Reviewed against NYS WCB primary sources · Last reviewed August 2026
Duration
How long can you stay on workers' comp in New York?
It depends entirely on your type of disability. Some benefits last only while you're healing; others are capped in weeks; a few last for life. Here's each one.
Key facts
- Temporary benefits last as long as your disability and wage loss continue.
- Scheduled permanent injuries pay a fixed number of weeks (e.g., 312 for an arm).
- Classified (non-scheduled) permanent injuries are capped at 225–525 weeks by loss of wage-earning capacity.
- Permanent total disability is paid for life, and medical care can continue for life.
| Situation | How long benefits last |
|---|---|
| Temporary total / partial (still healing) | As long as you're disabled and losing wages, until you reach maximum medical improvement. |
| Reduced-earnings (back at lower pay) | While the wage loss continues; after ~130 weeks the case generally moves toward permanency classification. |
| Schedule Loss of Use (arm, leg, hand, etc.) | A fixed number of weeks — e.g., a full arm = 312 weeks × your % loss. |
| Non-schedule permanent partial (back, neck) | Capped at 225–525 weeks, based on your loss of wage-earning capacity. |
| Permanent total disability | For life. |
| Medical treatment | For as long as it's causally related — potentially for life — unless you settle it away in a Section 32. |
"Capped" doesn't mean cut off tomorrowThe week caps apply to permanent partial cases and are large — 525 weeks is over a decade. See how permanency is decided in permanency & classification, and estimate the value in the settlement calculator.
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