Photo: Supplied
ACC is telling long-term injured clients around the country that they are "work ready" and giving them four weeks notice that their payments will stop. In the last year nearly 8 thousand long-term injured clients have been deemed no longer in need of help and removed from the long term claims pool.
That's a jump of 1400 on the year earlier. ACC is championing the record numbers, but some of the clients affected say they are not able to work and feel they are being dumped to save money. Jonathan Simcock received a letter from ACC last Monday advising him he is work ready and his payments would cease in 28 days. This is despite living with chronic pain, anxiety and depression after a bike accident that left him mostly paralysed in his dominant arm. Medical advice provided to ACC earlier this year said he was not work ready, and strongly advised against discharging him from his long-term claim.
After enquiries by Nine to Noon last week ACC abruptly changed its mind on Mr Simcock's case, telling him on Friday he has been reinstated. ACC advocate Warren Forster says Jonathan Simcock's case is one of many - where injured claimaints are being dropped by ACC with no change in their circumstances. And he says any client seeking a review of a decision has to wait months for a hearing. Kathryn speaks with Jonathan Simcock and Warren Forster. ACC says the increase in long term cases being closed reflects its success in supporting clients to recover from their injuries so they can return to work.
ACC Advocacy Service founder Warren Forster. Photo: RNZ / Ian Telfer
