Changes in Social Security Disability Benefits and NY Workers' Compensation Law
2014
Workers' Compensation Board Announces Rate Cap Increase
The maximum weekly workers' compensation payment that an injured worker may receive is two-thirds of their average gross weekly wage (AWW), subject to a maximum cap. The rate cap has changed each year since 2007. The Workers' Compensation Board has now announced that the maximum compensation payment rate for injuries occuring between July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015 shall be $808.65.
2014
Medical Treatment Guidelines
The Medical Treatment Guidelines originally went into effect on December 1, 2010. The guidelines were updated effective March 1, 2013, to include certain process changes as well as the addition of guidelines for Maintenance Care and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
2014
Major Change To Workers' Compensation
As announced by the New York Workers' Compensation Board (NYWCB or “the Board”) on October 23, 2013, significant changes were made to the workers’ compensation assessment process for New York employers effective with assessment billings issued after January 1, 2014.
2007
Sweeping Workers' Compensation Changes
On March 13, 2007, then Governor Spitzer signed into law the most sweeping changes to the Workers’ Compensation Law in its 90 year history.
These changes affect all aspects of an injured worker’s claim, and may result in increasing or decreasing the total amount of benefits an individual claimant can receive. Parts of the new law went into effect in March 2007, other parts in July 2007, and some are still not yet fully effective.
The most significant change is that for all accidents on or after March 13, 2007 claimants classified with a permanent partial disability (PPD) would now have their weekly payments subject to a maximum number of weeks, which varies depending upon the percentage loss of wage earning capacity. In previous similar cases, claimants could receive payments for life.
