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
Delaware has extended certain benefits through the end of the COVID-19 national public health emergency. Some of these may be of assistance to LODD survivors. Here is a website where a search of COVID-19 benefits can begin.
Always check with state workers’ compensation offices for disease/injury compensability.
Contact:
Office of Workers’ Compensation
P.O. Box 9954
Wilmington, DE 19809-9954
Phone: (302) 761-8200
Website: www.delawareworks.com
ONE-TIME DEATH BENEFITS
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 $200,000 in annual installments. No single annual payment shall exceed $40,000. If there is no spouse or dependent children, each parent to take 50% of insurance benefit if both are living. Upon the death of a member, inactive member, retired member or individual receiving a survivor’s pension, there shall be paid to the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries or, in the absence of a designated beneficiary, to the estate of the member, inactive member, retired member or survivor, a lump sum equal to the excess, if any, of the accumulated member contributions with interest over the aggregate of all pension payments if they have been made. 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.
This law addressed health insurance for dependent children for covered persons who died in the line-of-duty after January 1, 2004, until said dependent children attain the age of 26 years. Should health insurance be provided by the federal government, Tricare or similar program, for any of these dependent children, the dependent children shall only be eligible for state group health coverage in the event of loss of coverage under the federal health insurance plan.
Contact:
Delaware Insurance Commissioner
841 Silver Lake Boulevard
Dover, DE 19904
Phone: (302) 674-7300
Toll-Free: (800) 282-8611
Website: insurance.delaware.gov
Reference: Title 18, Chapter 66 Line of Duty Death Benefits, Insurance Code sub section 6602
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
Benefit is 66% 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 are eligible until age 18 or age 25 if full-time students.
Contact:
Office of Workers’ Compensation
4425 N. Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19802
Phone: (302) 761-8001
Website: dia.delawareworks.com
FUNERAL BENEFIT
Maximum of $5,000 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 19809-9954
Phone: (302) 761-8200
Website: dia.delawareworks.com
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:
Insurance Coverage Office
Duncan Center, 3rd Floor
500 W. Loockerman St.
Suite 300 Dover, DE 19904
Phone: (302) 739-3651
Phone: (302) 739-5345
Toll-Free: (877) 277-4185
Website: dhr.delaware.gov
Reference: Title 18, Insurance Code/WC Law
RETIREMENT/PENSION PLAN
Career firefighters: 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. Additional 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.
Additional benefits if member was vested. Pension is payable to the spouse or, if there is no surviving spouse, to unmarried children under age 18, until age 22 if full-time student, or longer if disabled and incapable of self-support.
Contact:
Office of Pensions
McArdle Building
860 Silver Lake Blvd., Suite 1
Dover, DE 19904-2402
Phone: (302) 739-4208
Toll-Free: (800) 722-7300
Website: open.omb.delaware.gov
Reference: County & Municipal (Police/Firefighters) Plan—Survivors’ Benefits
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
Toll-Free: (800) 722-7300
Website: open.omb.delaware.gov
Reference: Delaware Volunteer Firemen’s Pension Plan—Benefits
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 school directly.
Contact:
Delaware Higher Education Office
John G. Townsend Building
401 Federal Street
Dover, Delaware 19901
Phone: (302) 735-4000
Fax: (302) 739-4654
Website: www.doe.k12.de.us
EDUCATION BENEFIT - SPOUSE
None.
HEALTHCARE BENEFITS
State Treasurer pays for health insurance for dependent children for covered persons who died in the line-of-duty after January 1, 2004, until said dependent children attain the age of 26 years. Should health insurance be provided by the federal government, Tricare or similar program, for any of these dependent children, the dependent children shall only be eligible for state group health coverage in the event of loss of coverage under the federal health insurance plan.
Contact:
Delaware Insurance Commissioner
841 Silver Lake Boulevard
Dover, DE 19904
Phone: (302) 674-7300
Toll-Free: (800) 282-8611
Website: www.insurance.delaware.gov
Reference: Title 18, Chapter 66 Line of Duty Death Benefits, Insurance Code sub section 6602
NON-PROFIT OR PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS
Kids’ Chance Delaware
P.O. Box 7388 Wilmington, DE 19803 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.kidschancede.org Contact for specific post-secondary educational support. In general, this organization provides up to $10,000 annually per recipient.Delaware Volunteer Firemen’s Association Foundation
Delaware Volunteer Firefighter’s Association 122A South Bradford Street PO Box 1849 Dover, DE 19903 Phone: (302) 734-9390 Toll-Free: (877) 455-3832 Fax: (302) 734-9404 Website: www.dvfassn.com The 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.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/#contentid=1743 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.
