LODD Benefits
There are many benefits available to first responders who die in the line of duty, as well as a few for those that have been catastrophically injured. With the help of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, along with some of our own research, we have been able to provide a list of national, state, local, and other miscellanious benefits. It is important to do your research on any particular benefit of interest. Each one has rules and regulations that must be adhered to. If you have any questions, or would like assistance in filing for benefits, please visit our Casework & Assistance Page and fill out the form. One of our benefits specialists will contact you.
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National Benefit
A unique effort of the U.S. Department of Justice; local, state, tribal, and federa public safety agencies; and national organizations, the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Programs provide death and education benefits to survivors of fallen firefighters, law enforcement officers, and other first responders, and disability benefits to officers catastrophically injured in the line of duty. The PSOB Office at the Bureau of Justice Assistance is honored to review the nearly 700 claims submitted each year on behalf of America’s fallen and catastrophically disabled public safety heroes and their loved ones. Visit www.psob.gov for details regarding PSOB’s death, disability, and educational assistance programs.
Designation of PSOB Beneficiary | PSOB Education Benefits I Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefict Act
Find out why your all of the firefighters in your department should complete this very important form and keep it on file in your department.
Click here to learn more.
For the fire service, the Task Force works closely with the National Fallen Firefighter's Foundation.
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Other Federal Benefits
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State Benefits
ONE-TIME DEATH BENEFIT
$500,000 lump sum payment to eligible spouse if public servant died in performance of duty and from exposure to a risk. If no spouse, payment in equal shares to children, with no limit on age. If no eligible surviving spouse or children, payment to parents in equal shares. The program also provides a monthly benefit for the firefighter’s minor children. The monthly benefit totals $200 for one child, $300 for two children and $400 for three or more children. Payments are made to the appointed guardian or legal representative.
Career firefighters: Career firefighters: Spouse and dependent children are eligible for continued health & dental insurance benefits.
Contact:
Employees Retirement System of Texas
P.O. Box 13207 (Mailing Address)
Austin, TX 78711-3207
Phone: (512) 867-7711
Toll Free: (877) 275-4377
Fax: (512) 867-7438
Website: www.ers.state.tx.us
Contact:
Employees Retirement System of Texas
200 E. 18th St (Physical Address)
Austin, TX 78701
(Reference:Texas Government Code Chapter 615.022)
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
Workers Compensation is a state benefit in Texas. However, workers’ compensation is not mandatory for career or volunteer firefighters so this benefit may not apply to all firefighters. For those firefighters covered under workers’ compensation, weekly benefit of 75% of employee’s average weekly wage paid 50% to surviving spouse and 50% divided equally among dependent children. If no spouse survives, children receive total benefit, and vice versa. Children are eligible for benefits until age 18, age 25 if a full-time student, or longer if disabled. Lifetime benefit for spouse who does not remarry. Upon remarriage, spouse receives a two-year lump sum and benefits terminate.
Contact:
Texas Department of Insurance
Division of Workers’ Compensation
7551 Metro Center Drive, Suite 100 (Physical Address)
Austin, TX 78744-1645
OR
Texas Department of Insurance
Division of Workers’ Compensation
P.O. Box 149104 (Mailing Address)
Austin, TX 78714
Toll Free: (800) 252-3439
Website: www.tdi.state.tx.us/wc/
(Reference:Texas Workers’ Compensation Act Sections 408.181; Rules 132.1 – 132.17)
FUNERAL BENEFIT
Workers’ compensation is not mandatory for career or volunteer firefighters so this benefit may not apply. For those firefighters covered under workers’ compensation, maximum of $6,000 for burial expenses, plus the cost of transporting the body to the home area.
Contact:
Texas Department of Insurance
Division of Workers’ Compensation
7551 Metro Center Drive, Suite 100 (Physical Address)
Austin, TX 78744-1645
OR
Texas Department of Insurance
Division of Workers’ Compensation
P.O. Box 149104 (Mailing Address)
Austin, TX 78714
Toll Free: (800) 252-3439
Website: www.tdi.state.tx.us/wc/
(Reference:Texas Workers’ Compensation Act Sections 408.181; Rules 132.1 – 132.17)
RETIREMENT/PENSION PLAN
Texas Statewide Emergency Services Personnel Retirement Act provides a lump-sum payment of at least $60,000 to the beneficiary and monthly pension payments equal to 66 2/3% of the member’s full retirement annuity to be shared equally between spouse and minor children. Children are eligible until age 18, age 19 if full-time student, or if the child became disabled before his or her 22nd birthday and remains incapable of self-support. This is a lifetime benefit for the spouse. Department must participate in the plan for firefighter to receive benefits.
Contact:
Texas Emergency Services Retirement System
P.O. Box 12577
Austin, TX 78711
Phone: (512) 936-3372
Toll Free: (844) TXHEROES
Fax: (512) 936-3480
Website: www.tesrs.texas.gov
TMRS: For survivors of those firefighters who participated in the TMRS Supplementary Death Benefit program, there is a one-time lump sum payment approximately equal to one year’s salary based on the 12 months immediately preceding the month of death.
Contact:
Texas Municipal Retirement System
P.O. Box 149153
Austin, TX 78714-9153
Phone: (512) 476-7577
Toll Free: (800) 924-8677
Fax: (512) 476-5576
Website: www.tmrs.com
E-mail: phonecenter@tmrs.com
Career firefighters: If firefighter was a vested Texas Municipal Retirement System member, the beneficiary who was a spouse may select a monthly benefit to begin immediately, payable for either 15 years or for lifetime. The monthly benefit includes the city manager’s matching funds and any other credits that would be used to calculate normal retirement. Withdrawal in a lump sum does not include city manager’s matching funds. City may also choose to include a supplemental death benefit of $7,500.
Contact:
Texas Municipal Retirement System
P.O. Box 149153
Austin, TX 78714-9153
Phone: (512) 476-7577
Toll Free: (800) 924-8677
Fax: (512) 476-5576
Website: www.tmrs.com
E-mail: phonecenter@tmrs.com
(Reference:TMRS handbook Page 44-46)
Texas Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund.
First Responder's death must have been the result of a violent crime such as arson. Survivors are eligible to receive up to $50,000 to help cover medical costs, counseling, loss of wages, childcare, funeral expenses, and other costs.
Crime Victims’ Compensation Program
Office of the Attorney General
P.O. Box 121548 (Mailing Address)
Austin, TX 78711-2548
Phone: (512) 463-2100
Toll Free: (800) 252-8011
Fax: (512) 475-2994
Website: www.oag.state.tx.us
E-mail: crimevictims@oag.state.tx.us
Crime Victims’ Compensation Program
Office of the Attorney General
300 W. 15th St (Physical Address)
Austin, TX 78701
Education Assistance- Children
For deaths occurring before September 1, 2001: Tuition, dues, fees, and charges waived at public state institutions. Does not include lodging, board, or clothing. May be used at public junior colleges, senior colleges, and universities. Can be used for eight semesters and is not restricted to undergraduate education. Applicant must be age 21 or under when first applying.
For deaths occurring on or after September 1, 2001: Student exempt from tuition and fees at institution of higher education until the student receives a bachelor’s degree or 200 hours of college credit, whichever occurs first. If the student elects to reside in housing provided by the institution and qualifies to reside there, the institution shall pay the cost of the student’s contract for housing and food, as well as the cost of the student’s textbooks, until the student receives a bachelor’s degree or 200 hours or course credit, whichever occurs first.
Contact:
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Capitol Station
P.O. Box 12788
Austin, TX 78711
Phone: (512) 427-6101
Toll Free: (800) 242-3062
Website: www.thecb.state.tx.us
(Reference: Texas Education Code Article 54.204)
Education Assistance- Spouse
For deaths occurring before September 1, 2001: no benefits.
For deaths occurring on or after September 1, 2001: Student exempt from tuition and fees at institution of higher education until the student receives a bachelor’s degree or 200 hours of college credit, whichever occurs first. If the student elects to reside in housing provided by the institution and qualifies to reside there, the institution shall pay the cost of the student’s contract for housing and food, as well as the cost of the student’s textbooks, until the student receives a bachelor’s degree or 200 hours or course credit, whichever occurs first.
Contact:
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Capitol Station
P.O. Box 12788
Austin, TX 78711
Phone: (512) 427-6101
Toll Free: (800) 242-3062
Website: www.thecb.state.tx.us
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Other Benefits
Fleetwood Memorial Foundation
501 South Fielder Road
Arlington, TX 76013
Phone: (817) 825-6699
Fax: (817) 542-0839
Website: www.fleetwoodmemorial.org
Grants awarded up to $10,000. Designed to provide immediate financial relief. Funds also available for education expenses in state public institutions for the dependent children.
Williams-Pyro Firefighters Fund
200 Greenleaf Street
Fort Worth, TX 76107
Phone: (817) 872-1500
Fax: (888) 616-7976
Website: www.williams-pyro.com
E-mail: information@williams-pyro.com
Provides grants to the families based on need.
Kids’ Chance – State Fund Scholarship Program
c/o Texas Mutual Insurance Company
6210 East Highway 290
Austin, TX 78723-1098
Phone: (800) 859-5995 x 3820
Fax: (512) 224-3999
E-mail: tmcvea@texasmutal.com (Temetria McVea)
Provides grants to the families based on need.
Woodmen of the World
Woodmen Tower
1700 Farnham St
Omaha, NE 68102
Phone: (800) 225-3108
Website: www.woodmen.org
Woodmen of the World will pay a $10,000 fraternal death benefit if a qualified member is killed while performing his or her duties as a non-military first responder. To be eligible for this benefit, an individual must be a member in good standing of one of our other benefits.
First Responders include firefighters, EMT/paramedics, police or a person performing a supporting role to such individuals.
Wives Behind the Badge, scholarships are open to the spouses/registered domestic partners and dependent children of local, state, and federal law enforcement officers (active, retired, or deceased). Applicants must be US Citizens. The Children’s Scholarship is for tuition assistance at an accredited four-year college or university only. The Spouses’ Scholarship is for tuition assistance at an accredited four-year college or university, or a community college. For more information visit www.wivesbehindthebadge.org or call (661) 202-8604.
Steve Young Memorial Scholarship Program is administered by spouses of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty after January 2001. The scholarship enables recipients to receive personalized career counseling at one of the more than 1,900 One Stop Career 10 Rev. 1/15 Centers, where they will develop an individual employment plan to help them reach their career goals. For more information please contact Fraternal Order of Police Legislative Office, 309 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002 or call (202) 547- 8189.
Dignity Memorial funeral, cremation and cemetery providers created the Public Servants Program for emergency service personnel. This program provides dignified and honorable tributes, at no cost, for career and volunteer law enforcement officers who fall in the line of duty. Visit their website for complete information @ www.dignitymemorial.com and look under Public Servants for details. You may also call 800-34-DIGNITY and speak with a representative.
Wilbert Funeral Services, Inc. provides complimentary burial vaults and related services for fallen law enforcement officers. For more information visitwww.wilbert.com or call (888) WILBERT.
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C.O.P.S. Scholarship
Provider: Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.)
Summary: Provides educa􀆟onal assistance to surviving families of law
enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.
Contact: Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) website
(573) 346-4911
Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.)
P.O. Box 3199
Camdenton, MO 65020
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Fraternal Order of Eagles Financial Assistance
Provider: Fraternal Order of Eagles
Summary: Through their Memorial Founda􀆟on, the Eagles provide
financial assistance for surviving children of full-􀆟me law enforcement
officers killed in the line of duty who were also ac􀆟ve members of the
Fraternal Order of Eagles at the 􀆟me of their death.
Contact: Fraternal Order of Eagles website
(614) 883-2200
Fraternal Order of Eagles
1623 Gateway Circle
S. Grove City, OH 43123
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Knights of Columbus Scholarship
Provider: The Knights of Columbus
Summary: Scholarships are available to children of members of the
Order, who, as a result of criminal violence, lost their lives or became
totally and permanently disabled while in the lawful performance of
their du􀆟es as full-􀆟me law enforcement officers.
Contact: The Knights of Columbus website
(909) 343-0460
The Knights of Columbus
15808 Arrow Blvd. Suite A
Fontana, CA 92335
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Survivors' Education Law Enforcement Trust (SELECT) Scholarship
Provider: The IACP Foundation
Amount: $1000 to $2500
Summary: The SELECT program supports the continuing education
needs of dependent family members by helping to defray educational
costs for undergraduate or graduate studies. Application deadline for
2012 is June 1.
Contact: The IACP Foundation website
800-843-4227 x367
The IACP Foundation
ATTN: Patricia Casstevens
515 North Washington Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-2357
Details & Applicable Instructions:
One of the most rewarding of the IACP Foundation’s programs is the
Survivors’ Education Law Enforcement Trust (SELECT) scholarship
program, which was established to recognize the contribution made by
law enforcement officers killed or permanently disabled in the line of
duty. The SELECT program supports the continuing education needs of
dependent family members by helping to defray educational costs for
undergraduate or graduate studies.
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Benefits By County (Provided by the NFFF. Most benefits are available to Law Enforcement as well)
