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' Comp 101 with the Advocate for Injured Workers - August 2023: Video
- Workers' Comp 202 - Best Practices to Access Benefits for Workers - October 2023: 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: No one wants to see injuries in the workplace. Is there anything we can do that might help avoid them?
Watch this short video, or read on:
One idea the Board likes is forming a labor/management safety committee. It’s simple, free, and might save a life! Before there is even an incident, injury, illness, or worse, you and your coworkers and management can reduce the chances of problems happening in the first place.
Consider building your committee with the same number of managers and workers. Your committee could meet once a month, or on some other regular basis; and should have an agenda for each meeting. Consider appointing a Chair--a leader; or several leaders who serve on a rotating basis.
It’s a good idea to discuss places on your worksite where incidents are likely to happen--or where they do happen. Talk about any equipment workers use and make sure it’s being properly used and maintained. You might also review your procedures – have you documented the safest ways to do your daily operations? Ask yourselves: Are you being trained on the safest way to do your jobs? If not, make that a priority. Create standards of safety—and stick to them. Safety committees are not for reviewing workers’ compensation claims; they are created to help prevent accidents and illnesses.
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
When calling or writing the Advocate for Injured Workers for help with a workers' compensation claim, please have the following information available:
- Worker's WCB number
- Worker's name
- Telephone number, including area code
- Brief description of the problem and any correspondence received.
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
Resources
- Workers' Comp 101 with the Advocate for Injured Workers - August 2023: Video
- Workers' Comp 202 - Best Practices to Access Benefits for Workers - October 2023: 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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