A NY workers comp calculator estimates weekly lost wage benefits using two-thirds of a worker's average weekly wage, capped at the state maximum rate. For injuries between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027, the maximum is $1,281.50 per week and the minimum is $384.45 per week.
While a calculator gives a number, it does not tell a worker whether that number is correct for their specific injury classification, or whether the insurance carrier used the right average weekly wage in the first place.
This page shows you step-by-step how New York calculates workers' compensation lost wage benefits, with the current rate figures and examples for the most common disability categories MCV Law sees in Central New York claims.
Contact Us TodayHow Does MCV Law Help With Workers Comp Benefit Calculations?
MCV Law reviews the average weekly wage the insurance carrier used before a client accepts a benefit rate as final. Carriers sometimes calculate the average weekly wage using the wrong 52-week period, or leave out overtime and second jobs that New York law allows in the calculation.
Attorneys at the firm, including Bethany Nicoletti and Christopher Stringham, handle workers' compensation claims across Syracuse, Auburn, and Chittenango, and clients speak directly with an attorney rather than a call center.
MCV Law has served Central New York for 45 years. When a workers' compensation injury also involves a third party, such as a defective piece of equipment or a negligent driver on a job site, the firm coordinates the workers' compensation claim with a personal injury claim against that third party, which keeps the two cases working toward the same recovery instead of competing.
What Are the Current NY Workers Comp Benefit Rates?
New York sets the maximum and minimum weekly workers' compensation benefit rates once a year, effective every July 1, based on the New York State Average Weekly Wage (NYSAWW) reported by the Department of Labor.
The New York Workers' Compensation Board publishes the new figures each spring under Workers' Compensation Law Sections 2(16) and 15(6).
Rates for Injuries July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026
For injury dates in this period, the maximum weekly benefit rate is $1,222.42, based on a 2024 NYSAWW of $1,833.63.
The minimum weekly benefit rate is $325.00 under the statutory minimum schedule.
Rates for Injuries July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027
For injury dates in this period, the maximum weekly benefit rate rises to $1,281.50, based on a 2025 NYSAWW of $1,922.25.
The minimum weekly benefit rate is $384.45, calculated as one-fifth of the NYSAWW.
These rates apply to the date of injury, not the date a claim gets filed or resolved, so a worker hurt in June 2026 stays under the lower cap even if the claim is still active after July 1.
How Is a Workers Comp Benefit Amount Calculated?
New York bases most workers' compensation cash benefits on two-thirds of a worker's average weekly wage (AWW), then applies a cap tied to the maximum rate above and a multiplier tied to the type of disability. The categories below cover the calculations MCV Law's clients ask about most.
- Temporary total disability pays two-thirds of AWW for each week a worker cannot perform any work.
- Temporary partial disability pays two-thirds of the difference between pre-injury AWW and reduced post-injury earnings.
- Schedule loss of use pays a set number of weeks tied to the injured body part, multiplied by the weekly rate.
- Loss of wage-earning capacity pays a percentage of a 525-week cap for permanent, non-scheduled injuries, multiplied by the weekly rate.
Which category applies depends on a medical determination from the treating provider and, often, an independent medical exam requested by the insurance carrier.
Worked Example: Temporary Total Disability
A worker with an average weekly wage of $900, injured after July 1, 2026, generally receives two-thirds of $900, or $600 per week, while classified as temporarily and totally disabled.
In contrast, a worker with an AWW of $2,500 during the same period receives the capped maximum of $1,281.50 per week rather than the full two-thirds amount, since $2,500 exceeds the cap.
Worked Example: Temporary Partial Disability
A worker earning $1,000 per week before an injury who returns to light duty at $600 per week generally receives two-thirds of the $400 difference, or about $266.67 per week, on top of the reduced wages already being paid by the employer.
Worked Example: Schedule Loss of Use
New York assigns a fixed number of statutory weeks to specific body parts under Workers' Compensation Law Section 15, including 312 weeks for an arm and 288 weeks for a leg.
A worker found to have a 20 percent loss of use of an arm generally receives 20 percent of 312 weeks, or about 62.4 weeks, paid at the applicable weekly rate.
Worked Example: Loss of Wage-Earning Capacity
Permanent, non-scheduled injuries, such as a serious back injury, use a different formula tied to a 525-week cap.
Under Workers' Compensation Law Section 15(3)(w), a worker found to have a 40 percent loss of wage-earning capacity falls in the bracket above 30 percent through 40 percent, which caps benefits at 275 weeks, paid at the applicable weekly rate.
The 525-week figure is the ceiling reserved for the highest bracket, above 95 percent LWEC, not a number every claim is measured against directly.
| Disability Category | Formula | Example Result |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary total disability | 2/3 of AWW, capped at max rate | $600/week on a $900 AWW |
| Temporary partial disability | 2/3 of lost earnings difference | $266.67/week on a $400 loss |
| Schedule loss of use (arm) | Loss % x 312 weeks x rate | 62.4 weeks at 20% loss |
| Loss of wage-earning capacity | Bracket-based cap under WCL §15(3)(w), 225 to 525 weeks depending on the LWEC bracket | 275 weeks at 40% LWEC (30–40% bracket) |
These examples are illustrations of the statutory formulas only, not case results or a promise of any specific outcome. Every claim depends on medical evidence, wage records, and how the Workers' Compensation Board classifies the injury.
Why Do Central New York Workers Trust MCV Law With Their Benefit Rate?
MCV Law has represented injured workers before the New York Workers' Compensation Board for 45 years. The firm has reviewed benefit rate disputes under multiple versions of the NYSAWW schedule as the cap has risen year over year.
How Does MCV Law Review a Disputed Benefit Rate?
MCV Law starts a rate review by pulling the wage statement the carrier used and comparing it against the worker's actual pay records for the 52 weeks before the injury.
That comparison catches most of the errors that show up in practice, including missed overtime, an excluded second job, or a wage period that starts on the wrong date.
From there, the firm confirms the disability classification itself lines up with the treating physician's findings before accepting a schedule loss of use or loss of wage-earning capacity figure as final.
A rate built on the wrong classification produces a wrong number even when the wage math is correct, so both pieces get checked before a client is told a number is accurate.
Contact Us TodayAsk MCV Law
Does the calculator use my gross pay or my take-home pay?
New York calculates average weekly wage using gross earnings before taxes, including overtime and, in many cases, a second job held at the time of injury. A carrier that excludes overtime is often underpaying the claim.
Why is my benefit check lower than two-thirds of my paycheck?
The most common reasons are a benefit rate capped at the statutory maximum, an average weekly wage calculated using the wrong time period, or a partial disability classification based on light-duty earnings. A lawyer reviews the wage statement used to set the rate.
Do these rates apply to federal workers or railroad employees?
No, federal workers and railroad employees generally fall under separate federal compensation systems rather than the New York Workers' Compensation Law rates described here.
Will my rate change if I get a raise after my injury?
No, the average weekly wage used to set a workers' compensation rate is generally fixed based on earnings from the 52 weeks before the injury date, not wages earned afterward.
What is the maximum workers comp payment in New York right now?
The maximum weekly benefit is $1,281.50 for injuries between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027, and $1,222.42 for injuries between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026.
How is the average weekly wage calculated in New York?
Generally by taking total gross earnings from the 52 weeks before the injury and dividing by 52, though a shorter period may apply for workers who have not held the job a full year.
Does workers comp cover 100 percent of my lost wages?
No, New York workers' compensation generally replaces two-thirds of average weekly wage, not the full amount, subject to the statutory cap in place on the date of injury.
Can my employer or the insurance carrier dispute my calculated rate?
Yes, insurance carriers frequently dispute the average weekly wage figure or the disability classification, which is one of the more common reasons injured workers hire an attorney early in the claim.
Do schedule loss of use awards get paid weekly or as a lump sum?
Both options exist. Schedule loss of use awards may be paid weekly over the statutory period or, in many cases, negotiated into a lump sum settlement once the percentage is determined.
Talk to an MCV Law Attorney About Your Benefit Calculation
A calculator gives a starting estimate, but the actual rate on a claim depends on how the average weekly wage was calculated and how the injury gets classified. MCV Law reviews both before a client accepts a carrier's number as final.
Call 315-471-1664 for a free consultation today. There is no fee unless we win.
