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:
- Lunch & Learn: Workers' Comp 101 - September 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: I'm getting my lost wage benefit in the mail by a paper check. Can I get my benefit payments via direct deposit?
Watch this short video Ask the Advocate for Injured Workers – Direct Deposit or read on:
Yes. We are happy to tell you that as of July 1, 2021, all insurance payers must offer direct deposit to injured workers who are receiving workers' compensation payments. This includes workers receiving lost wages and surviving families receiving the fatality benefit.
To arrange for direct deposit of benefit payments, injured workers and surviving families (or their legal representatives) must contact the insurance payer who is providing the benefits. That payer will have the necessary forms that must be completed to arrange for these electronic payments. The NYS Workers' Compensation Board does not pay these benefits, so injured workers and surviving families (or their legal representatives) must contact the insurance payers directly to take advantage of direct deposit. For more information, please see Subject Number 046-1413, Adoption of Amendment to 12 NYCRR 300.26 (Direct Deposit).
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
- Lunch & Learn: Workers' Comp 101 - September 2022: Video
- 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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