2 February 2022

The Government, Business New Zealand and the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions have announced proposals for a New Zealand Income Insurance Scheme to help support New Zealanders who are made redundant and laid off, or have to stop working because of a health condition or disability.

The proposed scheme would support workers with 80 percent of their income for up to seven months if they lose their job through no fault of their own. Much like ACC, the scheme would be funded by the levy paid by both workers and their employers – about 1.39 percent each.

This would see a full-time minimum wage earner and their employer pay $11.20 a week each, a median wage earner and their employer pay $14.73 each, and someone earning $2,000 a week and their employer pay $27.80 each. Levy payments would be capped for employees (and their employers) who earn more than $130,911 a year. This pot of money would be administered by ACC and paid out by them.

The key features of the proposed scheme are:

  • Broad coverage for different working arrangements
  • Coverage for job losses due to redundancy, layoffs and health conditions and disabilities
  • A four-week notice period and four-week payment, at 80 percent of salary, from employers
  • A further six months of financial support from the scheme, at 80 percent of wages or a salary
  • Option to extend support for up to 12 months for training and rehabilitation
  • A case management service to support people’s return to work
  • Administered by ACC
  • Funded by levies on wages and salaries, with both workers and employers paying an estimated 1.39 percent each
  • Workers eligible after six months of levy contributions in the previous 18 months.

If the Government decides to go ahead with the proposal, it will introduce legislation in 2022 and have the scheme operating in 2023.

The scheme is now open for public comment, with submissions closing on 26 April 2022. You can read more about the proposals, complete a short survey or make a submission on the MBIE website.

If you have any questions, please speak to your Nexia advisor or contact us via our general contact details.

Shelley-ann Brinkley Nexia Auckland
Written by Shelley-ann Brinkley

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