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
Governor’s Executive Orders 2020-12 and 2020-12.2: If you are an employee listed in the executive orders and can show that you have contracted COVID-19 through a work-related exposure, you may file a workers’ compensation claim for benefits including wage-loss, medical, and death benefits.
See: North Dakota Workers’ Compensation: COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions for Employees
Contact:
Workforce Safety & Insurance (Workers’ Compensation)
1600 East Century Avenue
Suite 1
Bismarck, ND 58503-0644
Phone: (701) 328-3800
Toll Free: (800) 777-5033
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.workforcesafety.com
ONE-TIME DEATH BENEFITS
A one-time payment of $10,000 shall be paid to the spouse or designated beneficiary when a career or volunteer firefighter dies in the line of duty. Death from a heart attack or stroke is deemed to be a line of duty death if it occurs within 48 hours of an emergency response or training event. This payment must be requested through the North Dakota Insurance Department, see the website for the form.
Contact:
North Dakota Insurance Department
600 E. Boulevard Avenue
5th Floor
Bismarck, ND 58505-0320
Phone: (701) 328-2440
Toll Free: (800) 247-0560
Fax: (701) 328-4880
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.insurance.nd.gov
Reference: N.D. Century Code, Chapter 18-05.1
COMPENSATION FOR DEATH OR DISABILITY OF FIREFIGHTERS FROM OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
Firefighters must have completed at least 5 years of continuous, full-time service as a paid firefighter and have passed their most recent periodic medical examination.
Any condition or impairment of health of a full-time paid firefighter caused by lung or respiratory disease, hypertension, heart disease, or an exposure to a blood borne occurring in the course of employment, or occupational cancer, is presumed to have been suffered in the line of duty. The presumption may be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence the condition or impairment is not work-related.
An occupational cancer is one which arises out of employment as a full-time paid firefighter and is due to injury due to exposure to smoke, fumes, or carcinogenic, poisonous, toxic, or chemical substances while in the performance of active duty as a full-time paid firefighter.
For firefighters who served 10 years or less, these presumptions shall be valid for up to 2 years from the end of their employment. For firefighters who served more than 10 years, these presumptions shall be valid for up to 5 years from the end of their employment.
Contact:
Workforce Safety & Insurance (Workers’ Compensation)
1600 East Century Avenue
Suite 1
Bismarck, ND 58503-0644
Phone: (701) 328-3800
Toll Free: (800) 777-5033
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.workforcesafety.com
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
Contact: Workforce Safety & Insurance (Workers’ Compensation) 1600 East Century Avenue Suite 1 Bismarck, ND 58503-0644 Phone: (701) 328-3800 Toll Free: (800) 777-5033 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.workforcesafety.com
Reference: N.D. Century Code, Sections 65-01-02, 65-05-17, 65-06-02, 65-06-03 and Death BenefitsFUNERAL BENEFIT
The workforce safety and insurance fund shall pay up to $10,000 in burial expenses.
Contact:
Workforce Safety & Insurance (Workers’ Compensation)
1600 East Century Avenue
Suite 1
Bismarck, ND 58503-0644
Phone: (701) 328-3800
Toll Free: (800) 777-5033
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.workforcesafety.com
Reference: N.D. Century Code, Section 65-05-26
RETIREMENT/PENSION PLAN
Effective 1 August 2017 firefighters employed by participating political subdivisions became eligible for the Public Safety Retirement Plan, previously known as the Law Enforcement retirement plan.
For members of this plan, if the firefighter was not vested in the defined benefit plan at the time of death or if the firefighter was vested and unmarried, the member account balance will be paid in a single lump sum payment to the indicated beneficiaries.
If the firefighter was vested in the defined benefit plan, the surviving spouse or other designated beneficiary will be able to choose between either receiving a single lump sum payment of the member account balance, or monthly payments of 50% of the Single Life Retirement Benefit for the beneficiary’s lifetime. If the firefighter had already reached their normal retirement date prior to death, the beneficiary has a third option of monthly payments in an amount equal to the accrued 100% Joint and Survivor retirement benefit.
If the beneficiary elects to receive one of the monthly benefits, they may be eligible to participate in the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System (NDPERS) group vision, dental, and long-term care insurance plans, and make use of any retiree health insurance credits earned by the firefighter.
Contact:
North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System
400 E Broadway Avenue, Suite 505
Bismarck, ND 58502-1657
Phone: (701) 328-3900
Toll Free: (800) 803-7377
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.ndpers.nd.gov
Reference: N.D. Century Code, Sections 54-52.6-13
Resource: Public Safety Retirement Plan, 2019-2021
EDUCATION BENEFIT - CHILDREN
Biological, adopted, and stepchildren who were under the age of 21 at the time of the firefighter’s death are eligible for this benefit.
Upon being accepted into any undergraduate degree or certificate program of a North Dakota state institution of higher education, the child must be allowed to obtain a bachelor’s degree or certificate of completion free of any tuition and fee charges.
The bachelor’s degree or certificate of completion must be earned within a 45 month or 10 semester period or its equivalent. Tuition and fee charges may not include costs for aviation flight charges or expenses.
There is no central authority for this education benefit; each institution is charged with implementing this benefit for their campus. Please contact the Financial Aid office at the North Dakota University System campus you plan to attend or are currently attending, or:
Contact:
North Dakota University System Director for Financial Aid
Twamley Hall
264 Centennial Dr., Stop 7155
Grand Forks, ND 58202-7155
Phone: (701) 328-2906
Fax: (701) 328-2961
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: und.edu
In addition to the above, North Dakota Workforce Safety & Insurance may grant scholarships to the surviving spouse or children. The scholarships are paid directly to the school and include tuition, books, and fees at an accredited college or an institution of technical education. The maximum amount payable is $10,000 per year for no more than 5 years.
Reference: N.D. Century Code, Sections 15-10-18.4, 15-10-18.5, 65-05-20.1
EDUCATION BENEFIT - SPOUSE
There is no age requirement for a surviving spouse, but otherwise the education benefit is identical for a surviving spouse.
There is no central authority for this education benefit; each institution is charged with implementing this benefit for their campus. Please contact the Financial Aid office at the North Dakota University System campus you plan to attend or are currently attending, or:
Contact:
North Dakota University System Director for Financial Aid
Twamley Hall
264 Centennial Dr., Stop 7155
Grand Forks, ND 58202-7155
Phone: (701) 328-2906
Fax: (701) 328-2961
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: und.edu
In addition to the above, North Dakota Workforce Safety & Insurance may grant scholarships to the surviving spouse or children. The scholarships are paid directly to the school and include tuition, books, and fees at an accredited college or an institution of technical education. The maximum amount payable is $10,000 per year for no more than 5 years.
Reference: N.D. Century Code, Sections 15-10-18.4, 15-10-18.5, 65-05-20.1
NON-PROFIT OR PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS
North Dakota law allows for local firefighters’ relief associations to be organized and provides guidelines for their procedure. Please check with your local government and fire department to see if this applies.
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.HEALTH INSURANCE
If the surviving spouse is eligible to receive a monthly benefit from the North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System (NDPERS), they may be eligible to participate in the group vision, dental, health, and long-term care insurance plans NDPERS offers, as well as make use of any retiree health insurance credits earned by the firefighter for as long as they are receiving this monthly benefit.
Contact:
North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System
400 East Broadway Avenue, Suite 505
Bismarck, ND 58502-1657
Phone: (701) 328-3900
Toll-Free: (800) 803-7377
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.ndpers.nd.gov
Reference: N.D. Century Code, Sections 54-52.6-13
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.
