09/10/2026 - Virtual hearings update: phone number changes announcement - distributed via GovDelivery email

Effective September 18, 2026, those attending virtual hearings with the New York State Workers' Compensation Board (Board) will no longer see the phone number (518) 549-0500 when the Judge calls the claimant for a hearing. To increase digital security, the Board will discontinue use of this number and instead implement a more secure, rotating phone number system.

Please disregard previous guidance instructing attendees to save the (518) 549-0500 phone number to contacts to prevent the Judge's call from being blocked. The new numbers should not be blocked by your service provider. The caller ID may display "Cisco WebEx" or it may appear as an out-of-state number. If you are expecting a call from the Judge, please answer when your phone rings.

As always, we strongly encourage all participants to join their hearing by video and use their device audio. Joining by video and connecting using the device audio is not only the easiest way to attend, but appearing on video is also required for witnesses and represented claimants when they are scheduled to testify at a hearing.

For best-practice tips and other useful information for attending a virtual hearing, visit: wcb.ny.gov/virtual-hearings/claimant-guide

For more information on the requirement to appear on video when testifying, see Subject Number 046-1784.