New York businesses should be aware of NYS disability requirements.
NYS DBL Coverage, or Disability Benefits Law, ensures that employees who are injured, ill, or give birth to a child can take time off without losing all their income. Although disability benefits in New York only pay 50% of an employee’s paycheck—and only up to a maximum of $170 each week—it can supplement an employee’s own savings in the event of an illness, injury, or childbirth.
Insurance brokers who work with The DBL Center can help clients privatize New York disability benefits. Private coverage eliminates the 7-day waiting period before a worker can collect NYS disability pay. Private carriers offer better service than the New York State Insurance Fund, including claims tracking. We bet there’s a lot your clients don’t know about New York State disability insurance. The DBL Center is here to help you, help them.
Enriched DBL Can Help Employers Recruit Talent Across State Lines
New Jersey state temporary disability benefits (TDB) offer a state maximum of $1,081 per week—more than six times New York’s maximum benefit. For New York-based businesses trying to expand their talent pool to stay competitive, it’s tough to convince New Jersey high performers not only to commute into another state, but also to accept New York’s mandatory benefits. In most cases, benefits are based on where an employee works the majority of the time.
Enriching your NYS DBL benefits package is one way to attract workers across state lines. For just a very small premium increase, you can enhance your NYS DBL coverage to offer a competitive benefits package.
Adding five times DBL in New York State pays 50 percent of an employee’s salary up to a maximum benefit of $850 week. In-hospital coverage could increase the maximum benefit up to $1020 per week, with no waiting period.
Adding an Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) rider provides 24/7 coverage for accidents or illnesses, whether they occur off the job or on. Benefit levels range from $50,000 to $100,000. Learn more about Enriched DBL in NY here.
Employees Can’t Collect a Paycheck or PFL and NYS DBL Benefits at the Same Time
If an employer allows workers to cash in their sick time or vacation days to cover an illness, injury or maternity leave, they cannot collect NYS DBL on top of that paycheck. There is a one-week waiting period after their last paycheck before they can collect DBL for up to 26 weeks.
Employees living paycheck-to-paycheck, which includes many families in the New York Tri-state area, have to do some careful budgeting to sustain their standard of living if they are ill, injured, or have a baby. Enhanced DBL coverage can give employees peace of mind with a better benefits package.
Workers also can’t claim PFL and New York state disability at the same time, either. However, they can collect DBL first and then use their 12 weeks of Paid Family Leave after their six or eight weeks of NYS disability pay runs out.
Bundle Enriched DBL With Ancillary Benefits for Cost Savings
As a trusted insurance broker, you can help your clients bundle ancillary benefits with their enriched DBL to save even more money. Let The DBL Center help you analyze your clients’ employee benefits packages for risk gaps. Popular benefits to add on a voluntary, employer-funded, or cost-shared basis include:
- Dental
- Vision
- Accident Insurance
- Long-term disability
- Group Life / AD&D
The DBL Center Can Help You Bind Rates for DBL Under 50 Lives in Minutes
The DBL Center Ltd. makes it easy to bind rates for businesses with less than 50 lives using our Quick Quote Rate Chart. Connect online with one of our top insurance carriers, get quotes in minutes, and bind coverage when you find the plan that fits your needs. A representative will call you to complete the process, and ensure that you’re satisfied with your coverage, pricing, and policy. From enhancing your DBL coverage to making a claim, we are always just a phone call away. You could buy coverage from the state, but you’ll miss out on the white-glove service The DBL Center has been providing our customers for 40 years.
Carriers Can No Longer Backdate Policies
Beginning May 30, 2025, insurance brokers will no longer be able to backdate policies for their clients. For decades, the New York Workers Compensation Board allowed carriers to reinstated and backdate cancelled policies if they weren’t paid on time. The state is now reviewing disability benefits policies and asking carriers to cancel any inactive or delinquent policies.
It’s more important than ever for New York business owners to rely on private DBL through a trusted broker, who can help ensure they’re in compliance and their policy is paid in time.
To learn more about these changes coming to New York disability employer requirements, register for our free webinar.
FAQs
How much does NY disability pay?
New York State Disability insurance pays 50% of an employee’s average weekly wage, up to $170 per week of up to 26 weeks (within a 52-week period) for employees unable to work due to an off-the-job illness or injury. Employers can enrich DBL coverage with a private policy.
What are the rules for disability in NY?
Under the NYS disability benefits law, New York business owners must provide disability benefits insurance. New York employers can cover the full premium or deduct a portion of the premium costs, at a rate of one half of 1% of an employee’s wage, up to 60 cents per week, from the employee’s check. Disability insurance offers partial pay replacement for any off-the-job injury or illness, or for weeks before or after childbirth.
