Workers' Compensation Glossary

Workers' Compensation Law Terms -W-

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #

Wage: See Average Weekly Wage.

Wage Expectancy: WCB) A decision element assigning an artificial wage rate to a young claimant, based on the authority of WCL .14(5).

Wage Replacement: (WCB) The proportion of pre-injury wages replaced by workers' compensation benefits.

Waiting Period: (WCB) Period covering the first seven days of disability resulting from a work-connected injury or illness. Workers' compensation indemnity benefits are not allowable for the first seven days of disability, except that (a) in cases where the disability period exceeds 14 days, indemnity awards are allowed from the date of disability, and (b) there is no waiting period for VAWBL/VFBL cases.

Workers' Compensation Board, New York State (WCB): (a) The agency charged with administering the Workers' Compensation Law, the Volunteer Ambulance Workers' Benefit Law and the Volunteer Firefighters' Benefit Law and the Disability Benefits Law. (b) The thirteen member Board responsible (directly or through review of delegated authority) for determining all issues involving claims under the WCL. Members are appointed to seven-year terms by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Governor designates the Chair and Vice-Chair.

Workers' Compensation Law (WCL): Chapter 67 of the Consolidated Laws, governing the workers' compensation system; separate laws cover compensation benefits for volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers.

Workers' Compensation Law Judge (WCLJ; Compensation Claims Referee): (WCB) An officer appointed by the Chair of the Workers' Compensation Board from a Civil Service competitive process to hear and determine claims and to conduct such hearings and investigations and make such orders, decisions and determinations as may be required in the adjudication of the claims. A Judge's decision is deemed the decision of the Board unless the Board modifies or rescinds such decision.

Work restrictions: A doctor's description of the work you can and cannot do.