Injury cover for self-employed people

Transcription

1 Working for business Injury cover for self-employed people ACC CoverPlus

2 As soon as you start self-employment, ACC CoverPlus, our standard 24/7 no-fault personal injury cover automatically applies to you. You can get access to a full range of medical and rehabilitation benefits, including lost earnings compensation regardless of whether or not your injury was work-related. All information in this publication was correct at the time of printing in March This information is intended to serve only as a general guide. For any legal or financial purposes the Accident Compensation Act 2001 and regulations take precedence over the contents of this guide.

3 When you re working for yourself, you don t get sick days. If you don t work, you don t get paid. So what happens if you re injured? What would need to change if you had no income coming in? Fortunately, whether you re injured at work or during your time off, ACC has you covered. Our 24-hour, no-fault personal injury cover provides financial assistance with treatment costs, as well as weekly compensation for lost earnings while you re unable to work. At a glance 24/7 eligibility for injuries, whether the injury is a workplace injury or not Applies as soon as self-employment starts Access to a full range of medical and rehabilitation benefits, including weekly compensation for lost earnings based on up to 80% of your previous year s earnings It s easy to make a claim your health professional will arrange this for you. Entitlements Under ACC CoverPlus, some or all of the following entitlements may be payable depending on the nature of your injury and your individual needs. 1

4 Medical treatment ACC will help pay for most of the costs associated with treating your injury, however some treatment providers charge an additional fee. Keep your receipts as ACC may refund some or all of the costs if the claim is accepted. Lost earnings compensation If you can prove you ve missed out on income, you can receive up to 80% of your previous year s liable earnings, starting one week after your injury. A maximum amount applies and if you partially return to work, weekly payments may be reduced. Visit our website to find out more information. If you are new to self-employment If a history of earnings as a self-employed person is not accessible or available (eg it s your first year of selfemployment), you will be eligible for a set minimum rate as long as your self-employment was fulltime. Use our online calculator at to find out more about liable payroll, classification units and how levies are calculated. If you stop being self-employed, the final invoice will be based on actual earnings for that year. Consider ACC CoverPlus Extra if you need additional cover in your first year. Go to for more information. 2

5 Rehabilitation and support Types of assistance available include home help, attendant care, childcare, transport, training for independence, aids and modifications. If your injury makes it hard for you to return to work, ACC may assist by providing vocational rehabilitation, including occupational assessments, workplace modifications and advice. Attendance costs If you have to travel for assessments, ACC can help with transport and accommodation costs. This may also include assistance for your support people. Grants and payments If an injury has a serious long-term effect through a permanent impairment, lump-sum payments may be available. If you die as a result of an injury, allowances and grants may also be available to your family. These include financial assistance to help with funeral costs and ongoing childcare payments. Visit our webiste to find out more about the types of assistance ACC can provide. 3

6 Experience rating Making ACC work account levies fairer for individual businesses On 1 April 2011 ACC introduced experience rating, a system of modifying a business s ACC Work levy based on its claims history. Experience rating recognises and rewards business owners (including self-employed people) with good claims experience, and encourages a focus on improving workplace safety and making New Zealand businesses better places to work. To find out more about experience rating and how it may be applicable to you visit For more information and support around preventing and managing injuries in your workplace visit 4

7 What do the different parts of my levy cover? ACC CoverPlus levy Covers medical, rehabilitation and weekly compensation costs for injuries that happen at work. We work this out based on the number and costs of claims in your industry. Residual claims levy Provides funds for the ongoing costs of work injuries that occurred before 1 July 1999 and non-work injuries to earners before July Earner levy Covers medical, rehabilitation and weekly compensation costs for any injury sustained outside work. This is paid by every employee and self-employed person in New Zealand. Health and safety in employment levy ACC collects this levy on behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. It is used to help fund Workplace Health and Safety. Use our online calculator to find out more about liable payroll, classification units and how levies are calculated. 5

8 Useful information 6 The ACC cover year is from 1 April to 31 March. Invoicing usually begins in July each year, and uses information declared on your IR3 tax return. As work levies are based on the business industry description you give to Inland Revenue, it s important to select the most appropriate description. The payment due date will be shown on your invoice. Flexible payment options are available, including credit card, cheque, internet banking, direct debit and automatic payment. Go to for more information. To get an indication of your ACC CoverPlus levies, visit ACC enables employers to give delegated members of staff different levels of access to check ACC account details, sign up for automated alerts, maintain their business details and view their work claims reposts. Go to to find out more. ACC has injury prevention programmes that can help you to reduce injuries at work. Visit our website to find out more. We have interpreters who can assist you in a number of languages.

9 Additional product options Personalise your cover and your levies ACC CoverPlus Extra is designed to give you an agreed amount of lost earnings cover. If you re self-employed or a non-paye shareholder-employee, you can decide on the weekly amount you want to receive if you re injured and can t work. Visit our website to find out more. Be safe and save If you re self-employed or running a small to medium-sized business (10 or fewer staff), you could be eligible for an ACC Workplace Safety Discount. Recognise and control the main hazards in and around your workplace to receive a 10% reduction in the work portion of your levies. Visit our website to find out more information. Take a break and stay covered ACC TimeOut is a great way to ensure you re covered if you take time off work for any reason, such as to study or travel. You can have an agreed value of lost earnings cover, up to 80% of your income before your break. 7

10 How to apply If you would like to apply for any of these additional options, call us on

11

12 Printed in New Zealand on paper sourced from well-managed sustainable forests using oil free, soy-based vegetable inks ACC4681 March 2013