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
- Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
- The Hawaii Firefighter Cancer Presumptive Law, Act 107
- Hawaii Benefits Fact Sheet
Contact: Hawaii Workers’ Compensation Disability Compensation Division Labor and Industrial Relations 830 Punchbowl Street, Room 209 Honolulu, HI 96813-5080 Phone:(808) 974-6464 Website: labor.hawaii.gov
Reference: Hawaii Code 386-41ONE-TIME DEATH BENEFITS
There is no state one-time death benefit.
COMPENSATION FOR DEATH OR DISABILITY OF FIREFIGHTERS FROM OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
The Hawaii Firefighter Cancer Presumptive Law, Act 107, provides compensation for claims of cancer, including leukemia, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, or cancer of the lung, brain, stomach, esophagus, intestines, rectum, kidney, bladder, prostate, or testes.
Administered through Hawaii Workers’ Compensation (see contact above).
Resource: Firefighter Cancer Presumptive Guide
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
Weekly benefits to dependents determined by number of dependents. Spouse with no dependent children receives 50% of deceased’s average weekly wage; spouse with dependent children receive 66 2/3%. There are reduced benefits for other survivors, depending on their dependency status and relationship to the deceased. The sum of all weekly benefits shall not exceed 66 2/3% of the employee’s average weekly wage.
Contact:
Hawaii Workers’ Compensation Disability Compensation Division
Labor and Industrial Relations
830 Punchbowl Street, Room 209
Honolulu, HI 96813-5080
Phone:(808) 974-6464
Website: labor.hawaii.gov/dcd
E-mail: [email protected]
Reference: Hawaii Code 386-41
FUNERAL BENEFIT
Employer shall pay funeral expenses not to exceed ten times the maximum weekly benefit rate. Burial expenses shall not exceed five times the weekly benefit rate. Payments paid directly to the mortician and cemetery selected by the family or next of kin. If expenses are prepaid, benefits go directly to the survivors or next of kin.
Contact:
Hawaii Workers’ Compensation Disability Compensation Division
Labor and Industrial Relations
830 Punchbowl Street, Room 209
Honolulu, HI 96813-5080
Phone:(808) 974-6464
Website: labor.hawaii.gov/dcd
E-mail: [email protected]
Reference: Hawaii Code 386-41
RETIREMENT/PENSION PLAN
Most career firefighters are registered in a contributory plan through state of Hawaii Retirement system. Survivors have a range of payment options. The lump sum ordinary death benefit consists of the return of the member’s accumulated constitutions and payment of an amount equal to 50% of the salary earned by the member during the year immediately preceding the death. Monthly benefit payment continues until survivor remarries.
Contact:
Hawaii State Retirement System (HSRS)
City Financial Tower
201 Merchant Street, Suite 1400
Honolulu, HI 96813-2980
Phone: (808) 586-1735 or 888-659-0708 (Members residing on the continental United States)
Fax: (808) 587-5766
Website: ers.ehawaii.gov
Reference: Service Retirement Facts for Police Officers and Firefighters
EDUCATION BENEFIT - CHILDREN
No Hawaii state benefit.
EDUCATION BENEFIT - SPOUSE
No Hawaii state benefit.
NON-PROFIT OR PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS
Hawaii 200 Club
PO Box 4221
Honolulu, HI 96812
Initial presentation plus educational assistance; provides immediate financial assistance and covers all the island. There is very little evidence this organization is still in existence although it appears to be a registered charity.
Kids’ Chance Hawaii
P.O. Box 37873
Honolulu, HI 96837
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: kidschancehawaii.org
Provides scholarships to children of workers who have been catastrophically injured or killed on the job.
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.
