NZ ACC Weekly Compensation Calculator
Use this calculator to estimate what ACC will pay you each week if an accidental injury stops you from working. ACC weekly compensation is based on 80% of your pre-injury gross earnings, worked out two different ways depending on how long you have been off work. You enter your employment type (permanent PAYE employee, non-permanent or casual, or self-employed on CoverPlus, split by whether you are recently or well established in self-employment), your gross earnings in the four weeks before the injury, your annual gross income across all jobs, the number of weeks you actually worked in the past year, and whether the injury happened at work. If you have returned to work part-time, you also enter your current earnings so the tool can apply abatement, the rule that reduces your ACC payment so your combined income does not exceed what you earned before the injury. The results show your short-term rate for the first four weeks, your long-term rate once that period ends, your abated payment if you are working reduced hours, and who covers your first week off work, your employer at 80% or your own sick and annual leave. Full-time earners also see the $766.40 weekly minimum applied where it is higher than their calculated rate, and every rate is capped at the $2,409.86 weekly maximum that follows from the $156,641 maximum liable earnings. These figures are indicative estimates only; ACC determines your actual entitlement from verified income records, so confirm your specific payment with ACC directly.
1. Pre-Injury Earnings
2. Return to Work (Abatement)
Compensation Calculation
Abatement and First Week
How ACC Weekly Compensation Works
ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation) provides a no-fault personal injury cover for everyone in New Zealand, including residents, workers, and visitors. If you suffer an accidental injury and cannot work, ACC pays weekly compensation at 80% of your pre-injury gross earnings, subject to tax and other deductions.
Calculation Methods
| Period | Method | Details |
|---|---|---|
| First 4 weeks | Short-term rate | 80% of average weekly earnings in the 4 weeks immediately before the injury |
| After 4 weeks (permanent employee) | Long-term rate | Total income from current employer divided by weeks worked (up to 52). Unpaid leave weeks are excluded from the divisor. |
| After 4 weeks (non-permanent) | Long-term rate | Total earnings from ALL jobs in the past year divided by 52 (regardless of weeks actually worked) |
| Self-employed, recent (CoverPlus) | Tax return basis | Declared self-employed earnings plus any PAYE earnings from the most recent tax return, divided by the weeks actually worked |
| Self-employed, established (CoverPlus) | Tax return basis | The same combined total divided by 52, regardless of the weeks actually worked |
| Self-employed (CoverPlus Extra) | Agreed amount | Based on pre-agreed cover amount chosen by the self-employed person |
| All types | Floor and ceiling | At least $766.40 a week for full-time earners, and never more than $2,409.86 a week (80% of the $156,641 maximum liable earnings) |
Minimum Rate for Full-Time Earners
If you were a full-time earner before your injury, ACC will pay at least the minimum rate of $766.40 gross per week (effective 1 April 2026). This is calculated as 80% of the adult minimum wage ($23.95/hour) for a 40-hour week: $23.95 x 40 = $958.00, and 80% of $958.00 = $766.40. This minimum ensures low-income full-time workers receive adequate compensation.
Full-time means 30 hours a week, not 40. The Accident Compensation Act 2001 defines full-time employment as an average of at least 30 hours a week over the four weeks immediately before your incapacity started, or fewer hours if your employment agreement calls that full time. The 40 hours in the paragraph above is a different thing: it is how the dollar figure is worked out, not the test for who qualifies. So someone working 32 hours a week is a full-time earner for this purpose and does get the $766.40 minimum, even though they never work a 40-hour week.
Maximum Rate and the Liable Earnings Cap
ACC only covers earnings up to the maximum liable earnings figure, which is $156,641 for the 2026/27 year. This is the same ceiling used for the ACC earners' levy, so you stop paying the levy on income above it and you also stop being covered for income above it.
That gives a hard ceiling on weekly compensation of $2,409.86 gross per week: $156,641 divided by 52 weeks is $3,012.33 a week, and 80% of $3,012.33 is $2,409.86. If you earned $300,000 a year before your injury, ACC still pays a maximum of $2,409.86 a week, not 80% of your actual earnings. The calculator above applies this ceiling to the short-term rate, the long-term rate and the employer-paid first week.
If you earn well above the cap, this gap is what income protection insurance is designed to fill. Self-employed people can also take ACC CoverPlus Extra to agree a cover amount in advance, though it is still subject to the maximum liable earnings.
First Week of Injury
ACC does not pay for the first seven calendar days after your injury prevents you from working. Coverage for the first week depends on how the injury happened:
- Work injury: Your employer must pay you 80% of your usual pay for the first week (7 calendar days)
- Non-work injury: Use sick leave, annual leave, or take unpaid leave. Your employer is not required to pay you for a non-work injury.
ACC weekly compensation begins from day 8.
Abatement (Return to Work)
When you return to work on reduced hours or alternative duties while still recovering, ACC adjusts your payment so your total income (work earnings plus ACC) does not exceed your pre-injury earnings. This is called abatement.
Example: You earned $1,000/week before injury. ACC was paying $800. You return to work part-time earning $300. ACC reduces your payment to $700, so your total remains $1,000. You must report all work hours and earnings to ACC through MyACC.
What ACC Does and Does Not Cover
| Covered by ACC | NOT Covered by ACC |
|---|---|
| Accidental injuries (work, home, sport, road) | Illness or disease (unless work-related gradual process) |
| Weekly compensation (80% of earnings) | Your vehicle damage in a car accident |
| Medical treatment costs | Property damage you cause |
| Surgery and rehabilitation | Income above the maximum liable earnings cap |
| Lump sum for permanent impairment (tax-free) | Pain and suffering (no general damages in NZ) |
| Home help and childcare assistance | Legal costs to sue for injury (no right to sue for personal injury in NZ) |
Tax and Deductions
ACC weekly compensation is taxable income. The following deductions apply before payment:
- PAYE income tax (at your applicable rate)
- Student loan repayments (if applicable, 12% above $24,128 threshold)
- KiwiSaver contributions (if you choose to continue)
- Child support (if applicable)
If you are receiving both work income and ACC simultaneously, you will need a secondary tax code for the lower income source. Lump sum payments for permanent impairment are tax-free.
How to Apply
- See a doctor or medical professional who will lodge an ACC45 claim form
- Apply for weekly compensation through MyACC (my.acc.co.nz) or phone ACC on 0800 101 996
- Provide employment and income details
- ACC will calculate your entitlement and begin payments once approved
Related Calculators
- PAYE and Salary Calculator
- Sick Leave Balance Calculator
- Take Home Pay Calculator
- Redundancy Entitlement Calculator
- ACC Weekly Compensation
- Cost of Sick Days Calculator NZ 2026: Unpaid Days, Lost Income.
- Farm Wage and Accommodation Calculator NZ: board, Lodging and Minimum Wage.
Sources: Accident Compensation Act 2001 (legislation.govt.nz). ACC weekly compensation guidance (acc.co.nz/im-injured/financial-support/weekly-compensation). ACC client payment changes 1 April 2025 (acc.co.nz/newsroom). ACC calculating weekly compensation for employees (acc.co.nz). Maximum liable earnings of $156,641 for the 2026/27 year, which also caps the ACC earners' levy at $2,741.22 (acc.co.nz levy rates).
This calculator provides indicative estimates only and does not constitute financial, medical, or legal advice. Actual ACC payments depend on your specific employment type, income history, and injury circumstances. ACC calculates your entitlement based on verified income data. Contact ACC on 0800 101 996 or visit acc.co.nz for definitive information about your claim.