When systems don’t talk to each other, people pay the price.

Recently, I was told I suddenly owed tens of thousands of dollars in tax, with little warning and no clear explanation — despite doing everything I believed was required when receiving ACC-related payments as a caregiver.

ACC says everything is set up correctly.

Inland Revenue says the issue sits with ACC.

And in the middle of that gap is a family left trying to untangle years of decisions made in good faith.

This isn’t just about money. It’s about the emotional toll of being passed back and forth between agencies, each insisting the problem isn’t theirs, while the consequences land squarely on the person least equipped to absorb them.

For many disabled people, carers, and families navigating ACC, this kind of uncertainty is not rare — it’s exhausting. People make choices to care for their loved ones, often at personal and financial cost, trusting that the systems in place will be clear, fair, and consistent. When they’re not, the stress compounds quietly and relentlessly.

I’m sharing this not to single out individuals, but to highlight how easily people fall through the cracks when accountability is blurred. Clarity matters. Coordination matters. And no one should be left carrying fear and confusion simply because two systems can’t align.