Updated: November 2009

One-time Death Benefit Death benefit is $133,383 to spouse or spouse and dependent children. The benefit is adjusted annually on July 1 based on the Consumer Price Index. Benefit provided when firefighter dies in performance of duties. Performance of duties is defined as: actively participating in fighting a fire or while going to or from a fire; performing other duties necessary to the operation or maintenance of a fire company; actively participating in ambulance, advanced life support, or rescue work as part of a fire, ambulance, rescue, or advanced life support unit while going to or from the scene; or providing emergency or rescue assistance, whether acting alone or at the direction of or with a company or advanced life support unit. Benefit paid is in addition to any benefits from workers' compensation and life insurance. Contact: Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Death Benefit Program 6776 Reisterstown Road Baltimore, MD 21215 Phone: (410) 585-3408 or (877) 379-8636 Website: www.dpscs.state.md.us (Reference: Art 41-4-1003) Workers' Compensation For survivors of eligible workers, benefit is 66 2/3% of the employee's wages for spouse or spouse with children. Two-year lump-sum payable upon remarriage; weekly benefits cease. Children receive benefits until age 18 or longer if disabled and incapable of self-support, or until 23 if full-time students. Compensation cannot exceed state's average weekly wage. Volunteer firefighters: Members in specified counties are covered as employees while "on duty." Wages computed based upon the wages employee received from other employment or, if not employed, by a set formula. Contact: Workers' Compensation Commission 10 East Baltimore Street Baltimore, MD 21202-1641 Phone: (410) 864-5100 or, in Maryland, call (800) 492-0479 Website: www.wcc.state.md.us (Reference: Article Title 9-04 Annotated Code of MD Workers' Compensation) Funeral Benefit Maximum of $10,000 paid to the spouse, children, parents, or estate of a volunteer or career firefighter, rescue squad member, or State Fire Marshal who is killed or dies in the performance of duties. See definition of performance of duties listed above under One-time Death Benefit. Reduced by the amount of any Workers' Compensation benefits paid. Workers' Compensation allows up to $5,000. Exceptions to the limit are made if approved by Workers' Compensation. Contact: Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Death Benefit Program 6776 Reisterstown Road Baltimore, MD 21215 Phone: (410) 585-3408 or (877) 379-8636 Website: www.dpscs.state.md.us (Reference: Article Title 41-4-1002 Annotated Code of MD Workers' Compensation) Retirement/Pension Plan Members in the Pension System for Local Firefighters and Police Officers, administered through the State Retirement System, are covered from the first day on the job if they die while in the performance of duty. The benefit is equal to the annual earnable compensation at the date of death plus a return of any accumulated contributions with interest. A surviving spouse may elect to receive a monthly benefit in lieu of the lump sum. If there are only surviving children, the lump sum is the only available benefit. The lump sum consists of contributions with interest PLUS and annual benefit equal to 2/3 of Annual Final Compensation. In all cases, the local department should be contacted to ascertain the correct pension system for that department. Contact: State Retirement & Pension System of Maryland 120 E. Baltimore Street Baltimore, MD 21202-1800 Phone: (410) 625-5555 or (800) 492-5909 Website: www.sra.state.md.us (Reference: Local Fire Fighters' and Police Officers' Pension System Benefits Handbook Pages 12 & 13) Education Benefit - Children Edward T. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program. May be used for tuition and mandatory fees not to exceed that of a resident undergraduate at the University of Maryland, College Park. Good for five years of full-time or eight years of part-time study. Must be at least age 16. Covers graduate, undergraduate and professional studies. Amount may not exceed $9,000 per year. Contact: Maryland Higher Education Commission State Scholarship Administration 839 Bestgate Road, Suite 400 Annapolis, MD 21401 Phone: (410) 260-4500 or (800) 974-0203 Education Benefit - Spouse Same as for children. Spouse cannot have remarried. Contact: Maryland Higher Education Commission State Scholarship Administration 839 Bestgate Road, Suite 400 Annapolis, MD 21401 Phone: (410) 260-4500 or (800)974-0203 Non-Profit or Private Organizations HEROES, Inc. 1100 G Street, NW Suite 300 Washington, DC 20005 Phone: (202) 638-6658 Website: www.heroes-inc.org Serves families in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties. Offers $5,000 for immediate expenses; $6,000 for funeral expenses. Further assistance provided shortly after death, including professional counseling. Also provides college scholarship including room and board, tuition, books and associated fees for children and spouses in Prince George's and Montgomery Counties. Renewable for a total of four years of undergraduate education. 100 Club of Anne Arundel County P.O. Box 911 Pasadena, MD 21122 Phone: (410) 625-6110 website: www.aa100club.org Within 24 hours will help family with a check to help pay immediate expenses and will assist in paying outstanding bills. Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens 200 E. Padonia Road Timonium, MD 21093 Phone: (410) 666-0490 Website: www.dulaneyvalley.com Provides burial service, space,and memorial free of charge for any firefighter killed in the line of duty and the surviving spouse. Maryland State Firemen's Association 424 Greenland Beach Road Baltimore, MD 21226 Phone: (410) 255-7745 Website: www.msfa.org Also: Scholarship Application and Deadlines Provides $6,000 and scholarships for children of volunteer firefighters or volunteer ambulance or rescue squad members who die or are disabled by any accident while performing any duties necessary to the operations of the fire company or while actively participating in ambulance or rescue squad work. Kids' Chance of Maryland P.O. Box 20262 Baltimore, MD 21284 Phone: (410) 832-4702 E-mail: info@kidschance-md.org Website: www.kidschance-md.org Provides college scholarships. Call for information.