Overview
The Office of the Advocate for Injured Workers helps employees access their workers’ compensation benefits – the lost wages and health care they need after a job-related injury or illness. The office helps workers get their benefits in the more complex and difficult claims. It also handles all fatality claims. Members of the office also perform public education providing information to interested groups to help workers understand and protect their rights in the workers' compensation system.
Free Webinar Sessions
If your group would like to arrange a webinar with education on workers’ compensation, please contact AdvInjWkr@wcb.ny.gov. All size groups can be accommodated!
The Advocate for Injured Workers hosts monthly webinars to educate workers on the basics of the workers’ compensation system, including employees’ rights if they become injured or ill on the job. Each one-hour presentation covers:
- Employees’ benefits under workers’ compensation;
- How to file a claim;
- Information to be aware of regarding COVID-19 claims; and
- How to get help with your claim if needed.
Sessions are free and general questions are always answered. To register for an upcoming session, visit the Webinars for Workers page. Registration is required.
Don’t want to wait? You can also view a recording of a previous session:
- Workers’ Compensation 101 - March 2022: Video
Ask the Advocate
In this ongoing feature, the Board’s Advocate for Injured Workers addresses timely and/or frequently asked questions from workers.
Featured Q&A:
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New! Dear Advocate: If I get injured at work, how much detail about what happened and my current work status should I give to my doctor?
You should certainly let your doctor know your injury occurred due to your employment and how you were injured. Share any relevant details with the treating provider.
Providers who treat injured workers are required to state whether they believe the patient became injured or ill while in the scope of their employment or while performing duties related to their job; and they will have to include their opinion in their medical report to the Board and the insurer.
Your doctor will also need to indicate whether you are currently working in that report, which is also key.
The third question the provider will answer in their report is how much your injury impairs your ability to work. This is called temporary impairment (or informally, degree of disability). It’s expressed as a percentage, from 0% (you’re well, no disability) to 100% (you’re unable to work). That percentage is one of the factors that determines your lost wage benefit. If the provider does not include this in the medical report, the insurer cannot calculate your lost wage benefit. Make certain this question is answered and be sure you know it, too.
Providers are required to include all of this information in their medical reports. They are needed to establish your claim and ensure the providers are paid for their services to you. You’ll help your own claim by making sure this information is filed with the insurer and the Board. We wish you the best of health!
Do you have a question for the Advocate for Injured Workers?
Check out past Q&As Ask a Question
Contact the Advocate for Injured Workers
You can contact the Advocate for Injured Workers for assistance with a workers’ compensation question or issue. You can also schedule a training for your group.
- Email: advinjwkr@wcb.ny.gov
- Phone: (877) 632-4996
When calling the Advocate for Injured Workers for help with a workers’ compensation claim, please have the following information available:
- Worker’s name
- Worker’s WCB number
- Telephone number, including area code
- Brief description of the problem and any correspondence received.
Resources
- Workers’ Compensation 101 - March 2022: Video
- Advocate for Injured Workers
- What to Expect When You File a Claim
- Understanding the claim process
- Understanding Your Schedule Loss of Use Award
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