more. The pool is currently the largest it has even been at almost 25,000 people. In the year to June 8,000 people were exited from the pool and by June 2026 ACC aims to have a further 11,675 off. Megan Main is the chief executive of ACC.
ACC logo Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
