Updated: December 2009

One-time Death Benefit $100,000 lump sum death benefit. Volunteer firefighters: Survivors eligible for benefits under the Ohio Volunteer Fire Fighters' Dependents Fund if the volunteer dies while discharging duties or from exposure or injury received while discharging duties. Spouse receives a lump sum of $1,000 plus $300 per month. Benefits cease upon remarriage. Each child receives a monthly benefit of $125 until age 18 or age 23 if the child is attending a post-secondary educational institution. Contact: Division of State Fire Marshal Department of Commerce 8895 East Main Street Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 Phone: (614) 752-8200 Website: www.com.state.oh.us/sfm (Reference: Chapter 146.01 Vol Fire Fighter Dependents Fund) Workers' Compensation Benefit is 66 2/3% of employee's average weekly wage. This is based on total earnings from all employers during the year prior to the injury. Minimum and maximum amounts apply and are adjusted annually. Upon remarriage, spouse receives a two-year lump sum and benefits terminate. Children are considered dependent until age 18, age 25 if a full-time student, or longer if disabled and incapable of self-support. Lost wages between the date of incident and date of death may be compensable. Benefits do not apply if firefighter participated in a municipal pension fund and the amount of pension funds provided is not less than the Workers' Compensation benefit. This includes off-duty firefighters responding to inherently dangerous situations regardless of whether within the limits of jurisdiction of regular employment or voluntary service. Occupational Illness: Claims alleging that death is the result of an injury or occupational disease must be filed within two years of the date of death. Contact: Bureau of Workers' Compensation 30 West Spring Street Columbus, OH 43215-2256 Phone: (800) 644-6292 Website: www.ohiobwc.com (Reference: OAC 4123-08(D); ORC 4123.85) Funeral Benefit Maximum of $5,500 for burial expenses. Contact: Bureau of Workers' Compensation 30 West Spring Street Columbus, OH 43215-2256 Phone: (800) 644-6292 Website: www.ohiobwc.com Retirement/Pension Plan Career firefighters: Ohio Public Safety Officers Death Benefit Fund provides special benefits to eligible survivors of firefighters. The firefighter's death must be the result of or while in the performance of duty from any of the following: an injury or disease heart disease with a fatal attack heart disease while off-duty, if the fatal attack can be attributed to an incident while in the performance of duty. These benefits are for firefighters covered under the Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund and the Public Employees' Retirement System. This benefit is a monthly death benefit that supplements benefits paid under the pension plans listed below. If the firefighter had not qualified for age and service retirement, then the eligible survivors receive the decedent's monthly "base pay" minus the benefits payable under the decedent's retirement plan. Spouse with no eligible children receives full "base pay." Spouse with children shares the "base pay" accordingly. Spouse continues to receive benefits until death. Unmarried children considered dependent until age 18 or age 22 if a student. Disabled children who are incapable of self-support are eligible for this benefit for life. Whenever there is an increase in the "base pay," the survivor benefits are increased accordingly. Survivors are also eligible for benefits if the firefighter died from a disease incurred in the performance of official duties. The surviving spouse is eligible to receive a benefit of $677.60 per month (as of 7/1/2007) plus any cost of living allowance until death (3% annual). Surviving spouse, however, is only eligible to receive a benefit of $410.00 per month if he or she is receiving a full death benefit payable under the Ohio Public Safety Officers Death Benefit Fund statute. Survivor continuing health care is available. DROP Members: If firefighter was a member of the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP), surviving spouse is entitled to receive the full balance of the DROP benefits accrued. Contact: Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund 140 East Town Street Columbus, OH 43215 Phone: (800) 860-9599 or (614) 228-2975 Website: www.op-f.org Education Benefit - Children Benefits offered from Ohio Safety Officers College Memorial Fund. Recipients may enroll for full-time or part-time study at any participating Ohio post-secondary institution. The Fund provides benefits which cover full instructional and general fee charges at public colleges and universities, and a portion of these costs at private post-secondary institutions. Currently, recipients receive up to $3,270 for costs at Ohio private post-secondary institutions. Must be a resident under age 26, or under age 30 if honorably discharged from the Armed Services of the United States. An unmarried child between 18-22 who is a full time student at an accredited Ohio college or university may receive an extended benefit of $184.80 per month via the Survivor's Dependents Fund (see above if eligible). Contact: Ohio Board of Regents State Grants and Scholarships Department 30 East Broad Street, 36th Floor Columbus, OH 432153414 Phone: (614) 466-5866 or (888) 833-1133 Website: www.regents.state.oh.us Education Benefit - Spouse Same as for children, except for age restriction. Contact: Ohio Board of Regents State Grants and Scholarships Department 30 East Broad Street, 36th Floor Columbus, OH 432153414 Phone: (614) 466-5866 or (888) 833-1133 Website: www.regents.state.oh.us Non-Profit or Private Organizations Kids' Chance of Ohio c/o Denise Evans, President 435 Elm Street, Suite 700 Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: (513) 852-4806 Provides educational support. Geauga County Bluecoats, Inc. P.O. Box 23721 Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 Phone: (440) 729-4488 Serves residents of Geauga County. Financial compensation is distributed to the family after the death, based on the needs in each individual case. Bluecoats, Inc. (Cleveland) 621 Hanna Building 1422 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, OH 44115 Phone: (216) 861-7788 E-Mail: RBCnASSOC@aol.com Serves residents of Cuyahoga County. Benefits vary, but can include $2,000 lump-sum, mortgage assistance and broad-based educational assistance. Stark County Bluecoats 3978 Fulton Dr. N.W. Canton, OH 44718 Phone: (330) 498-9485 Serves residents of Stark County. Funeral benefit of $5,000-$6,000. Additional financial assistance available based on need. Summit County Bluecoat Society 2060 Nimisilia Rd. Clinton, OH 44216 Phone: (330) 882-5795 Annual scholarship awards are presented to underwrite the tuition, fees, and costs of books of promising students in both the Criminal Justice and the Fire Protection Technology programs. Hundred Club of Dayton P.O. Box 2553 Dayton, OH 45401-2553 Phone: (937) 254-2917 Survivors receive financial assistance. State Troopers of Ohio 4700 West 160th Street Cleveland, OH 44135 Phone: (216) 257-7100 ext. 216 E-mail: gaosr@oatey.com Ohio State Firefighters Association $1,000.00 Death Benefit to the beneficiary within 24 hours of the death. The firefighter must be a member of a Fire/EMS Department & Ohio State Firefighters Association and enrolled into the line of duty death benefit program. The firefighter must keep an updated beneficiary form on file. P.O. Box 400 Mogadore, Ohio 44260 800-825-OSFA (6732) Website: www.ohiofirefighters.org Crime Victims Ohio Victims of Crime Compensation Program. Firefighter's death must have been the result of a violent crime such as arson. Amount of financial compensation varies depending on aid the family is already receiving and their need at the time. Can be used to cover medical costs, counseling, lost wages, and funeral expenses. Up to $50,000 per victimization. Contact: Crime Victims Services Office of the Attorney General 65 East State Street, 5th Floor Columbus, OH 43215 Phone: (614) 466-5610 or (877) 584-2846 Website: www.ag.state.oh.us