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
Workers’ Compensation: Georgia does have compensation for death or disability of firefighters from occupational diseases, but may not cover COVID-19 related disease or death. It is worthwhile making an appeal to Workers’ Compensation. Here is the legal statute regarding occupational diseases and a short article on the topic in Georgia.
(Reference: General Code of Georgia 47-7-102)
Workers’ Compensation and Covid-19 Quick Guide
Contact:
State Board of Workers’ Compensation
270 Peachtree Street, NW
Atlanta, GA 30303-1299
Phone: (404) 656-3818
Website: www.sbwc.georgia.gov
ONE-TIME DEATH BENEFITS
The State of Georgia Indemnification Program provides a death benefit for public service employees. Designated beneficiary or estate receives $175,000 in equal installments over five years or in one lump sum that is reduced to its current value. Application due within 24 months of incident for a fulltime firefighter or within 12 months for a volunteer or part-time firefighter.
Death criteria is the same as the Federal PSOB.
Death must have resulted from an injury or incident while on duty and when responding to a fire or emergency or while performing duties intended to protect life and property.
Contact:
Georgia Indemnification Commission
Dept. of Administrative Services
Risk Management Services
200 Piedmont Avenue, Suite 1220, West Tower
Atlanta, GA 30334
Phone: (404) 656-6245
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: doas.ga.gov
(Reference: General Code of Georgia 45-9-85 & 45-9-86)
COMPENSATION FOR DEATH OR DISABILITY OF FIREFIGHTERS FROM OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
Any firefighter who, while a dues-paying member of this fund, is rendered, by heart disease or respiratory disease, totally and permanently disabled so as to be unable to perform substantially all of the duties of the position to which he was regularly assigned and who, as a result of such disability, is separated from his work as a firefighter shall be entitled to the maximum monthly disability benefit in effect on the date of the filing of his application for such benefit until his disability ceases or until the happening of one or more of the events set forth in subsection (f) of this Code section, provided that: (1) Such firefighter makes application to the board for such benefit within 12 months of the date on which he is separated from his employment as a firefighter as a result of such total and permanent disability; and (2) Such firefighter shall have been a member in good standing of the fund for five consecutive years immediately prior to his application for disability.
(Reference: General Code of Georgia 47-7-102)
House Bill 146 requires fire departments to maintain insurance coverage for firefighters who have served 12 consecutive months on duty and are disabled and unable to continue to work as a result of cancer. Insurance benefits include a lump-sum benefit of $25,000 or $6,250 based on the severity of the cancer. If the firefighter is unable to perform job duties because of the diagnosis, a monthly benefit equal to 60 percent of the firefighter’s monthly salary at the time of diagnosis, or a monthly benefit of $5,000, will begin six months after the firefighter’s diagnosis and continue for 36 months. HB 146 also provides coverage for volunteer firefighters, who receive a monthly benefit of $1,500 per month for 36 months. The combined total of all benefits is capped at $50,000 per firefighter during a lifetime.
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
66 2/3% of average weekly wages to designated beneficiary, minimum and maximum amounts apply. Spouse with no children is limited to a total amount of $220,000; benefits end if spouse remarries. Weekly benefits are payable for a maximum of 400 weeks from the date of injury.
Volunteer firefighters: Includes volunteer firefighters of any county or municipality under definition of employees, but only for services rendered in such capacity and only if the local governing authority provides coverage for volunteer firefighters.
Contact:
State Board of Workers’ Compensation
270 Peachtree Street, NW
Atlanta, GA 30303-1299
Phone: (404) 656-3818
Website: sbwc.georgia.gov
(Reference: General Code of Georgia 34-9-265 & 34-9-261)
FUNERAL BENEFIT
Maximum of $7,500.
Contact:
State Board of Workers’ Compensation
270 Peachtree Street, NW
Atlanta, GA 30303-1299
Phone: (404) 656-3818
Website: www.sbwc.georgia.gov
(Reference: General Code of Georgia 34-9-265)
RETIREMENT/PENSION PLAN
Retirement and pension plans, including survivor benefits are provided through the Georgia Firefighter Pension Fund. In the event that the member passes away before 15 years, the beneficiary will receive a $10,000 death benefit. If however, the member is vested, the beneficiary will begin receiving benefits beginning the month after the member would have turned 55, or age 50, if the beneficiary chooses the early retirement option.
There may also be LODD retirement benefits through the local jurisdiction where the deceased was employed.
Contact:
Georgia Firefighters Pension Fund
2171 East View Parkway
Conyers, GA 30013-5756
Phone: (770) 388-5757
Toll-Free: (866) 374-0788
Fax: (678) 413-4227
Website: www.gfpf.org
(Reference: General Code of Georgia 47-7-103)
EDUCATION BENEFIT - CHILDREN
Public Safety Memorial Grant: The Georgia Public Safety Memorial (GPSM) Grant provides grant funds to the dependent children of Georgia Public Safety Officers who were permanently disabled or killed in the line of duty. Funds may be used towards the cost of attendance at eligible colleges, universities or technical colleges in Georgia. Covers cost of attendance, minus other aid, for dependent children. Must be full-time undergraduate student enrolled in a Georgia public college, university, or technical college. Must be legal resident of Georgia and U.S. Citizen or permanent resident alien. Awards cannot exceed $18,000 per academic year.
Contact:
Georgia Student Finance Commission
2082 East Exchange Place
Tucker, GA 30084
Phone: (770) 724-9000
Toll-Free: (800) 505-GSFC (4732)
Fax: (770) 724-9089
Website: www.gafc.georgia.gov
EDUCATION BENEFIT - SPOUSE
None.
NON-PROFIT OR PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS
The 200 Club of the Coastal Empire
P.O. Box 1922
Savannah, GA 31402
Phone: (912) 721-4418
Website: twohundredclub.org
E-mail: [email protected]
Provides financial support and gifts to minor children, including college tuition assistance. Available within the “coastal empire” counties.
Kids’ Chance of Georgia
P.O. Box 922381
Norcross, GA 30010
Phone: (404) 465-3423
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: kidschancega.org
Provides financial scholarships for children of deceased or catastrophically injured employees. Ages 16–25.
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.
HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION
The un-remarried spouse of a peace officer or firefighter killed in the line of duty will be entitled to a homestead exemption for 100% of the property value for as long as the applicant occupies the property as a homestead.
Exemptions include county M&O tax, county bond tax, school M&O tax, school bond tax and state tax.
Note: Some counties offer additional exemptions from local homestead taxes. See county listing for contact information.
Applications:
Application for homestead exemptions should be filed with the tax commissioner in the county of residence.
(Reference: General Code of Georgia 48-5-48.4)
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.
