Independent allowance assessments
A. Skeptical made this Official Information request to Accident Compensation Corporation
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From: A. Skeptical
Dear Accident Compensation Corporation,
I am requesting the following information under the Official Information Act 1982 regarding independence allowance assessments. This information is sought in the public interest to ensure transparency in ACC's assessment processes and to evaluate the consistency and quality of medical assessments
Questions:
1. Total number of independence allowance assessments completed annually (2020-2025)
2. Number of assessments where impairment exceeded 9% annually
3. Average processing time for independence allowance assessments
4. Number of assessments reviewed/overturned annually
Yours faithfully,
A. Skeptical
From: Government Services
Accident Compensation Corporation
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A. Skeptical left an annotation ()
I'm not entirely sure what the other annotation from Spencer Jones has to do with my request, not sure it was sent in error
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SPENCER JONES left an annotation ()
This OIA response from MSD confirms that there is no formal requirement for clients to obtain Disability Allowance or Temporary Additional Support (TAS) medical assessments from private health professionals. However, MSD fails to disclose any internal policy, operational guidance, or staff training materials that explain how this principle is applied in practice—despite widespread reports of clients being advised to pay for private providers or being told that assessments from public health clinicians (e.g., Te Whatu Ora) would not be accepted.
A DeepSearch of FYI.org.nz reveals that no prior requests or responses publicly document:
• The criteria for who is considered a “suitably qualified practitioner”;
• Any written guidance on whether Work and Income accepts Te Whatu Ora or other public-sector assessments;
• Reimbursement or financial support processes for low-income clients unable to afford private medical certificates.
This lack of published information creates a de facto access barrier that may disproportionately affect disabled, chronically ill, or low-income clients—contrary to principles of equity and transparency under the Public Service Act 2020 and the Human Rights Act 1993.
To address these concerns, I have drafted a formal follow-up OIA request seeking:
1. Copies of all internal guidance, desk files, or staff training materials on who can complete medical certificates for Disability Allowance or TAS (including private vs public distinctions).
2. Policies on reimbursement or cost coverage, particularly for vulnerable clients unable to afford private assessments.
3. Complaint and review summaries from 2020–2025 concerning disputes over required assessments or declined applications due to “insufficient documentation.”
4. Statistical data on how often assessments are declined or unsupported due to lack of funding.
This information is essential to determine whether unwritten practices or informal discouragement are undermining lawful access to support entitlements.
Link to this