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WFF Grant Application for LODD and recently injured Firefighters
RESOURCES WFF provides resources for firefighters, agencies, private contractors. We trust these resources to help you find additional information but we do not take responsibility for the contents. If you are interested in applying for financial assistance from the WFF, please click here to download the form to be printed. Mail your completed form to the address on the bottom. This information is provided as a courtesy only and current changes in the benefits may not be reflected or updated on this site. Please verify all information with the appropriate state or federal offices. Below is a very large volume of information, continue scrolling until you find the information you are looking for, please call our office if you have questions. FEDERAL BENEFITS Generally, when a federal firefighter is killed, the employing agency will assign a "family liaison" to assist survivors. This liaison person can help you determine which benefits you may be eligible for. Federal benefits include:
STATE BENEFITS Some states offer a wide range of benefits to the survivors of wildland firefighters; others provide very little support. Arizona workers' comp, for example, provides a benefit of 2/3 of the average monthly wage for a childless spouse till either death or remarriage; for a spouse with children, 35 percent is paid. But in California, the benefit depends on the number of dependents; it ranges from $160,000 to $320,000 and is paid in a lump sum or installments. Oregon offers a monthly payment of 4.35 multiplied by 2/3 of the state's average weekly wage. The spouse also receives an amount equal to 4.35 times 10 percent of the state's average weekly wage for each dependent child. Oregon's Public Safety Memorial Fund also provides benefits of up to $25,000 and may also award an amount up to 12 monthly mortgage payments if there was no mortgage insurance. Some state forestry and fire agencies have efforts under way to increase support for fallen firefighters. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) has a searchable index of benefits available by state at http://www.firehero.org/index1.aspx?BD=18178 where you can find fairly current information on benefits available in your state. Note that the criteria for eligibility may vary from agency to agency, even within your state. Fire Service Survivor Benefits: Another service provided by the NFFF is a Fire Service Survivors Network — survivors who volunteer to reach out to others. Members of this network let survivors know that they are not alone. You can sign up online as a volunteer, or you can email the NFFF if you would like a member of the network to contact you. PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER BENEFITS The Public Safety Officers' Benefits Act of 1976 authorizes the federal Department of Justice to pay a benefit to survivors of firefighters killed as the direct result of an injury sustained in the line of duty. Benefits are also available to firefighters who are permanently and totally disabled by catastrophic injury sustained in the line of duty. After the unprecedented loss of life on September 11, 2001, Congress increased the one-time payment to $250,000 — retroactive to January 1, 2001. The payment is adjusted annually to reflect cost of living; as of October 2006 the benefit amount for a disabled firefighter or the firefighter's survivor is $295,194 . PSOB Claim Form . A "public safety officer" is a person serving a public agency in an official capacity, with or without compensation, as a law enforcement officer, police, corrections, probation, parole and judicial officer, firefighter, rescue squad member, or ambulance crew member. A "public agency" includes an agency of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any territory or possession of the United States, or any unit of state or local government. Seasonal wildland firefighters are included in this definition. Benefits are payable in a lump sum to the spouse and eligible children; half is paid to the spouse, and half is paid, in equal amounts, to eligible children. "Eligible children" includes:
Benefits are paid to parents if no surviving spouse or children are eligible. No benefits are paid if the firefighter is not survived by an eligible spouse, children, or parent. Benefits are payable in addition to death benefits from the Civil Service Retirement System, the Federal Employees Retirement System, and Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Program under subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code. PSOB death and disability benefits are not subject to attachment by creditors, and the IRS has ruled that the benefit is not subject to federal income tax or to federal estate tax. The International Association of Firefighters has some good information available on the background and status of the Public Safety Officers PSOB and PSOEA Programs. The federal Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) administers this program. Eligible survivors or disability officers may file claims directly with BJA or through the agency, organization, or unit in which the firefighter served. For further information about the PSOB program, contact BJA toll-free at (888)744-6513 or the BJA Clearinghouse at (800) 688-4252 or check out their website at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/psob/psob_main.html
SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS Survivor Benefits: Social Security will pay benefits to a surviving spouse and dependent children. An eligible spouse must be at least age 60, or between the ages of 50 and 59 and disabled, or any age and caring for a child under the age of 16 or a disabled child. Children may qualify for benefits if they are under age 18 (or under age 19 if in high school) or disabled. Dependent parents and former spouses may also qualify for survivor benefits. The amount of the benefit depends on the deceased employee's Social Security earnings and the number of eligible survivors. More information is available at http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10008.html If you don't know where your nearest Social Security office is, you can use the OFFICE LOCATOR online. Lump Sum Death Payment: A lump sum of $255 is payable to a surviving spouse if the deceased employee and the spouse were living together at the time of death, or if the surviving spouse is entitled to survivor benefits. If there is no surviving spouse, the lump sum is paid to eligible children. More information is available at http://www.ssa.gov/online/ssa-8.html
WORKER'S COMPENSATION BENEFITS The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs of the Department of Labor provides compensation benefits to civilian employees under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act for disability caused by on-duty injury or employment-related disease. Seasonal wildland firefighters are included in this definition. It also provides benefits to dependents, if the injury or disease causes the employee's death. For more information, check the Department of Labor's Federal Employees' Compensation Act pages or their list of key personnel contacts online. Survivor Benefits: Eligible children can each receive benefits equal to 15 percent of the amount of the employee's pay at the time of death — and the spouse receives 45 percent. Total compensation is limited to 75 percent of the employee's pay. If there is no eligible child, the spouse's compensation is 50 percent of the employee's pay at the time of death. If children are the sole survivors, 40 percent is paid for the first child and 15 percent to each additional child. Others (dependent parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents, and grandchildren) may also be entitled to benefits. The total compensation may not exceed 75 percent of the employee's pay, and benefits will be reduced if the employee was covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System and the survivors are eligible for Social Security benefits based on the federal employment.
Compensation to an employee's surviving spouse terminates upon either death or remarriage. However, a widow or widower's benefit continues if the remarriage takes place after the age of 55. Awards to children, brothers, sisters, and grandchildren terminate at the age of 18 unless the dependent is incapable of self-support or continues to be a full-time student at an accredited institution — until the age of 23 or when the student has completed four years of college-level education. Burial expenses are payable up to $800 and transportation of the body to the employee's former residence is provided if death occurred away from the home station. An additional $200 is paid for administrative costs of terminating employee status with the federal government.
Death or disability payments are increased by cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), which are based on a disability or death that occurred more than one year before March 1 of each year. The COLA is effective on March 1 of each year and the increase is equal to the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index published for December of the preceding year.
Survivors receive a lump sum payment covering final pay and unused annual leave; seasonal wildland firefighters are included in this definition.
DEATH GRATUITY PAYMENT PL 104-208 allows the agency to pay a death gratuity of up to $10,000 for burial costs and out-of-pocket expenses. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) encourages all department and agency heads to make full use of this authority. This also includes an agency employee who dies after separation from service if death resulted from an on-duty injury on or after August 2, 1990. Seasonal wildland firefighters are included. Note that the amount paid under these authorities may not be reduced by any other amounts, including other benefits payable under workers' comp.
This gratuity payment may not exceed $10,000 in combination with:
HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS If a federal employee dies while enrolled for self and family coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, all eligible family members will continue to be covered under FEHB as long as at least one family member is entitled to an annuity as a survivor. The survivor's share of the premium is deducted from the annuity payments, and the change in enrollment will be processed by the employee's agency and OPM. Survivors may be able to continue their FEHB coverage even if they don't receive a monthly survivor annuity benefit. Spouses entitled to death benefits (and children whose FERS benefits are reduced by Social Security benefits) may continue their health insurance by paying premiums directly to OPM. Eligible family members include a spouse who was married to the federal employee at the time of death, and also unmarried dependent children under age 22. This includes:
RETIREMENT BENEFITS Retirement under Civil Service Retirement System or Federal Employees Retirement System: OPM administers both the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). These systems cover only full-time employees. An eligible survivor of a federal employee killed in the line of duty may qualify for a recurring CSRS or FERS monthly survivor annuity. Workers' compensation benefits and federal retirement benefits cannot usually be paid for the same period of time; the survivor must choose between the two benefits. In most cases, the primary benefits are paid by the Department of Labor. If the survivor chooses workers' comp benefits, they receive a lump sum payment of the employee's retirement contribution under CSRS or FERS. Under both systems, a qualifying survivor is:
Surviving Spouse: To qualify for a survivor annuity, spouse must have been married at least nine months. That requirement does not apply if there is a child born of the marriage or if death was accidental. If the survivor remarries before age 55, the survivor annuity may be restored if the remarriage ends by death, annulment, or divorce. Former Spouse: A former spouse divorced on or after May 7, 1985, may receive all or part of the annuity otherwise payable to a surviving spouse if a court order requires it. To be eligible, former spouse must have been married to deceased for at least nine months, and must not remarry before age 55. Survivor annuity begins the day after employee's death. It continues for life unless former spouse remarries before age 55, or terms of the court order are satisfied. If the survivor annuity is terminated by remarriage before age 55, it will not be reinstated in the future if the remarriage ends, even if the marriage is annulled. CSRS Benefits: Spousal Benefits: A widow or widower and former spouse may qualify for a survivor annuity if the employee died while covered by CSRS and had at least 18 months of service. Benefits for Children: When the child has a living parent who was married to the employee, the benefit payable to that child is the lesser of:
When the child has no living parent or the child's parents were never married, the benefit payable to that child is the lesser of:
These rates are current as of 2001 and are increased by annual cost-of-living adjustments. If the survivor chooses workers' compensation benefits, the employee's retirement contributions in the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund are payable. The employee's retirement contributions are paid to the first person eligible under the following order of precedence:
FERS BENEFITS Spousal Benefits: Basic Employee Death Benefit: A spouse or former spouse may qualify for this benefit if the employee died while covered by FERS and had at least 18 months of civilian service. As of 2001, the Basic Employee Death Benefit is 50 percent of the employee's final salary, plus $23,386.98. This payment can be made in a single lump sum or paid out in monthly installments over three years. Survivor Annuity: A spouse or former spouse may qualify for a survivor annuity if the employee died while covered by FERS and had at least 10 years of creditable service. At least 18 months of this service must be civilian service. Benefits for Children: The combined benefit payable to all eligible children is reduced by the total benefits Social Security pays to all eligible children. In many cases, the FERS children's benefit is reduced to $0. When the child has a living parent who was married to the employee, the FERS benefit payable to that child is the lesser of:
When the child has no living parent, or if the child's parents were never married, the FERS benefit payable to that child is the lesser of:
Retirement Payout Eligibility: If the survivor chooses workers' comp over the FERS Basic Employee Death Benefit and/or survivor benefits, the employee's retirement contributions in the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund, plus interest, are payable. The employee's retirement contributions are paid to the first person eligible under the following order of precedence:
GROUP LIFE INSURANCE Beneficiaries of employees covered under the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program are entitled to death benefits. The amount is equal to the employee's annual salary, rounded up to the next thousand-dollar amount, plus $2,000. A higher amount is payable if an employee was under age 45 at the time of death. If the employee elected Option A (standard optional insurance) and/or Option B (additional optional insurance), beneficiaries receive those benefits. Option A coverage is $10,000 and Option B comes in 1-5 multiples of an employee's salary. Basic insurance and Option A also have accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) benefits, but there is no AD&D coverage with Option B. Accidental death benefits for Basic benefits are equal to the Basic insurance amount, and the accidental death benefit for Option A is $10,000. These benefits are payable in addition to regular death benefits. If the employee assigned ownership of the life insurance policy, it is paid according to a particular order. If the employee did not assign ownership and there is no valid court order, the benefits are paid in the following order:
Life insurance benefits are not considered taxable income to recipients for income tax purposes. Life insurance benefits are paid in addition to any workers' compensation, Social Security, or federal retirement pension benefits.
Public Safety Officers' Educational Assistance Program: This Department of Justice program provides educational assistance to children and spouses of law enforcement, fire, and emergency public safety officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. It's available only to those survivors who have received benefits under the Public Safety Officers' Benefits program listed under one-time death benefits. The benefits may be used only to defray educational expenses, including tuition, room and board, books, supplies, and other education fees. The allowance, as of 2001, is $404 per month for full-time students, and lesser amounts for part-time students. It covers all eligible survivors of public safety officers killed or permanently disabled on or after January 1978. Contact: PSOB, Bureau of Justice Assistance, 810 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20531 or call toll-free (888)744-6513. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Scholarship Program: This program offers educational assistance to spouses, children, and stepchildren of firefighters honored at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Application form and information are available online from the NFFF or call (301)447-1365 for assistance. __________________________________________________________________ GENERAL RESOURCES
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