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Advocate for Injured Workers

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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' Rights and Protections Webinar - September 2024 (English): Video / Slides
  • Workers' Rights and Protections Webinar - September 2024 (Spanish): Video / Slides
  • Worker Safety Webinar - Safe + Sound Week - August 2024: Video
  • Workers' Comp 101 with the Advocate for Injured Workers - June 2024: Video
  • Workers' Comp 101 with the Advocate for Injured Workers - March 2024: Video
  • Workers' Comp 202 - Best Practices to Access Benefits for Workers - June 2024: Video
  • Workers' Comp 202 - Best Practices to Access Benefits for Workers - April 2024: 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:

  • New! Dear Advocate: I worked at Ground Zero during the World Trade Center attacks. Some responders are now sick and I’m worried I may eventually become sick because I was there. What can I do?

    Watch this short video, or read on:

    If you participated in the rescue, recovery, or clean-up of the World Trade Center, you should register that service with the NYS Workers’ Compensation Board and preserve your right to file a workers’ compensation claim, should you ever need to.

    This applied to you if you worked or volunteered between 9/11/01 and 9/11/02 in these locations:

    • Ground Zero or anywhere in Manhattan from Canal Street south to the tip of Manhattan
    • The Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island
    • On the barges, the piers, or morgues

    To tell us you were there and preserve your rights, complete Form WTC-12, whether you’re well today or not.

    Get your form notarized and mail the original copy to the Board. You will receive an acknowledgement.

    If you ever become sick as a result of your World Trade Center service, you can file a workers’ compensation claim.

    Claims can be filed online, or by printing the downloadable form, Employee Claim C-3. For complete details, see our website’s File A Workers' Compensation Claim page. You can also watch our "How to File a Claim" video.

    If you have questions about your WTC registry eligibility or need more assistance, you can "Ask the Advocate" by calling 1-877-632-4996, or writing to AdvInjWkr@wcb.ny.gov.

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.

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