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During last year’s legislative session, an increase for NY Statutory Short-Term Disability (DBL) benefits didn’t come to fruition. However, the possibility of New York employees receiving higher benefits is back on the table.
Late on March 4, 2025, the NY Senate advanced a set of bills that aim to enhance workplace protections and combat wage theft, which include amending the Workers’ Compensation Law (WCL) to increase DBL benefits.
What does this potential DBL increase mean for workers?
The NY Senate has passed Senate Bill S172, which would increase DBL benefits for the first time since 1989. While DBL benefits currently provide up to 50% of wages, these benefits are capped at a fixed $170 per week. If the amendment is enacted, the NY DBL benefit would increase in phases over the next four years. Ultimately, the amount would be tied to the NY State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW), rather than a fixed amount.
Adjusting the benefit amount based on the NY SAWW means the NY DBL benefit would align with NY Paid Family Leave (PFL). PFL provides 67% of an eligible employee’s average weekly wage and is capped at 67% of NY SAWW. This means that 2025 PFL benefits are capped at $1,177.32 per week, which is nearly seven times the current DBL cap. To learn more about NY PFL benefits, check out our NY PFL overview and benefit calculations.
Staying up-to-date about the potential NY DBL benefit increase
The NY Senate has taken an important step toward enacting a DBL benefit increase with the passing of Senate Bill S172. The bill will now move to the General Assembly, and ShelterPoint will continue to closely follow its legislative progress.
To follow along and learn more about the potential NY DBL increase, sign up for updates. We’ll help separate the news from the noise and keep you up-to-date about these potentially big changes for New York’s working families. With a rich 50-year history in the New York statutory disability market and industry leader1, rest assured, we’re here to help you stay informed and prepare for any upcoming changes.
1Milliman Research Report, 2023 U.S. Group Disability Survey, July 2024 – applies to ShelterPoint Life Insurance Company only.
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 (principal office in Garden City, NY) and its wholly-owned subsidiary ShelterPoint Insurance Company, a FL-domiciled carrier, with licensing depending on the state.
This material is for informational purposes only; it 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 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 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 the New York Workers’ Compensation Law (New York Disability Benefits and Paid Family Leave Benefits Law). Please refer to the policy for terms under which it may be continued or cancelled. Conditions, covered services, exclusions, limitations, and terms of coverage apply as pursuant to Article 9 of the NY Workers’ Compensation Law. All DBL/PFL policies are New York-only products and are underwritten by ShelterPoint Life Insurance Company, a NY-domiciled carrier (principal office in Garden City, NY).Policy form # (SPL DBL1114 P,SPL DB0922 F)