Voluntary DBL & PFL (Paid Family Leave) Coverage Guide for Self-Employed Therapists in New York State

When was the last time you had to take time off from your practice? Maybe you were recovering from IVF, supporting a sick loved one, navigating pregnancy complications, or simply realizing your body could not keep doing sessions like nothing was happening. Sometimes the need for rest is obvious. Other times it hits after the fact, like when you finally bring home your baby and realize bonding isn't something you can squeeze between notes, client calls, and a “quick” return to work.

My fellow therapist, you’re used to being the one who holds it together. You plan, you pivot, and you show up even when you’re running on fumes. But when you’re self-employed, taking a break can feel like a financial punishment, and you can end up trapped in that painful cycle of “I can’t afford to stop, but I also can’t keep pushing.” If that’s ever been you, you’re not alone. That’s where voluntary DBL (Disability Benefit Law) and PFL (Paid Family Leave) coverage can become a lifeline, helping protect your income when your body needs rest, your family needs you, or your long-term plans require more support than hustle can provide.

Keep reading to learn the key benefits of voluntary DBL and PFL coverage and the simple steps to enroll, so you can build real protection into your practice before you’re forced to figure it out in a crisis.

Benefits of DBL and PFL

Voluntary DBL and PFL coverage gives self-employed therapists something we rarely build into our businesses: a real safety net. There’s no medical underwriting, which means you don’t have to prove you’re perfectly healthy to qualify. Premiums are generally affordable, and if you have employees, you can extend coverage as a meaningful benefit that supports retention and loyalty. These policies can also be tax-deductible as a business expense, helping you protect your income while reducing your taxable burden. Most importantly, this coverage creates breathing room. It allows you to step away for medical recovery, pregnancy complications, postpartum healing, bonding, or caring for family without feeling like your practice will collapse the moment you stop seeing clients.

I invite you to bookmark this page and follow the steps below!

Fill out Form DB-135

Download “Election of Coverage by an Individual or Partners” (Form DB135) here: https://www.wcb.ny.gov/content/main/forms/db135.pdf

List your personal information, business name (if any), and sign the election section. Please note this form is for individual therapists. Group practice owners should complete form DB-136 here.

Choose a Carrier

The easiest option is the New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF):

https://ww3.nysif.com/DisabilityBenefits ®

On the homepage, click Apply for Coverage, then select Voluntary Coverage for Self-Employed Individuals, and follow the prompts.

You can find a list of insurance companies providing PFL policies here: https://www.dfs.ny.gov/apps_and_licensing/health_insurers/pfl_carriers

Pay and Calculate the Premium

Disability (DBL): 0.5% of wages, capped at $0.60 per week (~$31 per year). Most New Yorkers know that DBL pays a very low rate. But when you choose to purchase a plan, you can increase the coverage based on your income.

Paid Family Leave (PFL): 0.373% of gross wages, capped at $333.25 per year (2025 rate).

This rate can change each year.

A Note on Coverage Start Date

You may be able to file disability claims 30 days after your election is approved. You must keep the policy active for at least one year before canceling. For PFL, if you sign up within 26 weeks of becoming a 1099 or self-employed therapist, your coverage starts immediately, and you may be able to file claims once coverage is approved. If you sign up after 26 weeks of being in business, there is a 2-year waiting period before you can file claims.

What does it cover?

DBL covers your own medical leave (e.g., IVF recovery, pregnancy complications, recovery from surgery, cancer treatment).

PFL also covers bonding with a newborn or caring for a family member. You can file claims once your policy has been active for 30 days.

In Closing

If you’re self-employed, you don’t get the luxury of “paid leave” unless you build it on purpose. Voluntary DBL and PFL won’t remove the emotional weight of IVF, pregnancy complications, or caregiving, but they can take the financial panic out of the equation so you can actually rest, recover, and be present for what matters. If you’ve been telling yourself you’ll look into it later, let this be your gentle nudge to start now, while your body is well and your calendar isn’t forcing your hand.

About your author

Shakira K. O’Garro, LMHC-D, LPC, LPCC, NCC is a Black woman and a therapist with lived experience of severe stage 4 endometriosis, adenomyosis, and medical trauma. Even with extensive training, Shakira didn’t realize for a long time just how deeply these experiences had impacted her. Because of that, her work centers women like you, Black women who are tired of being excluded from the discourse, dismissed, gaslit, and left to suffer in silence.

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