Updated: November 2009

One-time Death Benefit Benefit of $100,000, if death is accidental, deliberate, or a result of injuries received in the performance of duties. Death and disability payments for heart attacks and strokes caused by participating in emergency situations. (Reference: Alabama Code SS 36-30-2 (House Bill 447) signed 4/26/06 by Governor) Spouse does not receive benefit if voluntarily living apart from firefighter at time of death or if firefighter did not contribute to spouse's support for more than 12 months preceding the injury that led to death. Otherwise, spouse receives death benefit. If no eligible spouse or children, other relatives may also be eligible to receive benefit if they regularly derived part of their support from the deceased at time of death. If there are no dependents or partial dependents, the parents are eligible for the benefit. Delayed death, up to 10 years, qualifies for benefit. Application must be filed within a year from date of death. Volunteers also eligible for total disability compensation of $100,000. Includes Alabama Forest Commission firefighters. Survivors of Alabama merit system firefighters who are state employees are eligible for a benefit consisting of the firefighter's previous year's salary plus what has accumulated in his/her retirement account. Death benefit payments received by beneficiaries of firefighters killed in the line-of-duty are exempt from paying state income tax. (Reference: House Bill 323/passed & signed) Crime of murder included the death of a firefighter who dies while performing his or her duties as the consequence of the crime of arson. (Reference: House Bill 413/passed & signed) Contact: Alabama State Board of Adjustment State Department of Finance Alabama State Capitol 800 Dexter Avenue, E 302 Montgomery, AL 36104 Phone: (334) 242-7175 Fax: (334)-242-2008 E-mail: www.bdadj@finance.alabama.gov Workers' Compensation Career firefighters: Benefit to one dependent is 50% of average weekly wage; benefit to two or more dependents is 66 2/3%. Benefits have a weekly minimum and maximum. Benefits payable for 500 weeks following line-of-duty death. Ceases upon remarriage of dependent. Volunteer firefighters: Coverage for volunteer firefighters is not mandated. Local jurisdictions may elect to provide coverage. Contact: Workers' Compensation Division Department of Industrial Relations 649 Monroe Street Montgomery, AL 36131 Phone: (334) 242-2868 or (800) 528-5166 Website: http://dir.alabama.gov/wc/ A maximum of $3,000 is available for burial expenses. AAVFD provides an Honor Guard to conduct funeral ceremonies that provide a fitting tribute to fallen members of the volunteer fire service (contact Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Departments, see below). Contact: Workers' Compensation Division Department of Industrial Relations 649 Monroe Street Montgomery, AL 36131 Phone: (334) 242-2868 or (800) 528-5166 Website: http://dir.alabama.gov/wc/ (Reference: AL-WC Act 25-5-60) Funeral Benefit A maximum of $3,000 is available for burial expenses. Contact: Workers' Compensation Division Department of Industrial Relations 649 Monroe Street Montgomery, AL 36131 Phone: (334) 242-2868 or (800) 528-5166 Website: http://dir.alabama.gov/wc/ Retirement/Pension Plan Career firefighters: The Retirement System of Alabama provides one-year salary plus total contributions plus interest if not eligible for retirement at time of death. Contact: The Retirement Systems of Alabama 135 South Union Street Montgomery, AL 36104 Phone: (334) 517-7000 or (877) 517-0020 Website: www.rsa-al.gov (Reference: AL Retirement System Handbook, Page 15) Education Benefit - Children Covers tuition, fees, books and supplies. No limit on the amount awarded for undergraduate study at any state college, state community college, or state technical college, except it may not exceed the cost of attendance. Survivor must have been under 21 years of age at the time of the firefighter's death. Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Departments awards $500.00 scholarships each year to four AAVFD members volunteer firefighters, their spouse, or dependent children (see AAVFD below). Contact: Alabama Police and Firefighters Survivors Educational Assistance Program Alabama Commission on Higher Education 100 North Union Street P.O. Box 302000 Montgomery, AL 36130-3758 Phone: (334) 242-1998 or (334) 242-2273 Fax: (334)-242-0268 Website: www.ache.state.al.us/StudentAsst/Programs.htm Education Benefit - Spouse Similar benefits apply to eligible spouses. Spouse must not have remarried and must begin enrollment within five years of firefighter's death. Contact: Alabama Police and Firefighters Survivors Educational Assistance Program Alabama Commission on Higher Education 100 North Union Street P.O. Box 302000 Montgomery, AL 36130-3758 Phone: (334) 242-1998 or (334) 242-2273 Fax: (334)-242-0268 Website: www.ache.state.al.us/StudentAsst/Programs.htm Non-Profit or Private Organizations Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Departments 660 Adams Avenue, Suite 345 Montgomery, AL 36104 Phone: (888) 97-AAVFD or (334) 262-2833 Website: www.aavfd.org Provides $1,000 to the surviving spouse or children under 18 years of age, of an AAVFD member who dies in the line of duty. The Association will also provide $300 to a volunteer firefighter injured in the line of duty, plus an additional $200 for permanent disability. A limited number of scholarships are awarded each year. Alabama Firefighters Association P.O. Box 524 Trussville, AL 35173 Phone: (205) 482-6584 E-Mail: afa@alfire.com Website: www.alfire.com Provides a one-time $1,000 award to the dependents of full time professional firefighters. Assistance is also provided to obtain state benefits. Members are provided with a one-time accidental death or dismemberment payment of $15,000 based on an insurance policy purchased upon membership. This applies to career, volunteer and forestry members. Legacy Outdoor Adventures Program Alabama Wildlife Federation 3050 Lanark Road Millbrook, AL 36054 Phone: (800) 822-9453 E-mail: awf@alabamawildlife.org Website: www.alabamawildlife.org Provides guided and supervised outdoor activities for children of Alabama's fallen firefighters. Free and open to all children, 15 and younger, of firefighters who have died in the line of duty. Two or three events planned annually. Kids' Chance-Alabama Law Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 671 Montgomery AL 36101 Phone: (334) 269-1515 Website: http://www.alfinc.org/contact.cfm Provides college scholarships to any worker in the state of Alabama who is killed or permanently disabled. Awards range from $500 to $2,500.