New York Public Personnel Law

Aug 27, 2026

New York State Workers’ Comp 202 – Best Practices to Access Benefits for Workers

The New York State Workers' Compensation Board continues its webinar series for workers and their advocates, and there is still time to register!

Workers’ Comp 202 is a deeper dive into best practices workers can use to access their workers’ compensation benefits. This presentation will cover:

understanding labor market attachment,
details on benefit periods and how benefit rates are calculated,
the importance of items such as the degree of disability and the Carrier Continue Payments (CCP) order,
how advocates can help workers and comply with privacy provisions,
The Board’s New York Medical Treatment Guidelines, and more!

The sessions are free and there will be time for your questions.

Register here

Thursday, August 27, 2026
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday, September 29, 2026
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

More information

Visit the Advocate for Injured Workers section of the Board’s website for additional resources.

You can also call the Advocate for Injured Workers at (877) 632-4996 or email advinjwkr@wcb.ny.gov.

Having trouble?

If you are having trouble registering for or attending either of these webinars, check out these Webinar FAQs.

2026 Conference

Don't miss the Board's conference on October 16, 2026.

This full-day program is open to anyone with a professional interest in workers' compensation and will provide multiple Continuing Legal Education (CLE) and Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit-bearing opportunities.

Aug 26, 2026

Evaluating conflicting medical evidence and the credibility of witnesses in determining the eligibility of an applicant for General Municipal Law §207-a (2) disability retirement

Plaintiff, a retired firefighter, challenged his former employer's [City] determination which denied Plaintiff application for accidental disability retirement benefits pursuant to General Municipal Law §207-a (2).

At the hearing held prior to the City issuing its decision, Plaintiff presented evidence that he was involved in an on-duty motor vehicle accident while he was driving a City fire truck. and that he suffered neck and right shoulder injuries that rendered him physically unable to return to work as a firefighter.

Although City did not dispute Plaintiff claim that Plaintiff was permanently disabled, the City's examining physician testified that Plaintiff's prior medical history indicated that his injuries began before the date of motor vehicle accident Plaintiff contended was the cause of his disability.

The Hearing Officer found both Plaintiff's physician's and the City's physician's testimony to be credible. However the Hearing Officer said the opinion of the City's expert was more persuasive in light of the City's physician's review of Plaintiff's pre-accident medical history in contrast the absence of testimony by Plaintiff's physician's concerning Plaintiff's "pre-accident medical history".

The Appellate Division found "The Hearing Officer 'was entitled to weigh the parties' conflicting medical evidence and to assess the credibility of the witnesses, and [w]e may not weigh the evidence or reject [the Hearing Officer's] choice where the evidence is conflicting and room for a choice exists".

The Appellate Division unanimously confirmed the City's decision and dismissed Plaintiff's petition.

Click HERE to access the Appellate Division's decision posted on the Internet.

Aug 25, 2026

New York State's medical fee schedules revised proposal update

In keeping with the goals of the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board (Board) to provide quality and efficient care to injured workers, and in response to comments received during the public comment period, the Board plans to file a revised proposal for the updates to the Official New York Workers’ Compensation Medical Fee Schedules. 

This revised proposal will be published soon in the State Register and on the Board’s website. A Subject Number will be issued when it is published.

Questions?

Email Regulations@wcb.ny.gov with questions.

Editor in Chief Harvey Randall served as Director of Personnel, State University of New York Central Administration; Director of Research, Governor's Office of Employee Relations; Principal Attorney, Counsel's Office, New York State Department of Civil Service; and Colonel, JAG, Command Headquarters, New York Guard. Consistent with the Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations, the material posted to this blog is presented with the understanding that neither the publisher nor NYPPL and, or, its staff and contributors are providing legal advice to the reader and in the event legal or other expert assistance is needed, the reader is urged to seek such advice from a knowledgeable professional.

CAUTION

Subsequent court and administrative rulings, or changes to laws, rules and regulations may have modified or clarified or vacated or reversed the information and, or, decisions summarized in NYPPL. For example, New York State Department of Civil Service's Advisory Memorandum 24-08 reflects changes required as the result of certain amendments to §72 of the New York State Civil Service Law to take effect January 1, 2025 [See Chapter 306 of the Laws of 2024]. Advisory Memorandum 24-08 in PDF format is posted on the Internet at https://www.cs.ny.gov/ssd/pdf/AM24-08Combined.pdf. Accordingly, the information and case summaries should be Shepardized® or otherwise checked to make certain that the most recent information is being considered by the reader.