If you’ve 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.  You may have already received medical treatment. If you haven’t, you should seek medical care as soon as possible and review the following guidelines.

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

For New York State government employees of the State University of New York represented by UUP, Management Confidential, CSEA, PEF, PBANYS, and MC Classified Service:

1. Call the ARS (Accident Reporting System) toll-free number, 1-888-800-0029, to report a work-related injury or illness. 
   Effective 1/1/2011, Call Center hours are 8 a.m. - 9 p.m., Monday-Friday and the Center is closed on State holidays.  Callers may leave a message after hours and on weekends and holidays.  A Call Center representative will return your call the next business day in order to report the injury or illness and obtain an ARS incident number.
2. ARS will record your injury or illness quickly and confidentially. Write down the incident number the ARS Call Center gives you.
3. Get medical help if you need it. Tell your doctor that your injury or illness is work-related. 
4. Report your injury or illness to your supervisor and complete an Injury/Illness Report. 
5. If you have any questions, please contact Human Resource Management at 878-4822 or 878-4821.

Why Call ARS?

1. Your call to ARS helps make sure all your 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.
2. Your call to ARS helps reduce administrative costs by handling much of the work load and tracking injuries and illnesses.
3. Pharmacy Benefits:  The New York State Insurance Fund has entered into an agreement with Express Scripts Inc., a Pharmacy Benefits Manager (PBM), which has a network of pharmacies to make available the medications workers may receive for their work-related injury or sickness. Express Scripts network pharmacies will bill The New York State Insurance Fund directly. You will not have to pay out-of-pocket costs for medication.
   

Frequently Asked Questions 

When I call the ARS toll-free number to report my work-related injury or illness, is that all I have to do?
No, 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 to report the injury?
The report to the ARS Call Center can be made by a supervisor, co-worker or a 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. Call Human Resources at 878-4821 for benefit information.

How do I obtain medications for my workers' compensation claim?
Visit the workers' compensation pharmacy benefits web page for details.

How do I find out about the status of my Workers' Compensation claim?
The ARS Call Center will give you an incident number when you report the injury or illness. When you call Human Resource Management about your claim, use your incident number.

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 Campus, Albany, New York 12239. The Department of Civil Service, The New York State Insurance Fund  and the Workers' Compensation Board administer the Workers' Compensation Program.