Updated: November 2009

One-time Death Benefit The Mississippi Department of Public Safety (MDPS) administers the Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Death Benefits Trust Fund. A benefit of $65,000 for survivors when a firefighter, while engaged in the performance of official duties, is accidentally or intentionally killed or receives injuries that result in loss of life. Payment made to the beneficiary who was designated in writing by the covered individual. If no such designation was made, the payment shall be made to the surviving children and spouse in equal portions. If no spouse or children, then payment to the parent or parents. Includes volunteer firefighters. This payment is in addition to any workers' compensation or pension benefits and is exempt from any claims of creditors of the covered individual. Contact: Mississippi Department of Public Safety Post Office Box 958 Jackson, MS 39205 Phone: (601) 987-1212 Website: www.dps.state.ms.us (Reference: MS Code 45 2-1) Workers' Compensation An immediate lump sum of $250 to spouse in addition to other compensation payments. Spouse with no children receives 35% of the average wages of the deceased for the duration of her widowhood. If surviving children, spouse receives an additional 10% for each child. In case of spouse's remarriage or death, each surviving child shall receive 15% of wages. If surviving children but no spouse, each child receives 25% of the wages. Benefits cannot exceed 662/3 of the average weekly wage of the deceased, subject to maximum limitations. Total weekly compensation to beneficiaries for up to 450 weeks. Contact: Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission PO Box 5300 1428 Lakeland Drive Jackson, MS 39216-5300 Phone: (601) 987-4200 Website: www.mwcc.state.ms.us (Reference: Miss Code Annotated 71-3-25) Funeral Benefit Employer or its insurance carrier obligated to pay funeral expenses of up to $2,000. Contact: Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission PO Box 5300 1428 Lakeland Drive Jackson, MS 39216-5300 Phone: (601) 987-4200 Website: www.mwcc.state.ms.us Retirement/Pension Plan Career firefighters: Survivor benefit is payable to the surviving spouse and to children under age 18, or until age 23 if the child is a full time student and unmarried. Benefits cease upon remarriage. Benefit is 2.5% of the average compensation for the first 20 years of creditable service plus 1.7% of the average compensation for each year of credited service over 20 years. The maximum benefit cannot exceed 66 2/3% of the average compensation. Contact: Mississippi Public Employees' Retirement System 429 Mississippi Street Jackson, MS 39201 Phone: (800) 444-7377 Education Benefit - Children The Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers and Firemen's Scholarship Program: Tuition waived, some fees, and average cost of on-campus housing for full-time undergraduate students for eight semesters at state-supported colleges and universities. Eligibility ends at age 23 except for special circumstances. Also applies when line-of-duty injury causes permanent and total disability. Contact: Board of Trustees, State Institutions of Higher Learning 3825 Ridgewood Road Jackson, MS 39211 Phone: (601) 432-6997 or (800) 327-2980 Website: www.ihl.state.ms.us/financialaid/law.html (Reference: Mississippi Law Enforcement and Firemen's Scholarships) Education Benefit - Spouse Same as for children except for age restriction. Benefits end with remarriage. Non-Profit or Private Organizations Hundred Club of Jackson P.O. Box 13403 Jackson, MS 39236 Phone: (601) 326-4880 Provides an immediate check to help pay off expenses. Also provides a $30,000 insurance benefit for firefighters killed in the line of duty. The Hundred Club of Jones County 714 Hillcrest Drive Laurel, MS 39441 Phone: (601) 649-5900 Mississippi Firefighters Association P. O. Box 1507 Brandon, MS 39043 Phone:(601) 442-3684 Website: www.mffa.com Call for availability of benefits and scholarship information. Kids' Chance of Mississippi Administrative Law and Workers' Compensation Section Mississippi Bar Foundation P. O. Box 2168 Jackson, MS 39225 Phone: (601) 502-2141 Call for benefit information.