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
There does not appear to be a specific COVID-19 benefit regarding workers’ compensation. Check to see of compensability exceptions exist.
Contact:
Employment Relations Division
Montana Department of Labor and Industry
1805 Prospect Ave.
P.O. Box 8011
Helena, MT 59604-8011
Phone: (406) 444-0532
Fax: (406) 444-1394
Website: www.dli.mt.gov
ONE-TIME DEATH BENEFITS
Montana has no one-time death benefit for its firefighters.
COMPENSATION FOR DEATH OR DISABILITY OF FIREFIGHTERS FROM OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
Spouses and dependent children may receive weekly compensation benefits at a rate of 66 2/3% of the decedent’s wages. The maximum weekly compensation benefit may not exceed the state’s average weekly wage at the time of injury. The minimum weekly compensation benefit is 50% of the state’s average weekly wage, but in no event may it exceed the decedent’s actual wages at the time of death.
The spouse receives benefits for 500 weeks (approximately 9 years, 8 months) or until remarried. Unmarried children receive benefits until age 18, or age 22 if attending an accredited school or apprenticeship program. If the decedent leaves neither a spouse nor dependent children, other dependents such as parents or siblings may be eligible for weekly benefits at a rate proportional to their level of dependency. If there are no such dependents, a lump-sum payment of $3,000 must be paid to the decedent’s surviving parent or parents.
Contact:
Employment Relations Division
Montana Department of Labor and Industry
1805 Prospect Ave.
P.O. Box 1728
Helena, MT 59604
Phone: (406) 444-0532
Fax: (406) 444-1394
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.dli.mt.gov
Reference: Montana Annotated Code, Compensation for Injuries Causing Death, MCA Sections 39-71-118, 39-71-721
Resource: Montana Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Disease Laws and Administrative Rules
FUNERAL BENEFIT
Montana’s Workers’ Compensation will pay funeral expenses of up to $4,000.
Contact:
Employment Relations Division
Montana Department of Labor and Industry
1805 Prospect Ave.
P.O. Box 8011
Helena, MT 59604-8011
Phone: (406) 444-0532
Fax: (406) 444-1394
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.dli.mt.gov
This Workers’ Compensation benefit is for $4,000.
Reference: MCA Section 39-71-725
For Volunteer Firefighters, the Montana Public Employee Retirement Administration will pay reasonable expenses or $1,500, whichever is less, to the appropriate provider of the funeral services or the claimant if they provide documentation of the full payment of the funeral expenses.
Contact:
Public Employee Retirement Administration
100 N Park Avenue, Suite 200
Helena, MT 59620-0131
Phone: (406) 444-3154
Toll Free: (877) 275-7372
Fax: (406) 444-5428
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: mpera.mt.gov
Reference: MCA Section 19-17-503
RETIREMENT/PENSION PLAN
Call/Volunteer Firefighters: For volunteer firefighters who have served for 20 or more years, the spouse or dependent children will be paid $175, plus an additional $7.50 per month for each additional year of service, per month.
For volunteer firefighters who have served for fewer than 20 years but more than 10 years, the spouse or dependent children will be paid 5% of $175 for each year of service, per month.
These benefits terminate after 40 months of payments.
The beneficiary is able to receive this benefit as one lump-sum payment, if desired.
Career Firefighters: For a firefighter with less than 20 years service, the Firefighters’ Unified Retirement System (FURS) will pay a firefighter’s spouse one half of the firefighter’s Highest Average Compensation for the rest of the beneficiary’s life.
For a firefighter with more than 20 years service, FURS will pay a firefighter’s spouse the full benefit amount to which the firefighter was entitled on the date of their death. See the FURS website for information on calculating this amount.
If the firefighter leaves one or more dependent children but no spouse, the dependent children will split this benefit equally so long as each is still considered a dependent.
This benefit is adjusted yearly either by a set percentage of 3% or based on the monthly salary of a newly confirmed, full-time firefighter. Which method is used is based on tenure and an elective choice from the firefighter.
Highest Average Compensation is defined as the monthly compensation of a member averaged over the highest consecutive 36 months of membership service.
If your city or town has formed its own firefighter retirement association (per MCA Chapter 19.18), please contact your local government or fire department for specifics on benefits.
Contact:
Public Employee’s Retirement Administration (PERA)
100 N Park Avenue, Suite 200
Helena, MT 59620-0131
Phone: (406)444-3154
Toll Free: (877) 275-7372
Fax: (406) 444-5428
Website: mpera.mt.gov
E-mail: [email protected]
(Reference: MCA Sections 19-13-902, 19-13-1010, 19-13-1017 [career] & Section 19-17-405, 19-17-404 [volunteer])
EDUCATION BENEFIT - CHILDREN
At campuses of the Montana University System, tuition is waved for all children of fallen Montana firefighters.
Contact:
Office of Commissioner of Higher
Education / Montana University System
560 N. Park, 4th Floor
P.O. Box 203201
Helena, MT 59620-3201
Phone: (406) 449-9124
Fax: (406) 449-9171
Website: www.mus.edu
Reference: Montana Annotated Code
EDUCATION BENEFIT - SPOUSE
Education benefits are identical for a spouse.
Contact:
Office of Commissioner of Higher
Education / Montana University System
560 N. Park, 4th Floor
P.O. Box 203201
Helena, MT 59620-3201
Phone: (406) 449-9124
Fax: (406) 449-9171
Website: www.mus.edu
Reference: Montana Annotated Code
NON-PROFIT OR PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS
Kids’ Chance of Montana
Phone: (406) 202-5956 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.kidschanceofmontana.org Provides scholarships to children of firefighters seriously injured or killed in a job-related accident.Montana State Firemen’s Association
Secretary/Treasurer P.O. Box 1417 Lolo, MT 59847-1417 Phone: (406) 370-0483 (Cell) E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.mscopff.org The MSFA offers a noncontributory Life Insurance Policy for its members. Benefits include up to: $100,000 life insurance for the insured, $100,000 AD&D, $25,000 life insurance for dependents, $50,000 LODD, $5000 repatriation, $10,000 for career adjustment, $10,000 for child care, $20,000 for higher education, and more.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.
