Our no-fault scheme covers everyone, including visitors, who are injured in an accident in Aotearoa New Zealand. It can include events that result in mass casualties, and covers children, beneficiaries, and students. You’re covered if you’re working, unemployed, or retired.
There are some limits to the support we can provide. These limits are set by Parliament, which makes laws about what we can and can’t support.
If you're injured in an accident, make sure you go and see your doctor or health provider first. They can make a claim for you. Claims can be made up to 12 months after your injury. We may still consider claims made after this time if there’s a good reason for the claim not being made sooner.
No-fault cover means it doesn't matter what you were doing when you were injured or who was at fault. We'll cover you, as long as the injury falls within our legislation.
The cover we provide helps pay for costs to support your recovery and get you back on your feet. It includes payment towards medical bills, treatment, help at home and work and help with your income.
A physical injury is when there is actual damage to your body. This includes:
We cover most physical injuries if they're caused by:
We can cover injuries or conditions that happen over time and are caused by the type of work you do. This is known as gradual process conditions. We have to establish if your work tasks or workplace environment are causing your condition.
We can also cover injuries that are long-term, permanent or that happened at birth.
Sometimes getting treatment can cause an injury. We can cover a treatment injury if:
We can also cover injuries caused by treatment for an injury we've already covered.
We can cover injuries or conditions that happen over time and are caused by the type of work you do. This could be things like:
We can cover injuries that cause long-term effects and disabilities including spinal and traumatic brain injuries (TBI), such as concussion.
Find out how we're working to reduce the number, severity, and impact of TBIs:
If we accept your claim for a physical injury, we can also cover mental injuries resulting from that injury. For example, post-traumatic stress disorder after a physical assault.
If your physical injury is caused by medical treatment we may also be able to cover a resulting mental injury, even if the physical injury isn’t covered.
We also cover mental injuries if you've experienced, seen or heard a traumatic event at work such as working in a retail shop when a robbery takes place . This is even if you haven't been physically injured.
We provide support for anyone in Aotearoa New Zealand, including visitors to the country, who has experienced sexual abuse and assault. We may also be able to help if you're an Aotearoa New Zealand resident and have experienced sexual abuse while travelling overseas. It doesn't matter if the event happened recently or a long time ago.
If you've experienced sexual abuse, use the Find Support website to see the organisations that have therapists who can support you. This support is fully funded and you can start whenever you're ready. There are also services available for your family.
If you're having trouble getting in touch with the right therapist, contact us. We'll help you to make an appointment.
We can pay for dental injuries caused by:
We don’t pay for:
Your dentist will help you to make a claim if you have an injury we cover.
We give financial help if someone dies as a result of:
If you have experienced an injury while giving birth on or after 1 October 2022, we may be able to help with your recovery. We have guidance on what's normal and what's not.
Last published: 1 May 2024