NYS Disability

Just because the New York Disability Benefits Law (DBL) requires you to provide short-term disability benefits doesn’t mean you have to pay a lot for the privilege. When you choose Benefit Specialists, you’re guaranteeing low-cost statutory coverage.

Compliance, DBL and you

DBL was established to replace part of an employee’s lost wages when disability from off-the-job injury or illness occurs. It does not provide hospital or medical insurance.

As a New York state employer, you are required to comply with DBL if you employ one or more persons on each of 30 calendar days in a calendar year, and you must do so at the end of four weeks after the 30th day of such employment.

(Note: If you aren’t required to comply, you may cover employees by filing an
Application for Voluntary Coverage with the Workers’ Compensation Board.)

The following groups of employees are NOT eligible for coverage under DBL:

• The spouse or minor children of the employer.
  
• Daytime students in an elementary or secondary school who also work.
  
• Independent contractors.
  
• Employees during the first 45 days of “extra employment,” defined as those people who are normally not in the labor market but might be hired for regular or casual work for a specified limited period of time.
  
• Sole proprietors.

Paying benefits and premiums

DBL benefits are equal to 50% of the disabled employee’s average weekly wages (based on the last eight weeks of employment). The maximum benefit is $170/week. Benefits begin on the eighth day of disability. Benefits are payable for a maximum of 26 weeks throughout any period of 52 consecutive weeks. Pregnancies are included.

Employees can be charged no more than 60 cents a week. The employer must cover any amounts over this amount.

Please contact a Benefit Specialists of NY representative for further information, such as how to enroll (including an enrollment form), and for current rates.