What's happening
This bill allows surviving spouses to continue receiving workers' compensation death benefits even if they remarry.
Why it matters
Provides greater financial stability for surviving spouses. by ensuring they do not lose workers' compensation death benefits if they choose to remarry, removing a long-standing penalty for starting a new chapter in life.
Aligns with modern views on family and remarriage. by recognizing that the need for ongoing financial support after a worker’s death does not end if the surviving spouse remarries, reflecting changes in societal attitudes and family structures.
Reduces economic pressure to avoid remarriage. by eliminating the incentive for widows or widowers to stay single solely to retain benefits, allowing them to make personal decisions without fear of losing financial support.
May impact insurance premiums and employer costs. since benefits could be paid out over longer periods, potentially leading to adjustments in how workers’ compensation is funded or managed.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Keep Death Benefits After Remarriage
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 40
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to labor
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to labor
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1776
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to labor
Full text
7 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2305
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 12, 2017
Introduced by Sen. MURPHY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Labor
AN ACT to amend the workers' compensation law, in relation to the continuation of death benefits to a surviving spouse regardless of remarriage
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 1-b, 1-c, 1-d, 2, 2-a and 2-b of section 16 of the workers' compensation law, subdivisions 1-b, 1-c and 2 as amended by chapter 168 of the laws of 1979, subdivisions 1-d and 2-b as added by chapter 689 of the laws of 2007, and subdivision 2-a as amended by chapter 174 of the laws of 1981, are amended and a new subdivision 2-c is added to read as follows:
1-b. If there be a surviving spouse and no child of the deceased under the age of eighteen years and no child of any age dependent blind or physically disabled, and the death occurs on or after July first, nineteen hundred forty-eight, and prior to January first, nineteen hundred seventy-eight, to such spouse forty per centum of the average wages of the deceased [during widowhood or widowerhood with two years' compensation in one sum, upon remarriage]; and where the death occurred prior to July first, nineteen hundred forty-eight, to such wife (or dependent husband) thirty per centum of such wages [during widowhood (or dependent widowerhood) with two years' compensation in one sum, upon remarriage].
1-c. If there be a surviving spouse and no child of the deceased under the age of eighteen years or under the age of twenty-three years if enrolled and attending as a full time student in an accredited educational institution and such enrollment and full time attendance is certified by such institution and no child of any age dependent blind or physically disabled, and the death occurs on or after January first, nineteen hundred seventy-eight, to such spouse sixty-six and two-thirds per centum of the average wages of the deceased [during widowhood or
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02342-01-7
S. 2305 2
widowerhood with two years' compensation, in one sum, upon remarriage]. Where the death occurs on or after January first, nineteen hundred seventy-eight, and the spouse is receiving the survivors insurance benefits under the social security act, the death benefit payable under this section shall be reduced in accordance with the provisions of table No. 1 below by five per centum of the spouse's share of the survivor's insurance benefits under the social security act for each ten dollars of deceased's average weekly wage in excess of one hundred dollars provided that in no case shall such reduction exceed fifty per centum of said spouse's share of the survivors insurance benefits under the social security act.
TABLE No. I
Offset provisions applicable in death benefits
where there is a sole surviving spouse
AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE PERCENTAGE OF SPOUSE'S
SHARE OF SURVIVORS
INSURANCE BENEFITS
over $100 up to and including $110 ................................... 5 over $110 up to and including $120 .................................. 10 over $120 up to and including $130 .................................. 15 over $130 up to and including $140 .................................. 20 over $140 up to and including $150 .................................. 25 over $150 up to and including $160 .................................. 30 over $160 up to and including $170 .................................. 35 over $170 up to and including $180 .................................. 40 over $180 up to and including $190 .................................. 45 over $190 up to and including $200 .................................. 50 over $200 ........................................................... 50
1-d. If there be a surviving spouse of an employee of a private voluntary hospital killed in a World Trade Center rescue, who passed a physical examination upon employment as a rescue worker that failed to reveal evidence of a condition that was the proximate cause of death, and no child of the deceased under the age of eighteen years, or under the age of twenty-three years if enrolled and attending as a full-time student in an accredited educational institution and such enrollment and full-time attendance is certified by such institution, and no child of any age dependent blind or physically disabled, to such spouse seventyfive per centum of the average wages of the deceased [during widowhood or widowerhood, with two years' compensation, in one sum, upon remarriage]. Where such death occurs, and the spouse is receiving the survivors insurance benefits under the social security act, the death benefit payable under this section shall be reduced in accordance with the provisions of table No. I in subdivision one-c of this section by five per centum of the spouse's share of the survivor's insurance benefits under the social security act for each ten dollars of deceased's average weekly wage in excess of one hundred dollars; provided that in no case shall such reduction exceed fifty per centum of such spouse's share of the survivors insurance benefits under the social security act.
2. If there be a surviving spouse and a surviving child or children of the deceased under the age of eighteen years or a surviving child or children of any age dependent blind or physically disabled, and the death occurs on or after July first, nineteen hundred forty-eight, and prior to January first, nineteen hundred seventy-eight, to such spouse
S. 2305 3
thirty per centum of the average wages of the deceased [during widowhood or widowerhood with two years' compensation in one sum, upon remarriage]; and the additional amount of twenty per centum of such wages for each such child until the age of eighteen years or until the removal of the dependency of the blind or physically disabled child or children; in case of the subsequent death [or remarriage] of such surviving spouse any surviving child of the deceased employee, at the time under eighteen years of age or dependent through mental or physical infirmity, shall have his compensation increased to thirty per centum of such wages, and the same shall be payable until he shall reach the age of eighteen years or until such dependent blind or physically disabled condition shall have been removed; provided that the total amount payable shall in no case exceed sixty-six and two-thirds per centum of such wages. Upon statutory termination of compensation payments to all such children, the compensation of the surviving spouse shall be increased to forty per centum of such wages [with two years' compensation, at such rate, in one sum, upon remarriage].
If there be a surviving wife (or dependent husband) and any of the aforementioned surviving children, and the death occurred prior to July first, nineteen hundred forty-eight, to such wife (or dependent husband) thirty per centum of the average wages of the deceased [during widowhood (or dependent widowerhood) with two years' compensation in one sum, upon remarriage]; and the additional amount of ten per centum of such wages for each such child until eighteen years of age or until the removal of the dependency of the blind or physically disabled child or children; in case of the subsequent death [or remarriage] of such surviving wife (or dependent husband) any surviving child of the deceased shall have his compensation increased to fifteen per centum of such wages until he shall reach the age of eighteen years or until such dependent blind or physically disabled condition shall have been removed; provided that the total amount payable shall in no case exceed sixty-six and two-thirds per centum of such wages.
The board may in its discretion require the appointment of a guardian for the purpose of receiving the compensation of a minor child or a dependent blind or physically disabled child. In the absence of such a requirement by the board the appointment of a guardian for such purposes shall not be necessary.
2-a. If there be a surviving spouse and a surviving child under the age of eighteen years or under the age of twenty-three years if enrolled and attending as a full time student in an accredited educational institution and such enrollment and full time attendance is certified by such institution or a surviving child of any age dependent blind or physically disabled and the death occurs on or after January first, nineteen hundred seventy-eight, to such spouse thirty-six and two-thirds per centum of the average wages of the deceased [during widowhood or widowerhood with two years' compensation in one sum, upon remarriage]; and thirty per centum of such wages to such child under the age of eighteen years or under the age of twenty-three years if enrolled and attending as a full time student in an accredited educational institution and such enrollment and full time attendance is certified by such institution or a surviving child of any age dependent blind or physically disabled; in the case of the subsequent death of such surviving spouse the surviving child shall have his compensation increased to sixty-six and two-thirds per centum of such wages and the same shall be payable so long as he is under the age of eighteen years or under the age of twenty-three years if enrolled and attending as a full time student in an accredited educa-
S. 2305 4
tional institution and such enrollment and full time attendance is certified by such institution or a surviving child of any age dependent blind or physically disabled; upon statutory termination of compensation payable to such child, the compensation of the surviving spouse shall be increased to sixty-six and two-thirds per centum of such wages [with two years' compensation, at such rate, in one sum, upon remarriage. Upon remarriage of such surviving spouse, the surviving child shall continue to receive thirty per centum of such wages]. Where the death occurs on or after January first, nineteen hundred seventy-eight and the spouse is receiving survivors insurance benefits under the social security act, the death benefit payable under this section shall be reduced by five per centum of the spouse's share of the survivors insurance benefits under the social security act for each ten dollars of deceased's average weekly wage in excess of one hundred dollars provided that in no case shall such reduction exceed fifty per centum of said spouse's share of the survivors insurance benefits under the social security act as set forth in table No. I below.
TABLE No. I
Offset provisions applicable in death benefits
where there is a surviving spouse and one child
AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGE PERCENTAGE OF SPOUSE'S
SHARE OF SURVIVORS
INSURANCE BENEFITS over $100 up to and including $110 ................................... 5 over $110 up to and including $120 .................................. 10 over $120 up to and including $130 .................................. 15 over $130 up to and including $140 .................................. 20 over $140 up to and including $150 .................................. 25 over $150 up to and including $160 .................................. 30 over $160 up to and including $170 .................................. 35 over $170 up to and including $180 .................................. 40 over $180 up to and including $190 .................................. 45 over $190 up to and including $200 .................................. 50 over $200 ........................................................... 50
If there be a surviving spouse and two or more surviving children under the age of eighteen years or under the age of twenty-three years if enrolled and attending as a full time student in an accredited educational institution and such enrollment and full time attendance is certified by such institution or a surviving child or children of any age dependent blind or physically disabled and a death occurs on or after January first, nineteen hundred seventy-eight, to such spouse thirty-six and two-thirds per centum of the average wage of the deceased [during widowhood or widowerhood with two years' compensation in one sum upon remarriage]; and thirty per centum of such wages to such children under the age of eighteen years or under the age of twenty-three years if enrolled and attending as a full time student in an accredited educational institution and such enrollment and full time attendance is certified by such institution or a surviving child or children of any age dependent blind or physically disabled, share and share alike; in case of the subsequent death of such surviving spouse the surviving children shall have their compensation increased to sixty-six and twothirds per centum of such wages and the aggregate sum shall be payable, share and share alike, so long as they are under the age of eighteen
S. 2305 5
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the workers' compensation law, in relation to the continuation of death benefits to a surviving spouse regardless of remarriage
Purpose
Allow for the continuation of workers' compensation death benefits to a surviving spouse and children regardless of remarriage.
Summary of provisions
Section one amends Subdivisions 1-b, 1-c, 1-d, 2, 2-a, 2-b of section 16 of the workers' compensation law, and adds a new subdivision 2-c to state that for the purposes of the payment of benefits to a surviving spouse, the remarriage of such spouse shall not affect his or her status as a widow or widower.
Section two establishes the effective date.
Existing law
Workers' Compensation Law provides Workers' compensation provides death benefits (survivor benefits) to a spouse and to dependent minor children of the deceased worker. Death benefits are calculated as a percentage of the deceased's average wages, subject to a minimum and a maximum.
These benefits cease upon remarriage with the payment of two years' compensation in a lump sum.
If an injured worker dies from a job-related injury, the surviving spouse and/or minor children or, lacking such, other dependents as defined by law, are entitled to death and survivor benefits. Funeral expenses are payable up to statutory maximums.
Justification
The ability to remarry should not be hindered by the possibility of financial loss to a family who has already suffered the greatest loss, that of a spouse and parent. This legislation will allow for workers' compensation survivor benefits to continue in the case of the remarriage of a surviving spouse, thus allowing a survivor to move forward in a new chapter of their life.
Legislative history
2015-2016: S.5951-A, Passed Senate 2013-2014: S.4090
Fiscal implications
To be determined
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.