Facial Disfigurement Awards in NY Workers' Comp

Up to $20,000 for serious permanent disfigurement of the face, head, or neck — separate from any other SLU.

TL;DR

• WCL §15(3)(t) provides an award of up to $20,000 for serious permanent disfigurement of the face, head, or neck.
• The award is in addition to any other SLU or classification benefits — not instead of.
• The judge determines the award based on observation, photographs, and the nature of the disfigurement.
• Common scenarios: facial burns, large facial lacerations and resulting scars, dog bite injuries, post-surgical disfigurement.

What qualifies

The statute requires the disfigurement to be:

1. Permanent — past the point of further healing or improvement
2. Serious — visible, of consequence, not trivial
3. Of the face, head, or neck — body locations covered by the statute

The award range is up to $20,000, with the actual amount in the judge’s discretion based on:

• Severity and visibility of the disfigurement
• Whether it’s correctable
• Impact on the claimant’s appearance in normal interaction
• Photographic evidence and observation at the hearing

Common scenarios

• Burns — kitchen burns from hot oil/grease, chemical burns, arc-flash burns, fire injuries
• Lacerations and resulting scars — work injuries producing facial cuts that heal with visible scarring
• Dog bite injuries (for outdoor and field workers — mail carriers, utility, meter readers)
• Surgical disfigurement — when work-injury surgery produces a visible result
• Tooth loss / dental injury — depending on visibility
• Hair loss / alopecia from chemical exposure or radiation

Why this matters

This is a separate pot of money. A claimant who has a back injury producing classification benefits plus a facial scar from the same accident receives both — classification and §15(3)(t) facial disfigurement. The award is independent of the wage-loss analysis.

What I see go wrong

• Claim not raised. Many claimants and their attorneys forget §15(3)(t) when the focus is on the more significant injury (back, knee). The award is asked for or it isn’t given.
• Photographs not preserved. Disfigurement claims rest on visual evidence. Photographs early in treatment, throughout healing, and at the time of permanency are essential.
• Plastic surgery option not addressed. Whether disfigurement is correctable affects the award; medical opinion on surgical options should be part of the record.

What to do next

If your work injury included a visible facial injury, raise it. Even on a “small” scar — if it’s permanent and visible, the award can be meaningful. Contact me directly.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a facial disfigurement award in NY?

Under WCL §15(3)(t), the award is discretionary up to $20,000, decided by the WCLJ based on the severity, visibility, and permanence of the disfigurement, and whether it’s correctable. The award is in addition to any other SLU or classification benefits — not instead of them.

What qualifies as facial disfigurement?

Permanent, serious, visible disfigurement of the face, head, or neck — burns, scars from lacerations, surgical disfigurement, dog bite injuries, tooth loss visible in normal interaction, and certain chemical or radiation injuries. The disfigurement must be past the point of further healing.

Do I need photos?

Yes. Photographs at multiple points (early treatment, during healing, at permanency) are essential evidence. The award is based on visual evidence; without photos, the judge has only your in-person presentation to work from.

Related pages

• Restaurant worker injuries — burns
• Construction-site injuries — lacerations
• Electrocution and arc-flash injuries — burns
• What is a Schedule Loss of Use award?