How Much Is a Schedule Loss of Use (SLU) Award in New York?
How Much Is a Schedule Loss of Use (SLU) Award in New York?
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Content reviewed by the attorneys at Aronova & Associates · Last updated November 6, 2026 · Editorial Policy
When a work injury leaves permanent damage to an arm, leg, hand, foot, finger, toe, eyesight or hearing, New York pays a schedule loss of use (SLU) award. The award is a set number of weeks of benefits for that body part, multiplied by the percentage of use you lost and by your weekly benefit rate. For example, a 25% loss of use of an arm equals 78 weeks of benefits (312 weeks × 25%). For a worker whose weekly benefit is $600, that is $46,800. For a worker injured between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027 at the maximum weekly rate of $1,281.50, the same injury is worth $99,957, before temporary benefits already paid are deducted.
At Aronova & Associates, our New York Workers’ Compensation lawyers represent injured workers through every stage of an SLU claim, from the permanency reports to depositions and hearings before a Workers’ Compensation Law Judge, across New York City and Long Island. Every case begins with a free consultation.
Key Facts: Schedule Loss of Use Awards in New York
| Item | What the law says |
|---|---|
| What it pays for | Permanent loss of use of an arm, leg, hand, foot, finger, toe, eye or hearing |
| Formula | Weeks for the body part × percentage of loss of use × weekly benefit rate |
| Weekly benefit rate | Two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to the maximum for your date of injury ($1,281.50 for July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027) |
| When it is decided | After you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI) and your doctor submits a permanency report |
| If the doctors disagree | The doctors can be cross-examined, and a Workers’ Compensation Law Judge decides, unless both sides agree to a percentage by stipulation |
| Protracted healing period | Weeks of total disability beyond the healing period set by law are added to the award |
| Deductions | Temporary benefits already paid are deducted from the award |
| Lump sum | Available on request |
| Disfigurement | Up to $20,000 for serious, permanent disfigurement of the face, head or neck |
| Legal authority | Workers’ Compensation Law § 15(3) |
How Many Weeks Is Each Body Part Worth?
New York law assigns a fixed number of weeks to each body part. The weeks below apply to a complete (100%) loss of use. A partial loss is paid in proportion to the percentage of use lost.
| Body part | Weeks for 100% loss of use |
|---|---|
| Arm | 312 |
| Leg | 288 |
| Hand | 244 |
| Foot | 205 |
| Eye | 160 |
| Hearing, both ears | 150 |
| Thumb | 75 |
| Hearing, one ear | 60 |
| First finger | 46 |
| Great toe | 38 |
| Second finger | 30 |
| Third finger | 25 |
| Any other toe | 16 |
| Fourth finger | 15 |
Source: New York Workers’ Compensation Law § 15(3).
How an SLU Award Is Calculated
The formula is: weeks for the body part × percentage of loss of use × weekly benefit rate. Your weekly benefit rate is two-thirds of your average weekly wage, based on your gross earnings in the 52 weeks before the injury, up to the maximum in effect on your date of injury.
| Injury | Loss of use | Weeks of benefits | Weekly rate | Award before deductions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arm | 25% | 78 | $600 | $46,800 |
| Arm | 25% | 78 | $1,281.50 (2026–27 maximum) | $99,957 |
| Hand | 30% | 73.2 | $1,000 | $73,200 |
| Leg | 20% | 57.6 | $800 | $46,080 |
| Thumb | 50% | 37.5 | $600 | $22,500 |
These examples are illustrations only. Every award depends on the medical findings, your average weekly wage and the temporary benefits already paid. See how your weekly rate is set in our guide to the maximum Workers’ Comp benefit in New York.
When and How Is an SLU Award Decided?
An SLU award is decided in stages, and each stage is built on medical evidence and, when the doctors disagree, their testimony.
- Maximum medical improvement (MMI): Your treating doctor first decides when you have recovered as much as you are expected to. At that point, your doctor examines you and submits a permanency report to the Board that rates your loss of use under the Board’s Guidelines for Determining Impairment.
- The insurance company’s response: If the insurance company accepts your doctor’s rating, that percentage is used for the award. If it does not, it can have its own doctor, called an independent medical examiner (IME), examine you and give a separate rating.
- Depositions and cross-examination: When the ratings differ, the doctors may be questioned under oath in a deposition, which is sworn testimony taken outside the hearing. The lawyers for each side cross-examine the other side’s doctor about how the rating was reached. Starting January 1, 2027, an insurance company that wants to cross-examine your treating doctor must first explain its reason, and the judge decides whether to allow it.
- Agreement or decision: The two sides can resolve the percentage by agreement, called a stipulation, which the judge must approve. If they do not agree, a Workers’ Compensation Law Judge weighs the reports and testimony and decides the percentage.
- Payment and appeal: Once the decision is filed, the insurance company has 10 days to pay. If either side disputes the decision, it can appeal within 30 days.
Our lawyers handle the legal side of each stage: we file and track the medical reports, prepare for and take part in depositions, cross-examine the insurance company’s doctor and argue the percentage to the judge.
What Is Deducted, and What Can Be Added
- Temporary benefits are deducted: Any temporary disability benefits you were paid are subtracted from the SLU award, along with any reimbursement your employer received for wages paid while you were out of work.
- A protracted healing period can add weeks: If you were totally disabled for longer than the healing period the law sets for your body part (for example, 32 weeks for an arm or hand, and 40 weeks for a leg), the law calls it a protracted healing period, and the extra weeks of total disability are added to your award.
- A lump sum is available: You can ask to receive your SLU award as a lump sum.
What If You Injured Your Back or Neck?
Schedule loss of use awards cover only the body parts listed in the law. Permanent injuries to body parts that are not on the schedule, such as the spine (your back and neck), are “non-schedule” injuries. Instead of an SLU award, a Workers’ Compensation Law Judge classifies the permanent disability and decides your loss of wage-earning capacity, meaning how much the injury reduces your ability to earn a living.
Unlike an SLU award, which you can receive as a lump sum, a classification award is paid weekly, for a maximum number of weeks set by law. For injuries on or after March 13, 2007, the maximum depends on your loss of wage-earning capacity:
| Loss of wage-earning capacity | Maximum weeks of benefits |
|---|---|
| More than 95% | 525 |
| More than 90% up to 95% | 500 |
| More than 85% up to 90% | 475 |
| More than 80% up to 85% | 450 |
| More than 75% up to 80% | 425 |
| More than 70% up to 75% | 400 |
| More than 60% up to 70% | 375 |
| More than 50% up to 60% | 350 |
| More than 40% up to 50% | 300 |
| More than 30% up to 40% | 275 |
| More than 15% up to 30% | 250 |
| 15% or less | 225 |
A lump-sum payment for a back or neck injury generally comes through a settlement. Learn how Workers’ Comp settlements work in New York.
How Our Lawyers Protect Your SLU Award
- Cross-examining the insurance company’s doctor: The insurance company’s doctor may give a lower rating than your treating doctor. We question that doctor in a deposition and present your doctor’s findings to the judge.
- The correct weekly rate: Every week of the award is multiplied by your weekly rate, so an average weekly wage that leaves out earnings lowers the entire award. We check the wage.
- Every body part in your claim: Each body part established in your claim can receive its own SLU award, and we follow each one through the process.
- Deductions and added weeks: We confirm that only the correct temporary benefits are deducted, and whether a protracted healing period adds weeks to your award.
- Settlement: If you are offered a settlement, we measure the offer against the value of your SLU award. Learn how Workers’ Comp settlements work in New York.
Why Injured Workers Choose Aronova & Associates
We represent injured workers from the first hearing through the final award, and we explain each stage of the SLU process in plain terms, so you always know where your claim stands.
- A dedicated Workers’ Compensation team: Our lawyers represent injured New Yorkers before the Workers’ Compensation Board every day.
- Help in your language: Our team speaks 8+ languages, so you can discuss your claim in the language you are most comfortable with.
- Every benefit, coordinated: We also handle Social Security Disability, so we can plan your claims together.
No Upfront Cost to Start Your Case
You pay nothing upfront. In New York Workers’ Compensation cases, the attorney’s fee is set by law, approved by a Workers’ Compensation judge and paid from the benefits awarded.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a 25% loss of use of the arm worth in New York?
78 weeks of benefits (312 × 25%) at your weekly rate. At a $600 weekly rate, that is $46,800. At the 2026–27 maximum of $1,281.50, it is $99,957, before temporary benefits already paid are deducted.
Is an SLU award subject to the weekly maximum?
Yes. Your weekly benefit rate is two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to the maximum in effect on your date of injury. For injuries between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027, the maximum is $1,281.50.
Are temporary benefits deducted from an SLU award?
Yes. Temporary benefits you have already been paid are subtracted from the total award.
What is a protracted healing period?
If you were totally disabled for longer than the healing period the law sets for the injured body part, such as 32 weeks for an arm or hand, the extra weeks are added to your SLU award.
Can I get my SLU award as a lump sum?
Yes. You can ask to receive the award as a lump sum.
Can I get an SLU award for a back or neck injury?
No. The spine, including the back and neck, is a non-schedule body part. Permanent back and neck injuries receive a classification award instead, paid weekly based on your loss of wage-earning capacity, for a maximum number of weeks. A lump sum generally comes through a settlement.
When will I receive an SLU award?
After you reach maximum medical improvement and the percentage is set, either by a stipulation the judge approves or by the judge’s decision. The insurance company then has 10 days to pay.
Sources
- NYS Workers’ Compensation Board, Schedule Loss of Use
- NYS Workers’ Compensation Board, Schedule Loss of Use and Non-Schedule Awards
- New York Workers’ Compensation Law § 15
- NYS Workers’ Compensation Board, Subject No. 046-1805: New Maximum and Minimum Weekly Benefit Rates
- NYS Workers’ Compensation Board, Understanding Your Schedule Loss of Use Award
- NYS Workers’ Compensation Board, Adopted Amendments on Depositions and Cross-Examination (effective January 1, 2027)
- NYS Workers’ Compensation Board, Types of Agreements for Settling a Claim
Talk With a New York Workers’ Compensation Lawyer About Your SLU Award
With an SLU award, the rating and your weekly rate decide how much you receive. Our New York Workers’ Compensation lawyers represent injured workers across New York City and Long Island, and we can explain each step of the SLU process in your case.
Call (516) 640-3900 or contact our team for a free consultation.
Attorney Advertising. This article provides general information about the law and is not legal advice about your situation. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
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