Disability benefits in New York

Division of Disability Determinations

This state office decides the medical part of your Social Security disability claim. Social Security checks the other rules, like work credits, income and savings.

Part of

New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA)

Mail

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, Division of Disability Determinations, P.O. Box 165, Albany, NY 12260-0165

Email

NY.DD.PC3.CORRES@ssa.gov

Website

https://otda.ny.gov/programs/disability-determinations/

Medicaid for working people with disabilities: Medicaid Buy-In Program for Working People with Disabilities (MBI-WPD)

This program lets people with disabilities who work keep Medicaid. You must live in New York, be 16 or older (coverage up to age 65), meet Social Security's disability rule, and have a paid job (part-time or full-time). Gross income can be as high as $80,820 for one person or $109,236 for a couple. Countable resources must be $33,038 or less for one person or $44,796 for two. Retirement accounts do not count. Right now no premiums are charged. You apply at your Local Department of Social Services.

https://www.health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/program/buy_in/

New York Disability Benefits (DBL)

Run by

New York State Workers' Compensation Board (benefits are paid by your employer's insurance carrier)

Who it covers

Workers whose employers must carry disability benefits coverage, for an injury or illness that did not happen at work. You must be under the care of a doctor or another listed health care provider. If you become disabled while getting unemployment benefits, the Workers' Compensation Board's Special Fund for Disability pays the benefits.

Benefit

50% of your average weekly wage for the last eight weeks you worked, up to $170 a week. Paid for up to 26 weeks in any 52 weeks in a row. The first 7 days are an unpaid waiting period. Benefits start on the 8th day.

How to file

Use form DB-450 (Notice and Proof of Claim for Disability Benefits). You fill out Part A and your health care provider fills out Part B. If your disability started within four weeks of your last day at work, give it to your employer or its insurance carrier. If you were getting unemployment and the disability started more than four weeks after your last day of work, mail it to: Workers' Compensation Board, Disability Benefits Bureau, PO Box 9029, Endicott, NY 13761-9029.

Filing deadline

File within 30 days after you become disabled.

Phone

(877) 632-4996

Website

https://www.wcb.ny.gov/content/main/DisabilityBenefits/employee-disability-benefits.jsp

New York Paid Family Leave (PFL)

Run by

New York State Workers' Compensation Board / your employer's insurance carrier

Who it covers

Workers who need paid time off to bond with a new child, care for a family member with a serious health condition, or help when a family member is deployed abroad on military service. It is not for your own illness. For your own illness, see Disability Benefits.

Benefit

In 2026 the most you can get is $1,228.53 a week and $14,742.36 in total. You cannot get Disability Benefits and Paid Family Leave at the same time. The two together cannot be more than 26 weeks in any 52 weeks.

How to file

File with your employer's Paid Family Leave insurance carrier. You can look up your employer's carrier on the Workers' Compensation Board website.

Phone

(844) 337-6303 (PFL Helpline)

Website

https://paidfamilyleave.ny.gov/