On March 11, the New York State Senate and Assembly released their FY 2026 one-house budget resolutions. While the Senate included a bill making urgently needed reforms to New York’s Temporary Disability Insurance law, the Assembly excluded this measure from their resolution.
The follow is a statement from A Better Balance Senior Staff Attorney Jesse Workman:
“During a time when many New Yorkers are already struggling to make ends meet, it is extremely disappointing that the Assembly chose not to include urgently needed updates to New York’s paid medical leave benefits (known as temporary disability insurance) as one of its budget priorities. While we are encouraged by the Senate’s inclusion of bill S172, the Assembly has sent a clear message to New Yorkers that when a medical crisis hits, they should expect to continue choosing between a paycheck and their health. Once again, the Assembly has left behind the thousands of New Yorkers navigating serious health issues like cancer, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, complicated pregnancies, a need for mental health or substance use treatment, and more.
Temporary disability insurance has not been increased since 1989 and offers a maximum benefit of just $170 per week with no job protection. It is so inadequate that many New Yorkers simply cannot afford to use it. A Better Balance was instrumental in helping pass paid family leave for New York in 2016, but our state has fallen deeply behind 14 other states when it comes to paid leave to care for oneself. Adjusted for inflation, this benefit would be worth only $65 a week today, while the price of eggs is still around $10.
We are thankful to lead sponsor, Assemblymember Michaelle Solages, Chair of the Assembly Labor Committee, Harry Bronson, and A84’s other co-sponsors for their hard work on this bill. We urge the Assembly to join their Senate colleagues and prioritize this proposal throughout the budget negotiation process so that when faced with a medical crisis, workers can prioritize their health needs without sacrificing their livelihoods. We are hopeful that Governor Hochul, who has been a staunch champion of paid family leave, will work closely with the Senate and Assembly to ensure S172/A84 is included in the final FY 2026 budget agreement.”
