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Injury in the line of duty

Pedagogues – teachers, guidance counselors, school secretaries, psychologists, social workers and lab specialists – injured or made sick on the job are covered by the Injury-in-the-Line-of-Duty provision of the UFT-DOE contract. See new updates to these policies with the ratification of the 2023 contract. 

Under this provision, injured or sick pedagogues may apply for important benefits including paid time-off from work to recover and reimbursement of medical expenses.

  • Medical
    If you are injured in the line of duty, your health plan covers your medical care. In addition, the UFT convinced the DOE to waive its normal $750 limit on un-reimbursed medical expenses on a case-by-case basis for those who are assaulted while on duty in an unprovoked attack by a student, parent or stranger. The form used to request reimbursement as a result of an assault is an OP 505.
  • Financial
    Until the DOE grants line-of-duty status, days absent come out of your sick bank (CAR). These days will be restored once you are granted line-of-duty status and your pay will continue as usual. If you have to miss work to appear in court, the days will not come out of your sick bank – as long as you file the appropriate paperwork.

In addition, in the event of an assault the union’s legal services department will notify you in writing of your legal rights and assist you in pressing criminal charges, including representation in court. If you suspect that your school was in some way culpable, your UFT borough office or the Victim Support Program will also arrange a free consultation with an outside attorney.

Victims of assault or similar incidents can also contact the Victim Support Program at 212-598-6853 for other support services, including practical advice, counseling, and assistance with the police, the judicial system, and the DOE’s medical division.

How to access Injury-in-the-Line-of-Duty benefits

In order to access your rights and benefits under the Injury-in-the-Line-of-Duty provision of the UFT-DOE contract, you must follow certain procedures. With the ratification of the 2023 DOE-UFT contract, an OP200 form is no longer required for LODI applicants. 

  1. Unless your injury or illness prevents you, immediately notify your chapter leader and principal of any accident or other incident. All accidents should be reported – even if the injury is not obvious or is seemingly inconsequential.
  2. Complete the DOE's Comprehensive Injury Report (your school secretary will have it) and return it to your principal within 24 hours.
  3. See a doctor as soon as possible. Get a note from your doctor describing the extent of your injury and the anticipated time you will need to recover.
  4. Leaves for line-of-duty injuries must now be requested via the Department of Education's Self-Service Online Leave of Absence System (SOLAS). SOLAS replaces the old forms, OP 198 and OP 407. You should request line-of-duty-injury status (LODI) from the day of your first absence to the last date of your absence.
  5. If you have been the victim of an assault, you should file a police report at the nearest precinct as soon as possible and seek medical attention if you are injured.
  6. Complete a UFT Incident Report online as soon as possible and inform your Chapter Leader. You may call the UFT Safety and Health Department directly at 1-212-598-6853 to check on the status of your case.
  7. If you intend to sue the DOE, contact your UFT Borough Office as soon as possible. The borough office can refer you to an attorney. Keep in mind that an Intent-to-Sue/Notice of Claim legal referral form must be filed by you or an attorney within 90 calendar days of the date of your accident or illness.

In some cases, the superintendent or the DOE's Medical Bureau will refuse to grant line-of-duty status and it may be necessary to file a grievance or file for medical arbitration, respectively. Please contact your UFT district representative or UFT borough office in either case. Learn what to do if your LODI is medically denied.

Resources and forms

Please note: With the ratification of the 2023 DOE-UFT contract, an OP200 form is no longer required for LODI applicants.

Contract articles

Should you have the misfortune of being assaulted, injured, or made ill while on duty, the rights you gain through our contract offer you protection and strong support.

A list of the most commonly asked questions.

What do I do if I get injured at school?

You must notify your principal and submit a Comprehensive Injury Report within 24 hours of any accident or injury on school grounds or while on school business. The only exception is if you are unable to do so because of your injury or other reasonable grounds. If you can’t do it yourself, ask your UFT chapter leader or another designee to report your injury.  If you have been assaulted or injured as the result of a safety incident, also notify the UFT Health and Safety Department by filing an online Safety/Discipline Report. Make sure to contact your school to inform them of specific dates that you will be absent due to an injury in the line of duty (ILOD).

Leaves for line-of-duty injuries must now be requested via the Department of Education's Self-Service Online Leave of Absence System (SOLAS). SOLAS replaces the old forms, OP 198 and OP 407. You can view more information on SOLAS and how to use it here. The dates are inclusive only for the actual days one is out, so you should request line-of-duty-injury status (LODI) from the day of your first absence to the date that your doctor says you can return to work, which would be the date of last absence.

For a thorough description of the steps to take and forms to complete, visit the Injury in the Line of Duty section of the UFT website.

Do I have to go to the DOE Medical Division if I am the victim of a line of duty injury?

That depends on how badly you are injured. If you anticipate being out of work for 10 days or less, your superintendent can approve your request for ILOD (Injury in the Line Of Duty) status upon receipt of your documentation. An ILOD claim cannot be officially approved until HR Connect receives all ILOD documentation from you and/or your school. But if you will be absent for more than 10 days, you must request an examination by calling the medical bureau at: (718)935-2731.

I didn’t fill out an accident report on the day that I was injured on the job. Is it too late to file a claim for Injury in the Line of Duty?

You must report the accident or incident to the principal or designee before the close of business on the day of the injury but no later than 24 hours after the incident. If you can’t report an injury the chapter leader or designee can do it for you. If you miss the deadline because you are hurt or have other reasonable grounds, report as soon as possible. Speak to your UFT chapter leader or district representative if you think there may be a problem.

What forms do I need to file for injury in the line of duty?

For a thorough description of the steps to take and forms to complete, visit the Injury in the Line of Duty section of the UFT website. As of the 2023 DOE-UFT contract, the OP200 form is no longer required. 

The following forms are available from your school secretary or via the UFT website:

  • Comprehensive Injury/Accident Report, including description of accident/incident, witness statements, etc.; must be filled out by end of the school day or within 24 hours.
  • Leaves for line-of-duty injuries must now be requested via the Department of Education's Self-Service Online Leave of Absence System (SOLAS). SOLAS replaces the old forms, OP 198 and OP 407. You can view more information on SOLAS and how to use SOLAS here. You should request line-of-duty-injury status (LODI) from the day of your first absence to the date that your doctor says you can return to work.
  • There is also a UFT Incident Report, which can be filled out online. Inform your chapter leader as soon as possible.
Who is covered under Injury in the Line of Duty?
All teachers, guidance counselors, secretaries, social workers, school psychologists, career and technical teachers (CTEs), and lab specialists are covered by ILOD. Paras are covered for up to one year in cases of assault; otherwise they should apply for Workers’ Compensation. In certain circumstances, lab specialist and CTEs can also choose Workers’ Compensation, unless appointed to TRS.