Updated: November 2009

One-time Death Benefit For deaths arising out of and in the course of performing assigned duties or while traveling to or returning from an alarm or call, State pays designated beneficiary $150,000 in annual installments. No single annual payment shall exceed $30,000. If there is no spouse or dependent children, each parent to take 50% of insurance benefit if both are living. Payments may not be subject to DE income tax or DE estate taxes. Covers enrolled firefighters, ladies auxiliary, volunteer ambulance and rescue company members, as well as the State Fire Marshal, Deputy Fire Marshals, and Fire Inspectors. The law also covers the Director and Senior and Field Instructors of the Delaware State Fire School. Contact: Delaware Insurance Commissioner 841 Silver Lake Boulevard Dover, DE 19904 Phone: (302) 674-7300 or (800) 282-8611 Website: www.delaware.insurance.gov (Reference: Title 18, cpt 66 Line of Duty Death Benefits, Insurance Code sub section 6602) Workers' Compensation Benefit is 66 2/3 % of wages for spouses and 80% for a spouse and children. Spouse receives a two-year lump sum upon remarriage and weekly benefits cease. Children are eligible until age 18 or age 25 if full-time students. Volunteer firefighters: Benefit is 2/3 of the firefighter's wages from regular employment for spouses and 80% for spouse and children. Spouse receives a two-year lump sum upon remarriage and weekly benefits cease. Children eligible to age 25 if still full-time students. Contact: Office of Workers' Compensation P.O. Box 9954 Wilmington, DE 19809 Phone: (302) 761-8200 Website: www.delawareworks.com/industrialaffairs/welcome.shtml (Reference: Title 18, Insurance Code) Funeral Benefit Maximum of $3,500 from Workers' Compensation with expenses in excess of maximum if there are no dependents. Contact: Office of Workers' Compensation P.O. Box 9954 Wilmington, DE 19809 Phone: (302) 761-8200 Website: www.delawareworks.com/industrialaffairs/welcome.shtml Volunteer firefighters: Burial expenses up to $7,000 for a member of a volunteer fire company, ladies auxiliary or volunteer ambulance and rescue company. Does not have to be a line of duty death to receive benefit. Member must have been an active member for at least 10 years of service. Contact: Delaware Insurance Commissioner 841 Silver Lake Boulevard Dover, DE 19904 Phone: (302) 674-7300 or (800) 282-8611 Website: www.delaware.insurance.gov (Reference: Title 18 Insurance Code/ WC Law) Retirement/Pension Plan Career firefighters in Wilmington: Covered under the Delaware County and Municipal Police/Firefighter Pension Plan. Amounts vary depending on several factors. In general, eligible survivor will be paid a survivor's pension of one-half final average compensation. Addiitonal benefits if member was vested. Pension is payable to the spouse or, if there is no surviving spouse, to unmarried children under age 18, or longer if disabled and incapable of self-support until age 22 if full-time student. Contact: Office of Pensions McArdle Building 860 Silver Lake Blvd., Suite 1 Dover, DE 19904-2402 Phone: (302) 739-4208 or (800) 722-7300 Website: www.delawarepensions.com Volunteer firefighters: Covered under Delaware Volunteer Firemen's Pension Plan. Designated beneficiary receives a lump sum death benefit equal to the excess, if any, of the accumulated contributions with interest over the aggregate. The amount of the monthly pension payable to an eligible member shall be $5 times years of credited service up to a maximum of 25 years. Contact: Office of Pensions McArdle Building 860 Silver Lake Blvd., Suite 1 Dover, DE 19904-2402 Phone: (302) 739-4208 or (800) 722-7300 Website: www.delawarepensions.com (Reference: Title 2, Cpt 88) Education Benefit - Children State Treasurer pays for tuition of dependent children enrolled in a degree or certificate program at a Delaware college or university. Four-year maximum. Must be at least age 16 but not more than age 24. Contact: Delaware Insurance Commissioner 841 Silver Lake Boulevard Dover, DE 19904 Phone: (302) 674-7300 or (800) 282-8611 Website: www.delaware.insurance.gov Education Benefit - Spouse None. Non-Profit or Private Organizations Delaware Volunteer Firemen's Association Foundation P.O. Box 1849 Dover, DE 19903 Foundation intends to provide assistance to members and families of those involved in the Delaware fire service, if needed to respond to the injury, illness or death of a member of the Delaware fire service. Check to see if benefits are available. Disability Benefits Upon certification that a covered firefighter has been permanently disabled in the line of duty, the firefighter shall receive a benefit of $500 per month, plus $50 per month for each child under the age of 18. Contact: Industrial Affairs Board Division of Industrial Affairs Department of Labor P.O. Box 9954 Wilmington DE 19809-8954 Phone: (302) 761-8200 Website: www.delawareworks/industialaffairs