Disability benefits insurance pays temporary, weekly cash benefits to employees who are disabled due to off-the-job injury or illness, and for disabilities arising from pregnancies. Medical care is the responsibility of the claimant. Disability benefits insurance is mandatory for most employers in New York State.
Find out who is covered and who is not covered by the New York State Disability Benefits Law.
File a Claim for Disability Benefits
Please confirm with your employer or the Worker's Compensation Board that your employer's disability benefits carrier is NYSIF. If so, please complete NYSIF Form DB-450 and submit your claim to NYSIF. Use this form if you become sick or disabled while employed or if you become sick or disabled within four weeks after your last day worked.
If you become sick or disabled after having been unemployed more than four weeks, NYSIF would not be the proper carrier to handle your claim request. Follow the instructions provided by the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board to submit your claim with the NYS Special Fund for Disability Benefits.
Part A is completed by you. Be sure to answer all questions completely and sign the front of the form. Write clearly. Incomplete or unsigned forms may be returned.
Part B is completed by the health care provider. Be sure your medical provider indicates the estimated date you may return to work. Do not indicate "unknown" or "undetermined."
Part C is completed by the employer and provides the necessary information NYSIF uses to process the claim.
Your completed claim form should be submitted to your most recent employer or NYSIF within 30 days after you become sick or disabled.
Mail completed NYSIF DB-450 forms to:
NYSIF Disability Benefits
PO Box 66699
Albany, NY 12206
You may also fax your NYSIF DB-450 to 518-437-5201. Be sure to keep a copy for your records.
Claims Payments
Disability benefits claims are paid only when you are disabled. Benefits do not extend to time off for family illness, or adoption. Claimants must be out of work eight consecutive days to be eligible for benefits and provide medical documentation for the entire period of disability.
The statutory benefit is 50% of the employee’s average gross wages for the last eight weeks, up to a maximum of $170 per week. (Learn about NYSIF Enriched Disability Benefits.)
Benefit checks are processed every two weeks. The first seven days is an unpaid waiting period. The maximum benefit covers 26 weeks in a 52-week period.
Pregnancy-related disabilities are paid the same as any other disability. Generally, a claimant is covered six weeks after a normal delivery and eight weeks after a Caesarian section. Disability may be extended before or after pregnancy if there are complications.
Who Pays for Disability Benefits Insurance?
Premiums may be paid entirely by the employer, or jointly by the employer and the employee. New York State Law allows (but does not require) employers to deduct one-half of one percent of an employee’s wage, up to a maximum of $.60 per week, to offset the cost of disability benefits insurance.
"Disability Taxability Rate" Explained
This number shows what percent of your benefits is taxable. Under federal tax law, the taxable percentage is based on how much you contributed to your benefits coverage. Employers may withhold up to 60 cents per week from your pay to cover the cost of benefits. So, for example, if those withholdings cover 70% of the price your employer paid for coverage, your benefits are 30% taxable. If withholdings cover all of the price paid, benefits are non-taxable.