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In January 2024, we reported on the efforts of Governor Kathy Hochul to increase the Disability Benefits Law (DBL) benefit as part of her proposed budget for 2025, which would have been the first increase since 1989. The final budget, as passed, does not include legislation enabling the proposed DBL increase. This means, for now, there are no changes to the DBL benefit.
Business as Usual for NY DBL
The current DBL benefit provides a payment of 50% of eligible wages to a maximum of $170 per week for a maximum of 26 weeks depending on the particulars of the claim. Benefit payments start after a required, unpaid 7-day waiting period.
Employers continue withholdings as usual – as a reminder: they can deduct to a maximum of $31.20 per year from an employee’s paycheck to fund this program. Posting notices also remain unchanged, and employers need to continue displaying the posting notice in well-travelled areas of their workplaces.
Will the NY DBL benefit cap ever increase?
We will keep you posted should lawmakers decide to introduce a bill for the remainder of this legislative session in an effort to provide New Yorkers with higher DBL benefits, or if other related developments arise in the future. Be sure to sign up for updates to stay informed on DBL increase developments.
This material is for informational purposes only; it is not the same as official statements of position contained in the law and/or regulations and is not intended to provide legal counsel or advice. Please consult with an appropriate professional for legal, compliance, HR, tax, or any other specific advice.
Any Disability Benefits Law (DBL) and/or Paid Family Leave (PFL) information is based on the applicable statutes and regulations, and may change as regulations evolve or NY State issues guidance regarding DBL/PFL law and regulations. In the event of conflicting information with the policy and/or rider(s), the policy and/or rider(s) will take precedence over what is shown in this material. Policies are governed by Article 9 of Workers Compensation Board (WCB) Law (New York State Disability and Paid Family Leave Benefits Law). All DBL/PFL policies are New York-only products and are underwritten by ShelterPoint Life Insurance Company, a NY-domiciled carrier.
The ShelterPoint family of companies operates under the “ShelterPoint” name strictly as a marketing name, and no legal significance is expressed or implied. The ShelterPoint family of companies consists of ShelterPoint Life Insurance Company, a NY-domiciled carrier, and its wholly-owned subsidiary ShelterPoint Insurance Company, a FL-domiciled carrier, depending on the state (see our Geographic & Jurisdictional Notice here). ShelterPoint is a registered service mark.