Why New York Must Support The Social Security Presumption Bill A2748 S2537
How This Reform Protects Injured Workers Who Already Earned Their Disability Benefits
When you are hurt at work in New York, everything changes. Daily routines disappear, income becomes uncertain, and medical decisions start shaping your future. For many injured workers, the most painful part is not the injury itself, but the feeling of being forced to prove the same disability again and again. Our firm hears this frustration every day, and it is why the Social Security presumption bill matters so much right now.
At the Law Offices of Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano LLP, we have represented injured workers for more than 90 years, and we know how devastating it is when the system makes people fight twice for benefits they already earned. That's why our attorneys are urging New Yorkers to support the passage of A2748 S2537. For anyone searching for a NYC workers' compensation lawyer because the process feels stacked against them, this bill represents a real chance to create fairness where it has long been missing.
A2748 S2537 has now reached Governor Kathy Hochul. The final stretch will be challenging, and the governor is expected to face significant pressure from groups that want to limit protections for injured workers.
This makes public support more important than ever.
Why This Bill Matters For Injured Workers
When the Social Security Administration finds a worker permanently disabled, that decision is based on extensive medical evidence, detailed evaluations, and strict federal standards. Despite that, the Workers' Compensation Board often requires injured New Yorkers to start from scratch and prove the same disability all over again.
This leads to delays, denials, and unnecessary hearings that prolong financial hardship. Some workers spend months without income while two systems review the same facts. Others are pushed into litigation they never wanted, simply because the state has not recognized the disability already confirmed by the federal government.
A2748 S2537 would change that by creating a presumption of permanent total disability when the Social Security Administration has already issued a disability finding. It would also establish clear criteria for determining permanent total disability in other cases, reducing guesswork and inconsistency.
This isn't a shortcut. It's a safeguard. Injured New Yorkers shouldn't be penalized for being disabled in one system and then treated as if that evidence doesn't matter in another.
How This Bill Strengthens New York’s Workers' Compensation System
Fairness improves the entire system. When disability determinations align, the process becomes more predictable, more efficient, and less adversarial. That means workers get the stability they need sooner, and the Workers' Compensation Board can devote more resources to cases that truly require deeper review.
It also helps unions and first responders, who often endure the toughest conditions and the longest medical recoveries. For workers who gave their careers to protecting our communities, this reform offers a stronger layer of security when injury forces them off the job.
Law firms across the state, including ours, have already encouraged clients to participate in the letter campaign, and the response has been strong. But with the bill now on the governor’s desk, we are entering the most important phase of the fight.
Why Public Support Is Crucial Right Now
There is significant opposition to the bill, mostly based on cost projections that ignore the human cost of forcing injured workers through duplicate processes. These workers have already lost wages, mobility, and in many cases their long-term ability to return to the labor force. Making them prove the same disability twice is not cost-saving. It's an unnecessary hardship.
The governor needs to hear from the people who understand what this bill would actually change. That includes injured workers, family members, union members, healthcare providers, and anyone who believes New York’s workers deserve a fair path to the benefits guaranteed by law.
The coalition behind the letter campaign has already gathered hundreds of letters from across the state. With a final push, supporters can reach the next goal and send a clear message that New York must stand with injured workers, not against them.
How You Can Help Move This Bill Across The Finish Line
Supporting this bill takes less than a minute. The statewide letter tool makes it easy to submit a message urging Governor Hochul to sign A2748 S2537. Every letter carries weight, and every signature adds pressure at a moment when it matters most.
If you've already sent a letter, consider asking a family member or colleague to do the same. If you know someone currently fighting for benefits, let them know that this legislation could shape the future of how disability is recognized in New York.
At Pasternack Tilker Ziegler Walsh Stanton & Romano LLP, we have spent decades fighting for injured workers, and our commitment has never changed. We stand behind this bill because we see the real pain caused by unnecessary barriers, and we know exactly how much stability this reform can bring.
If you were injured at work and need guidance about your rights, our attorneys are here to help you understand your options and navigate the system with confidence.
Contact us today for a free consultation to review your situation and explain how workers' compensation claims and disability decisions may intersect in your case. New York’s workers deserve fairness. A2748 S2537 is a step toward that fairness, and with enough support, it can become law.