Updated February 2024 (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
COVID-19 is an emerging occupational disease or injury. Since Louisiana does have presumption (after ten years of service) for certain cancers resulting from job-related exposures, it is worth exploring this issue regarding COVID-19 for workers’ compensation benefits.
Contact:
Office of Workers’ Compensation Administration
P.O. Box 94040
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9040
Phone: (225) 342-7555
Fax: (225) 342-5665
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.laworks.net
ONE-TIME DEATH BENEFITS
Contact:
Law Enforcement Officers and Firemen’s Survivor Benefit Review Board
1885 North Third St.
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Phone: (225) 326-6127
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: ag.state.la.us
COMPENSATION FOR DEATH OR DISABILITY OF FIREFIGHTERS FROM OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
After ten years of service there is a presumption of occupationally acquired cancers. The disease or infirmity shall be presumed to have been caused by or to have resulted from the work performed.
Contact:
Office of Workers’ Compensation Administration
P.O. Box 94040
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9040
Phone: (225) 342-7555
Fax: (225) 342-5665
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.laworks.net
Reference: Revised Statutes 23:1231, 23:1232, 23:1233, & 23:1234
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
Career firefighters: Benefit is 1) 32 1/2% of employee’s weekly wage to: a) surviving spouse only, b) one child only, c) a single surviving parent only, or d) a single surviving sibling only; 2) 46 1/4% of weekly wage to: a) surviving spouse and one child, or b) 2 children only; c) 65% of weekly wage to: a) surviving spouse and 2 or more children, b) 3 or more children only, or c) 2 surviving parents only. Spouse receives two-year lump sum upon remarriage and remaining benefits cease. Children eligible until age 18 or after if disabled or under age 23 if full-time student. Dependents must file a claim to be eligible.
Contact:
Office of Workers’ Compensation Administration
P.O. Box 94040
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9040
Phone: (225) 342-3111
Fax: (225) 342-7960
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.laworks.net
Reference: Revised Statutes 23:1231, 23:1232, 23:1233, & 23:1234
FUNERAL BENEFIT
Career firefighters: Maximum burial allowance of $8,500.
Contact:
Office of Workers’ Compensation Administration
P.O. Box 94040
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9040
Phone: (225) 342-7555
Fax: (225) 342-5665
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.laworks.net
Reference: Revised Statutes 23:1210
RETIREMENT/PENSION PLAN
A statewide system to provide benefits for full-time firefighters employed by a fire department or a municipality, parish or fire protection district (except New Orleans).
If an active member dies in the line-of-duty, the surviving eligible spouse will receive an annual benefit equal to 2/3 of the deceased member’s final compensation, payable monthly. There are benefits available for minor children as well.
Reference: Louisiana Revised Statutes: 11:2251-2256
Contact:
Firefighters Retirement System of Louisiana
P.O. Box 94095, Capital Station
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
Phone: (225) 925-4060
Fax: (225) 925-4062
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: ffret.com
» Retirement/Pension for: New Orleans
Contact:
New Orleans Fire Fighter’s Pension and Relief Fund
2401 Westbend Parkway, Suite 3001
New Orleans, LA 70114
Phone: (504) 366-8102
Fax: (504) 366-8103
Website: www.noffpf.com
EDUCATION BENEFIT - CHILDREN
Tuition, fees, room and board, and other charges waived at state-supported colleges and universities. Additional cash grant of $250.00 for books. Available for full-time undergraduate study for a maximum of ten semesters.
Contact:
Louisiana Board of Regents
1201 N 3rd Street, Suite 6-200 (Physical Address)
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
OR
P.O. Box 3677 (Mailing Address)
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-3677
Phone: (225) 342-4253
Fax: (225) 342-9318 or 6296
Website: regents.la.gov
Reference: Louisiana Revised Statutes RS 17:1682, & 17:1682.1
EDUCATION BENEFIT - SPOUSE
Offered same as dependent child; may not exceed 10 semesters.
Contact:
Louisiana Board of Regents
1201 N 3rd Street, Suite 6-200 (Physical Address)
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
OR
P.O. Box 3677 (Mailing Address)
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-3677
Phone: (225) 342-4253
Fax: (225) 342-9318 or 6296
Website: regents.la.gov
NON-PROFIT OR PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS
Kids’ Chance
Louisiana Bar Foundation
1615 Poydras Street, Suite 1000
New Orleans, LA 70112
Phone: (504) 561-1046
Fax: (504) 566-1926
Website: www.raisingthebar.org
The Louisiana Bar Foundation Kids’ Chance provides scholarships to children of Louisiana workers who have been killed in an accident compensable under the state Workers’ Compensation Act.
Louisiana State Firemen’s Association
2012 Atteberry Road
Eunice, LA 70535
Phone: (337) 256-9093
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: lsfa.net
Louisiana State Firemen’s Association (LSFA) has a death benefit fund to help spouse/beneficiary of deceased members. Amount up to $15,000 will be paid directly to beneficiary upon receipt of death certificate. A fatality must have occurred in the line of duty, en route to or from an emergency, fire department function or during training.
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.
