Updated July 2021 (COVID-19 related benefits updated April 2021)
COVID-19 BENEFITS
COVID-19-related first responder deaths are considered line-of-duty deaths under the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program. Legislation passed in August 2020 established a statutory presumption for first responders who die from, or are disabled by complications related to, COVID-19. Prior to August, suspected cases were required to have proof that exposure occurred during their work duties.
(Legislation: S.3607 – Safeguarding America’s First Responders Act of 2020)
Contact:
Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program
Phone: (888) 744-6513
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: bja.ojp.gov/program/psob
Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA will provide financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will provide up to $9,000 per funeral and up to $35,500 per applicant to help with expenses related to coronavirus deaths that occurred after January 20, 2020.
Contact:
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Information
(Applications accepted starting April 12, 2021)
Phone: (844) 684-6333
TTY: 800-462-7585
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 8:00 am to 8:00 pm CST
Website: www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance#eligible
Arizona has a Covid-19 Resource Center under its Benefit Services Division. It is a good place to start a search for firefighter LODI or LODD benefits, but always contact individual government agencies, such as workers’ compensation for survivor benefits which may have been extended to COVID-19 survivors.
Resource: https://benefitoptions.az.gov/covidresources
Contact:
Arizona Department of Public Safety
2222 West Encanto Boulevard
Phoenix, AZ 85009
Phone: (602) 223-2000
Contact:
Industrial Commission of Arizona
800 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: (602) 542-4661
Website: www.azica.gov
ONE-TIME DEATH BENEFITS
There is no defined one-time death benefit.
COMPENSATION FOR DEATH OR DISABILITY OF FIREFIGHTERS FROM OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
Notwithstanding sub-section A of the Workers’ Compensation Act (and 5-23-1043.01). any disease, infirmity or impairment of a firefighter’s health that is caused by brain, bladder, rectal or colon cancer, lymphoma, leukemia or aden carcinoma or mesothelioma of the respiratory tract and that results in disability or death is presumed to be an occupational disease as defined in sub-section 23-901 is deemed to arise out of employment.
Contact:
Industrial Commission of Arizona
800 W. Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: (602) 542-4661
Website: www.azica.gov
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
Career firefighters: Benefit for spouse with no children is 66 2/3 % of average monthly wage of firefighter until death or remarriage; for spouse with children, 35% until death or remarriage. Spouse receives two years’ compensation in one lump sum upon remarriage. Children receive 31 2/3% of average monthly wage divided among them equally until age 18 or married, longer if disabled and incapable of self-support and until age 22 if full-time student. Contact the Industrial Commission for further information on specific family situations. Average Monthly Wage in 2019 is $4,741.57 and is adjusted annually.
Volunteer firefighters: Regular members of volunteer and municipal or county fire departments, either without pay or with full pay on a part-time basis, are deemed to be employees. However, the basis of computing wages for premium payments and compensation benefits shall be equal to the beginning salary of the same rank or grade in the full-time service within the area.
Law specifies rules for compensation in other situations, including recent changes in presumption that firefighter deaths and disabilities from certain cancers are the result of occupation and employment. Law also specifies that any firefighter injured or killed while traveling to or from work shall be considered in the course and scope of employment solely for the purposes of eligibility for workers’ compensation benefits.
Contact:
Industrial Commission of Arizona
800 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: (602) 542-4661
Website: www.azica.gov
FUNERAL BENEFIT
A maximum benefit of $5,000 for burial expenses.
Contact:
Industrial Commission of Arizona
800 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: (602) 542-4661
Website: www.azica.gov
RETIREMENT/PENSION PLAN
There are as many as four listed retirement systems serving workers in the state of Arizona. The exception is municipal retirement plans such as those in the City of Phoenix or the City of Tucson. In those cases, questions should be directed to the Administrative Office where the Fallen Firefighter was employed. NOTE: All employees hired after July 1, 2018, are Tier 3 members.
Spouse’s Pension
Death benefits noted in the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) vary according to several factors including increased percentage for line of duty deaths. In general, if the member was killed in the line of duty, the spouse will receive a lifetime monthly benefit of 100% of the member’s average monthly benefit compensation less the “Child’s Pension,” if applicable.
Child’s Pension
The surviving eligible child(ren) will receive a Child’s Pension up to 20% (in equal shares, but no more than 10% per eligible child) each month based on the calculation for an accidental disability retirement until each unmarried child turns 18, or under 23 years of age only during any period that the unmarried child is a full-time student. An eligible Child’s Pension shall become payable directly to the eligible child when the eligible child reaches the age of 18, if the child remains eligible to receive the pension and is not subject to a guardianship or conservatorship due to disability or incapacity.
Due to the many variables, it is recommended that questions be directed to the PSPRS using the contact information below.
Contact:
Public Safety Personnel Retirement System
3010 E. Camelback Rd
Suite 200
P.O. Box 17670
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Phone: (602) 255-5575
Toll Free: (877) 925-5575
Fax: (602) 255-5572
Website: www.psprs.com
HEALTH INSURANCE
Survivors of firefighters killed in the line of duty may be eligible for health insurance subsidies. Please contact the Arizona Department of Insurance with all inquiries.
Check with your department’s benefits officer for contact.
Contact:
Arizona Department of Insurance
100 15th Avenue, Suite 102
Phoenix, AZ 85007-2630
Phone: (602) 364-3100
Website: www.insurance.az.gov
EDUCATION BENEFIT - CHILDREN
Benefit applies to an Arizona community college or university toward a baccalaureate degree. The tuition waiver scholarship covers the full cost of tuition, but does not cover books or any other additional fees. Child must be under the age of 30 on the first day the scholarship would apply.
Contact:
Arizona Board of Regents
2020 N. Central Avenue, Suite 230
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Phone: (602) 229-2500
Fax: (602) 229-2555
Website: www.azregents.edu
Reference: Arizona Revised Statute 15-1808
EDUCATION BENEFIT - SPOUSE
Same benefits as for children, Benefits terminate upon remarriage.
Contact:
Arizona Board of Regents
2020 N. Central Avenue, Suite 400
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Phone: (602) 229-2500
Fax: (602) 229-2555
Website: www.azregents.edu
Reference: Arizona Revised Statute 15-1808
NON-PROFIT OR PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS
The 100 Club of Arizona
333 N 44 Street, Suite 100 Phoenix, AZ 85008 Phone: (602) 485-0100 Fax: (602) 242-1715 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.100club.og The 100 Club of Arizona provides benefits of $15,000 for a line of duty death; $5,000 for a non-line of duty death and up to $18,000 for a serious injury* to fhe families of public safety officers and firefighters. Benefits are extended to volunteer and/or reserve officers/firefighters only when the incident occurs while s/he is on duty. The 100 Club of Arizona scholarship program provides financial education assistance to the family.Kids Chance of Arizona
7375 E. 6th Avenue, #9 Scottsdale, AZ 85251 Phone: (480) 990-1887 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.azkidschance.org See application page for forms and instructions.National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
P.O. Box 498 Emmitsburg, MD 21727 Phone: (301) 4471-1365 FAX: (301) 4471-1645 Website: www.firehero.org The Sarbanes Scholarship Program Spouses, life partners, children, and stepchildren of firefighters honored at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial are eligible to apply for the NFFF Sarbanes Scholarship Program along with other partner programs. The NFFF Sarbanes Scholarships are awarded for undergraduate and graduate studies, vocational-technical training, and certification and job training programs. They may be used for study at in-state or out-of-state public and private schools.The International Association of Fire Fighters
1750 New York Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20006 Website: client.prod.iaff.org/ The W. H. “Howie” McClennan scholarship provides financial assistance for sons, daughters or legally adopted children of IAFF Union Members killed in the line of duty planning to attend a university, accredited college or other institution of higher learning. Scholarship amount is $2,500 per year, renewable up to 4 consecutive years.FUNERAL & CREMATION BENEFITS
Dignity Memorial
Phone: (800) 343-4464Website: www.dignitymemorial.com
Dignity Memorial is a consortium of funeral, cremation and cemetery providers across the United States and Canada. They have a Public Servants Program for first responders and emergency services workers. Dignity provides these services, at no cost, for career and volunteer firefighters who are killed in the line of duty. Also provides “extended counseling” to the grieving family. There is a location finder per state on the website, and funeral directors are encouraged to contact Dignity regarding the first responder program.
Wilbert Funeral Services, Inc.
2913 Gardner RoadBroadview, IL 50155
Phone: (708) 681-7040 (Terry Whitlock)
Website: www.wilbert.com
Wilbert provides complimentary burial vaults (including urns vaults) for fallen law enforcement officers and firefighters through 193 licensee locations. Funeral directors should contact Wilbert for information on obtaining vaults.
