NY S01024

Expands the definition of permanent total disability under workers' compensation law to include inability to perform the full range of sedentary work or approval for federal social security disability benefits resulting from a compensable accident or occupational disease.

Defines inability to perform the full range of sedentary work as inability to exert up to ten pounds of force occasionally, or inability to sit for at least six hours in an eight-hour day and occasionally walk or stand for no more than two hours in an eight-hour day.

Requires consideration of non-exertional activities such as seeing, hand-manipulation, understanding, remembering, and carrying out simple instructions when evaluating inability to perform unskilled sedentary work.

Maintains existing protections allowing employees with total loss of use of both eyes, hands, arms, feet, or legs to engage in business or employment without reducing compensation, provided combined earnings do not exceed the maximum weekly wage base.

Takes effect immediately and applies to all injuries arising on or after the effective date of the act.