If you have suffered a workplace injury or illness, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Workers' compensation benefits provide protection for employees relative to medical expenses and loss of salary resulting from an occupational injury or illness. Basic protection is provided under the Workers' Compensation Law.  If you have any questions, please contact Human Resource Management at 878-4822.

Your call to ARS helps ensure all workers' compensation benefits are available to you as soon as possible. Depending on the nature of your injury or illness, benefits may include medical treatment, wage replacements, leave usage and other benefits. You will not have to pay out-of-pocket costs for medication.

What to do if you sustained a work related injury or illness?

1

Call the ARS (Accident Reporting System) toll-free number, 1-888-800-0029, within 24 hours of incident or as soon as possible thereafter.  ARS will record your injury or illness quickly and confidentially. Write down the incident number the ARS Call Center gives you.

2

Report your injury or illness to your supervisor and complete an Injury/Illness Report | .PDF.

3

Get medical treatment if you need it. Tell your doctor that your injury or illness is work-related.

4

If you begin to lose time from work, contact Human Resource Management at 878-4822 immediately. We will ensure appropriate medical documentation is obtained.

5

If you are on an extended workers' compensation leave of absence, please review the return from leave procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • After I call the ARS toll-free number to report my work-related injury or illness, do I need to do anything else? 
    Yes, you must also report your injury or illness to your supervisor and Human Resource Management as soon as possible.

  • What if I am seriously injured and can't call the ARS toll-free number to report the injury? 
    The call to the ARS Call Center can be made by a supervisor, co-worker, or family member.

  • Will the ARS Call Center be able to answer questions about workers' compensation benefits? 
    No, the ARS Call Center is only for reporting work-related injuries or illnesses. Contact Human Resource Management for benefit information or visit the Workers' Compensation Board. For information on obtaining medication/pharmacy benefits under a workers compensation claim, read the notice.

  • How do I find out about the status of my Workers' Compensation claim? 
    Contact Human Resource Management and note the incident number provided to you by the ARS Call Center.

  • Who is our workers' compensation insurance carrier? 
    The State Insurance Fund, 225 Oak Street, Buffalo, NY 14203, 851-2000.

  • What should I do with medical bills received related to my injury? 
    Do not pay your doctor or hospital. Those bills are paid by The State Insurance Fund unless the Board disallows your case. Forward any medical bills related to the accident to Human Resource Management or instruct your physician to forward the bills to The State Insurance Fund.

  • What if I am absent for one cumulative year? 
    Employees absent for one cumulative year due to occupational injury or illness may be terminated from State service under Section 71 of the Civil Service Law, which also provides certain re-employment rights if the employee subsequently recovers.

     

Fraud Statement on Workers' Compensation

Any person who knowingly with intent to defraud makes a materially false statement, or conceals a material fact to obtain a benefit, shall be guilty of a crime and subject to fines and imprisonment. Report suspected Workers' Compensation fraud to:

Workers' Compensation Fraud, Inspector General's Office, (518) 473-4839, or Workers' Compensation Fraud, Inspector General, New York State Workers' Compensation Board, 100 Broadway-Menands, Albany, New York 12241.

The above information is published by the Employee Benefits Division of the State of New York, Department of Civil Service, the State Insurance Fund, and the Workers' Compensation Board.