Workers’ Compensation Benefits Increase For 2024

Nobody wants to get injured at work. A workplace injury can be serious in nature and cause a person to miss a lot of work. This means they won’t be earning any money, yet their medical bills will be piling up.

Under New York’s workers’ compensation law, a person who is injured in a workplace accident is eligible to receive benefits as long as they are off work for more than one week. An injured employee is entitled to a compensation rate equal to two-thirds of the average weekly wage based on the 52-week period immediately prior to the accident. So if you were averaging $900 a week in the 52 weeks before your workplace injury, then you would receive $600 a week through the state’s workers’ compensation program.

The good news is that benefits will be increasing for those who have become disabled due to a workplace. New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill into law on September 6, 2023, that increases the minimum benefits for temporary or permanent partial disability to $275 in 2024 and $325 in 2025. In 2026, there will also be an increase that will be equal to one-fifth of the state average weekly wage.

The previous law did allow for an annual increase to the minimum benefits, but the weekly minimum benefits were not increased regularly and only on a piecemeal basis. They were set at $150, so the new law will ensure the minimum amounts are updated on a more regular basis.

Assemblymember Latoya Joyner was in favor of the bill, stating that “no worker should be left destitute because of a workplace injury.” She felt that with the cost of living rapidly rising, it is essential to raise the minimum benefit injured workers receive while they are disabled. This law ensures a more secure future for those living with workplace injuries.

In addition to the changes to its workers’ compensation rules, New York updated its laws to prohibit employers from disciplining workers who decide not to attend meetings on political or religious matters. Employees’ refusal to view communications or listen to speech intended to communicate an employer’s political or religious affiliations or opinions are also protected by the new law. In addition, the laws increase the penalties for wage theft.

This legislation was put into place to make New York the most worker-friendly state in the nation, according to Governor Hochul. She hopes the bill will create the most robust protections for New York workers.

Contact Us for More Information About Workers’ Compensation Benefits

While workers’ compensation benefits are helpful when an employee is injured, the amount is just a percentage of their typical wages. Nobody should be left destitute due to a workplace injury, and the recent increase will help.

Make sure you get the compensation you deserve. A White Plains workers’ compensation lawyer from The Law Office of Michael Lawrence Varon can help. Schedule a free initial consultation by calling (914) 228-1770 or filling out the online form.

Source:

propertycasualty360.com/2023/09/19/new-york-increases-minimum-weekly-benefits-for-workers-comp-claimants/?slreturn=20240121140711