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
Iowa does have compensation for death or disability of firefighters from occupational diseases. Eventually, COVID-19 claims may be adjudicated as an injury or a disease under Iowa Code Workers’ Compensation 85.
Iowa Code Workers’ Compensation 85.31 & 85.36
State of Iowa Workers’ Compensation COVID-19 Quick Guide
Contact:
Iowa Division of Workers’ Compensation
1000 East Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50319-0209
Phone: (515) 725-4120
Toll-Free: (800) 645-4583
Website: www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov
ONE-TIME DEATH BENEFITS
Contact: State Fire Marshal’s Office Department of Public Safety 215 E. 7th Street Des Moines, IA 50319-0047 Phone: (515) 725-6145 Fax: (515) 725-6140 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.dps.state.ia.us
Reference: Iowa Code 100B.31 – Does not apply to career membersCOMPENSATION FOR DEATH OR DISABILITY OF FIREFIGHTERS FROM OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
Coverage includes cancer & infectious diseases for the purposes of determining disability retirement.
Contact: See below, Retirement and Pension
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
Contact: Iowa Division of Workers’ Compensation 150 Des Moines Street Des Moines, IA 50309-1836 Phone: (800) 645-4583 Toll-Free: (800) 645-4583 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.iowaworkcomp.gov
Reference: IA Workers’ Comp LawFUNERAL BENEFIT
When death ensues from the injury, the employer shall pay the reasonable expenses of burial of such employee, not to exceed twelve times the statewide average weekly wage paid employees as determined by the department of workforce development.
Contact:
Iowa Division of Workers’ Compensation
1000 East Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50319-0209
Phone: (515) 725-4120
Toll-Free: (800) 645-4583
Website: www.iowaworkcomp.gov
Reference: Iowa Code W Comp § 85.28
RETIREMENT/PENSION PLAN
Career firefighters: For accidental death in the line of duty, spousal benefit is 50% of average final compensation, plus for each child, a benefit equal to 6% of the compensation payable to an active member holding the highest grade in the rank. Annual readjustment of pensions. Any heart, lung, respiratory tract disease, cancer (prostate, brain, breast, ovarian, cervical, uterine, malignant melanoma, leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, bladder, colorectal, multiple myeloma, testicular, kidney), or infectious disease (HIV, AIDS, hepatitis, meningococcal meningitis, and mycobacterium tuberculosis) is presumed to have been contracted in the line-of-duty. A single lump-sum payment may be substituted for a pension equally $100,000.
Contact:
Municipal Fire and Police Retirement System of Iowa (MFPRSI)
7155 Lake Drive, Suite 201
West Des Moines 50266
Phone: (515) 254-9200
Toll free: (888) 254-9200
Website: www.mfprsi.org
Reference: Municipal Fire and Police Retirement System of Iowa Benefit Handbook; Pages 14-19
EDUCATION BENEFIT - CHILDREN
Contact Iowa colleges and universities for grant opportunities.
EDUCATION BENEFIT - SPOUSE
Contact Iowa colleges and universities for grant opportunities.
NON-PROFIT OR PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS
Kids’ Chance Minnesota/Iowa
SFM Foundation P.O. Box 9447 Minneapolis, MN 55440-9447 Phone: (855) 621-2076 Fax: (952) 838-2009 Website: www.sfmfoundation.com Provides scholarship support to children whose family has experiences a catastrophic tragedyNational 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.
