17 December 2019 
 
Kaye Serrah 
[FYI request #11696 email] 
 
 
Dear Kaye 
 
 
Your Official Information Act request, reference: GOV-002699 
Thank you for your email of 20 November 2019, asking for the following information under the Official 
Information Act 1982 (the Act): 
 
1.  This request has regard to the 1991 ACC Act. Prior to electronic data matching capabilities, how 
did the corporation ascertain whether an applicant was in receipt of any tax payer funded 
assistance that might affect the entitlement to which they may or may not be eligible for? 
2.  Provisions within that act set out the requirement to investigate a claim for cover, then the level 
of assistance as was appropriate. 
Part 6 s 252 (4) a, .. .if the Corporation knows that this section applies; or. .  What steps would 
the Corporation ordinarily have taken to discover this? 
 
The 1991 Accident Compensation Act 
As there is no 1991 Accident Compensation Act (the AC Act), we have assumed that you mean the 1982 
AC Act, as it was the AC Act in force in 1991. 
 
In response to question one, prior to electronic data matching ACC would call Inland Revenue and 
request information about the employment history of the person applying for ACC weekly 
compensation assistance. 
 
Provisions under the AC Act 2001 
In response to your second question, we have assumed that you are referring to the AC Act 2001 which 
contains the quoted section you have included in your request. 
 
ACC assess the need to determine whether a client has received another form of social welfare on a 
case by case basis. Examples of situations where ACC would further enquiries are below: 
•  The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) makes a request to ACC to be reimbursed as they 
have paid a client a benefit, and they have become aware the client is now eligible for financial 
assistance from ACC. 
•  Earnings information requested during weekly compensation shows the client has been in 
receipt of a MSD benefit. 
•  Client tells ACC they have received an income tested benefit during the relevant period. 
•  If ACC is required to pay 90 days or more of backdated weekly compensation owed to the client, 
checking for other forms of social welfare paid is part of the process. 
 
If you have any questions, you can email me at [email address]. 
 
 
Yours sincerely 
 
Sasha Wood 
Acting Manager Official Information Act Services 
Government Engagement & Support 

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Document Outline

• ACC assess the need to determine whether a client has received another form of social welfare on a case by case basis. Examples of situations where ACC would further enquiries are below:
•  The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) makes a request to ACC to be reimbursed as they have paid a client a benefit, and they have become aware the client is now eligible for financial assistance from ACC.
•  Earnings information requested during weekly compensation shows the client has been in receipt of a MSD benefit.
•  Client tells ACC they have received an income tested benefit during the relevant period.
•  If ACC is required to pay 90 days or more of backdated weekly compensation owed to the client, checking for other forms of social welfare paid is part of the process.

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