Despite efforts to make workplaces safe and healthful, each day thousands of workers become sick or hurt because of incidents on the job. When these injuries and illnesses occur, workers can be left with big medical bills and loss of income. Workers' compensation is designed to lift some of that burden from injured workers. Workers' comp pays medical bills and partially replaces lost income for people hurt on the job.

If you are injured, the first place to call is your union. However, if you need information about how to file a claim, you can contact NYCOSH to guide you through the process and refer you to legal assistance. (You can also order our book, Injured on the Job: A Guide to Workers' Compensation in New York State.)  Another source of information is the New York State Workers' Compensation Board pamphlet On the Job Injury: An Employee's Guide to New York State Workers' Compensation Benefits

If you have an active claim and need to check its status, contact your legal representative, if you have one, or call the Workers' Compensation Board office for the county where you live. All WCB offices in New York State and the counties they serve are listed below.

Albany District (Eastern New York)
Counties Serviced: Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Dutchess, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton,
Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Ulster, Warren, Washington
Linda Spano - District Administrator
Pat Wright - District Manager
1 866-750-5157
FAX - 518 473-9166
100 Broadway-Menands
Albany, NY 12241

Binghamton District (Southern Tier)
Counties Serviced: Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Schuyler, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins
Anthony Capozzi - District Administrator
David Wiktorek - District Manager
1 866-802-3604
FAX - 607 721-8464
State Office Building
44 Hawley Street
Binghamton, NY 13901

Brooklyn District (New York City)
Counties Serviced:Kings, Richmond
Edward M. Joyce, Jr. - District Administrator
Tom Agostino - District Manager
1 800-877-1373
FAX - 718 802-6642
111 Livingston Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Buffalo District (Western New York)
Counties Serviced: Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Niagara
Jeffrey Quinn - District Administrator
Barbara Townsend - District Manager
1 866-211-0645
FAX - 716 842-2171
Statler Towers, Third Floor
107 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14202-2898

Hauppauge District
Counties Serviced: Suffolk
Karen Dawidziak - District Administrator
Robert F. Williams - District Manager
1 866-681-5354
FAX - 631 952-7966
220 Rabro Drive, Suite 100
Hauppauge, NY 11788-4230

Hempstead District (Long Island)
Counties Serviced: Nassau
Alan Landman - District Administrator
Alan Gotlinksy - District Manager
1 866-805-3630
FAX - 516 560-7807
175 Fulton Avenue
Hempstead, NY 11550

Manhattan District
Counties Serviced: Bronx, New York
Frank Vernuccio - District Administrator
Joann Shelton - District Manager
1 800-877-1373
215 W. 125th Street
New York, NY 10027

Peekskill District
Counties Serviced: Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Westchester
Alida Carey - District Administrator
Luis A. Torres - District Manager
1 866-746-0552
FAX - 914 788-5793
41 North Division Street
Peekskill, NY 10566

Queens District
Counties Serviced: Queens
Wayne D. Allen - District Administrator
Carl Gabbidon - District Manager
1 800-877-1373
FAX - 718 291-7248
168-46 91st Avenue
Jamaica, NY 11432

Rochester District
Counties Serviced: Allegany, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming, Yates
George A. Park, Jr. - District Administrator
MaryBeth Goodsell - District Manager
1 866-211-0644
FAX - 585 238-8351
130 Main Street West
Rochester, NY 14614

Syracuse District (Central New York)
Counties Serviced: Cayuga, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, St. Lawrence
Janet Burman - District Administrator
Marc Johnson - District Manager
1 866-802-3730
FAX - 315 423-2938
935 James Street
Syracuse, NY 13203

The NYS Workers' Compensation Board offers the services of the Advocate for Injured Workers, who is charged with helping injured and sick men and women navigate the state workers' compensation system. The Advocate has a toll-free number (800-580-6665) and offices in Albany (518 474-8182, FAX 518 486-7510) and Brooklyn (718 802-6664).

Albany District Office
518-474-6674
100 Broadway-Menands, Albany, NY 12241

Binghamton District Office
607-721-8356
State Office Building, 44 Hawley Street, Binghamton, NY 13901

Buffalo District Office
716-847-3158
125 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14203

Hauppage District Office
631-952-7964
220 Rabro Drive, Suite 100, Hauppage, NY 11788

Hempstead District Office
516-560-7700
175 Fulton Avenue, Hempstead, NY 11550

New York City District Office
718-802-6600
180 Livingston Street, Brooklyn, NY 11248

Peekskill District Office
914-788-5775
41 North Division Street, Peekskill, NY 10566

Rochester District Office
585-238-8300
130 Main Street West, Rochester, NY 14614

Syracuse District Office
315-423-2932
935 James Street, Syracuse, NY 13203

For information, counseling, and referrals about Social Security Disability Claims (SSDI), contact:

• Workers' Defense League, 275 Seventh Avenue, New York NY 10001, 212-627-1931.
• Unemployment Action Center, 240 Mercer Street, NY NY 10012, 212-998-6568.
• New York State Department of Labor, Unemployment Claim Information, 52 West 20th Street, NY NY 10011, 212-242-8900.

For a list of workers' compensation internet links, click here..