The Black Car Fund is a not-for-profit created by New York State. It provides workers' compensation to drivers of New York black car services, and that expressly includes Uber and Lyft.
You don't enroll and you don't pay a premium. If you drive for a company that is a Member Base of the Fund, you have it. It's funded by a surcharge on passenger trips.
What it pays
Workers' compensation through the Fund provides medical care and replacement income for injuries on the job - and not only crashes. Slipping getting out of the car or hurting your back lifting luggage can count too.
If a driver dies on the job
If an affiliated driver dies while working, their family may receive a $100,000 death benefit through the Fund's workers' compensation program, with no enrollment required. It depends on the workers' compensation claim being accepted. The Fund also provides survivor benefits to dependents through workers' compensation.
Don't confuse it with Drivers Benefits
The Fund also runs a separate Drivers Benefits Program. It's free, but you must enroll before anything happens - you can't sign up afterwards and be eligible.
- Covers some things workers' compensation doesn't, including injuries and illness when you're not working
- Includes disability, critical illness and personal accident cover (personal accident payouts from $50 to $40,000), plus dental, vision, hearing and telemedicine
- Includes a separate $100,000 accidental death benefit that pays only if the driver was enrolled at the time
How to claim
This isn't Uber's or Lyft's insurance, and you don't claim it through the app. Call the Fund's driver support team at 1-833-814-8590.
Limits
Workers' compensation covers injuries while working. You stop being eligible if the Workers' Compensation Board disqualifies you from lost-time benefits.
Does Uber or Lyft pay me if I'm injured and can't work? →Do Uber and Lyft drivers get paid sick leave in New York? →
This is a New York program. Jump straight to the relevant section.
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