Governor Kathy Hochul Expands Workers’ Comp For Mental Health To All Workers

On December 6th, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a new law supporting workers who suffer from mental health issues. This law will enable eligible employees to file for workers’ compensation for specific types of mental injuries related to work-related stress.

What Will Legislation S.6635/A.5745 Do?

Legislation S.6635/A.5745 aims to expand the workers’ compensation system to include specific mental health conditions related to the workplace. Up to now, workers’ comp benefits have been mostly limited to physical injuries. The closest there was to any mental health clause was some legislation in 2017 addressing first responders with work-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). But with the new legislation, everyone in the state can apply for workers’ comp benefits. 

Along with the new changes in the state’s law, Gov. Huchul will invest over $1 billion into the state’s healthcare system to address the mental health epidemic. Some of this investment money will go to expanding mental health services in schools and adding more beds to state-owned psychiatric facilities.

How This New Law Benefits Workers

As Gov. Hochul stated in a recent press conference, “the mental health crisis our country has experienced since the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented, and we need to do everything in our power to lend a hand to those in need.”

The Workers’ Compensation Board rejects thousands of applicants with PTSD and other mental injuries each year due to limitations in the system’s law. Mental health in the workplace is also a topic you don’t hear about. However, thousands of people across the state and nation deal with workplace trauma, and up to 19% of them may develop PTSD as a result.

S.6635/A.5745 is a significant step forward in giving affected workers access to the health services they need. Mental illness is a real problem, and given the current trends, most experts see it becoming a much larger issue in the future. This new law ensures New York’s workers’ comp system has the financial resources and support to address these issues alongside physical injuries.

Start Your Workers’ Comp Claim

Dealing with a work-related mental health issue is a serious problem affecting New York’s workers. However, it seems that S.6635/A.5745 is a major step in the right direction to help those who need it.

Do you have work-related mental injuries and want to start a claim? Our New York workers’ compensation lawyers are here to help you through this process. We’ll review your case and ensure you have what you need to get the benefits you’re entitled to. If you have any questions or want to schedule a free consultation, please contact us online or at 855-208-9799 today.