New York Disability Benefits Law (NY DBL) and Paid Family Leave (NY PFL)
Financial support for non-work related injuries or sickness
New York is one of six jurisdictions with mandatory disability benefits. The New York Disability Benefits Law (NY DBL) provides partial income replacement for non-work related injuries or sickness, including pregnancy.
Employees are eligible to receive benefits when one of the following criteria is met:
- Full-time employees: Employee has worked in New York for a Covered Employer for at least 4 consecutive weeks.
- Part-time employees: employee has worked in New York for a Covered Employer for at least 25 days.
NY DBL offers income replacement of 50% of an employee’s average wage up to a maximum weekly benefit of $170. After satisfying the seven-day waiting period, benefits are paid for a maximum of 26 weeks in a 52-week period.
New York Paid Family Leave
Peace of mind while taking care of a loved one
The New York Paid Family Leave (NY PFL) program provides employees working in New York job-protected, paid leave to bond with a new child, care for a loved one with a serious health condition, or provide support when a family member is called to active military duty.
Employees are eligible to receive benefits when one of the following criteria is met:
- Full-time employees: They have worked for a covered employer for 20 or more hours a week on a regular schedule are eligible after 26 consecutive weeks of employment.
- Part-time employees: They have worked less than 20 hours per week are eligible after 175 days of working for a covered employer.
Covered Employer: employer with one or more employees working in New York for 30 days in a calendar year.
Effective January 1, 2022, employees will receive 67% of their average weekly wage up to the maximum weekly benefit amount of $1, 068.36. Eligible employees can take up to 12 weeks of paid leave in any 52-week period.
Covered employees may not receive benefit payments under NY DBL and PFL simultaneously but can take NY DBL and NY PFL within the same 52-week period up to the maximum combined benefit leave duration of 26 weeks.
To help employees understand the key differences between NY DBL and NY PFL, view our comparison chart.
Group disability income insurance and Disability Benefits Law (DBL) policies are insured by First Symetra National Life Insurance Company of New York, NY. Mailing address: P.O. Box 34690, Seattle, WA 98124. Policies may be subject to exclusions, limitations, reductions and termination of benefit provisions.