Sex abuse claims filed with the Accident Compensation Corporation have tripled since the reintroduction of controversial lump-sum payments two months ago.
Figures show 2949 people made claims with the ACC's sensitive claims unit in March and April, compared with 975 over the same period last year.
Since April 1, sex abuse and
accident victims have been able to claim lump sums, which operate on a sliding scale according to the degree of mental or physical injury. The highest payment available is $100,000.
People injured or abused before April 1 must claim under the previous system, which provides a weekly allowance. The allowance system was introduced in 1992 after thousands of sexual abuse claims had been made for one-off payments of $10,000.
Lump-sum payments caused a furore this year when Christchurch law firm Wakefield Associates sent out flyers touting the ability to secure large claims for abuse victims.
Figures obtained by Act list MP Muriel Newman show 680 sensitive claims were approved in April, compared with 478 claims for the same month last year.
"This is exactly what was predicted," Dr Newman said. "It's just an indication the floodgates have opened. The Government has opened the taxpayer to unlimited liability."
She said the level of proof required to substantiate a claim for sexual abuse was not high enough.
But ACC Minister Lianne Dalziel said the test was high, with a doctor required to certify a "significant and permanent mental impairment".
Under the payment rules, a person's condition had to be stable before an assessment was made - generally two years after counselling started.
"There have been no lump-sum payments in the last two months because people can only claim for abuse established after April 1."
She said the payments differed from those abolished in 1992.
"Many people have been confused by the differences in the new system. People must now be able to show there is a permanent mental impairment."
To be considered, clients must have had counselling or therapy for at least two years and be able to show that damage caused by the abuse is serious enough to impede their ability to lead a normal life.
- NZPA
