Following the Christchurch terror attack, the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) in New Zealand has received fatal claims for all 50 deceased victims and 94 injury claims as of 26 March. According to ACC COO Mike Tully, the corporation is still operating a dedicated team in Christchurch to ensure all claims are fast-tracked so that victims and their families receive the support they need as quickly as possible.
ACC is also working closely with other agencies, including the police's family liaison officers, to connect with the families of people who may have been injured in the attack.
“Our priority now is working with families and funeral homes to arrange payment of funeral grants and the full range of entitlements – such as survivors’ grants and compensation for lost earnings for those who were working in New Zealand – as we receive details about each of the affected families,” said Mr Tully.
ACC is New Zealand’s sole and compulsory provider of accident insurance for all work- and non-work-related injuries. Its no-fault scheme covers everyone in New Zealand if they are injured in an accident. This includes children, beneficiaries, students and visitors to New Zealand who can be working, unemployed or retired.
To explain the entitlements and support available for the attack, ACC has produced a factsheet which has been translated into Malay, Indonesian, Farsi, Bengali, Urdu, Hindi and Arabic.
ACC’s cover will help injured victims pay for recovery costs, such as acute medical care costs, support with longer-term medical treatment as well as weekly compensation for those working in New Zealand while they recover. ACC will also provide a range of support such as home help, transportation assistance and childcare where required.