What to expect

What happens after lodging a claim

Once a claim has been lodged with us, you can access up to 14 hours of therapy and up to 30 hours of other support services, such as support for your family and whānau. This is at no cost to you, and you won’t have to wait for us to approve your claim to get this support. A member of our team will get in touch with you to discuss your needs and the support we can provide.

The first two sessions of support are called Getting Started and will focus on building a relationship with your therapy provider and deciding if they’re the right fit for you. If you decide your therapy provider is not the right fit, you have the right to find another one. 

During the next four sessions, which we call Early Supports, you and your therapy provider will consider the type of treatment and support you’ll need for your recovery. Your therapy provider will develop an Early Supports Plan identifying the best cover and treatment path for you and who will provide the necessary support. They will discuss the plan with you before sending it to us.

One treatment path your therapy provider may recommend is Short Term Support to Wellbeing. This is recommended if your therapy provider believes a short-term intervention of up to eight hours of therapy will meet your treatment needs and goals. For some people, a few sessions are all that’s needed, while others may require more treatment and support.

If your therapy provider believes you would benefit from further support, they will work with you to determine the best way to support your recovery.

Any further treatment and support can only be provided after your ACC claim has been approved.

Getting further treatment and support

Depending on your treatment needs, we may be able to approve your claim for more treatment and support after receiving a Cover and Wellbeing Plan from your therapy provider. To complete this plan, your therapy provider will ask you some questions and you will complete a questionnaire to help determine your treatment needs. However, you won’t need to undergo an in-depth assessment and can start receiving treatment after we approve your claim.

If after receiving your Cover and Wellbeing Plan, we approve your claim, your therapy provider will work with you to create an tailored support plan based on your individual needs. You’ll be able to access talk therapy, as well as support from other specialists, such as social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech language therapists, and dieticians.

If necessary, you’ll also have access to other support services, such as group-based therapy. You can also request social rehabilitation services, such as rongoā Māori and other ACC services.

Learn about other ACC services that are available to you.

When a Specialist Cover Assessment is needed

Your therapy provider may recommend that you undergo a Specialist Cover Assessment with an approved assessment provider. An assessor may be someone other than your therapy provider.

A Specialist Cover Assessment is used to determine cover for a mental injury caused by sexual abuse and provides us with a formal diagnosis. This type of assessment is needed if you require financial support like weekly compensation, Loss of potential earnings (LOPE) or Permanent Injury Compensation (PIC).

Learn more about the types of financial support we can provide

The assessment process requires us to obtain information from you and your medical providers. If you request financial support, some questions about your ability to work will also be asked and this is known as a Function Assessment. We will get your consent before collecting medical information for the assessment and your therapy provider will explain and support you throughout this process.

While you’re waiting for your assessment to be completed, you can continue to receive support from your therapy provider. We will provide 10 sessions of therapy and additional hours with the assessor to ensure this assessment happens at the right pace for you. 

Once your Specialist Cover Assessment has been completed, we will determine if we can approve your claim. If approved, your therapy provider will work with you to create an individualised support plan based on your unique needs. You’ll be able to access talk therapy, as well as support from other specialists, such as social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech language therapists, and dieticians.

If necessary, you’ll also have access to other support services, such as group-based therapy and vocational rehabilitation. You can also request social rehabilitation services, such as rongoā Māori, and other ACC services.

What happens after completing your treatment

After you have completed your treatment, we will continue to support you by funding up to 20 hours of support to be used over the next three years. We call this type of support Maintaining Wellbeing, and it’s to help you navigate any challenging times, without needing to go through the entire engagement process again.

If you need more support after this, or at any stage in the future, you can contact us for further support.

For more information about support services available to you, visit:

acc.co.nz/im-injured/what-we-cover/support-after-sexual-abuse-and-assault