Today, the New York Senate released its FY 2026 budget, omitting critical, urgently-needed updates to the state’s paid medical leave program, known as Temporary Disability Insurance.
The following is a statement from A Better Balance Senior Staff Attorney, Jesse Workman:
“We are deeply disappointed that New York’s paid medical leave program (Temporary Disability Insurance) which hasn’t been updated in over three decades was once again left out of this year’s budget. While the Senate has already passed S172, which would bring paid medical leave in line with the state’s paid family leave program’s benefits, the Assembly has not acted on this necessary reform and Speaker Heastie has not committed to advance the bill. By not bringing the bill to a vote, the Assembly has failed to recognize that the wildly insufficient paid medical leave benefit of just $170 per week is a part of our state’s affordability crisis. New York now lags behind 14 other states when it comes to comprehensive paid leave to care for oneself, and with the law remaining unchanged since 1989, the benefit amount of $170 per week would be worth only $65 today when adjusted for inflation.
While New York’s elected leaders have positioned themselves as champions of affordability, many workers in low-wage jobs navigating serious health issues like cancer, complicated pregnancies, mental health treatment and more are forced to make the impossible choice between paying their bills, or taking care of their health and potentially losing their jobs for doing so. For New Yorkers living paycheck-to-paycheck, who are increasingly being pushed into poverty due to the skyrocketing cost of living, having a program they can rely on when a medical crisis hits is not a luxury; it is a necessity to keep a roof over their heads.
We are thankful to sponsors, Senator Jessica Ramos, Assemblymember Michaelle Solages, Chair of the Assembly Labor Committee Harry Bronson, and A84’s/S172’s other co-sponsors for their tireless efforts to update Temporary Disability Insurance in the FY26 budget. We also appreciate the Governor’s commitment to paid leave and look forward to her support of this necessary reform. A Better Balance will continue to push for paid medical leave reform this legislative session, and urges the Assembly to pass A84 immediately so it can be signed by Governor Hochul before June.”
