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
Some employees already have been approved for workers’ compensation benefits for injuries related to COVID-19, but the state has not codified that all essential workers can access the same relief.
Contact:
Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court
P.O. Box 98908
Lincoln, NE 68509-8908
Phone: (402) 471-6468
Toll Free: (800) 599-5155 (in-state)
E-mail: Contact Us
Website: www.ne.gov
ONE-TIME DEATH BENEFITS
Nebraska has no direct one-time death benefit for its firefighters. However, volunteer firefighter departments are required to provide a group term life insurance policy which provides a minimum of a $10,000 death benefit for death from any cause. Contact your fire department for information.
Reference: Nebraska Revised Statute 35-108
COMPENSATION FOR DEATH OR DISABILITY OF FIREFIGHTERS FROM OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
For paid firefighters who die as a result of cancer, including, but not limited to, cancer affecting the skin or the central nervous, lymphatic, digestive, hematological, urinary, skeletal, oral, or prostate systems, their cancer will be considered a covered occupational disease if the following are all true: 1) the firefighter successfully passed a physical examination upon entry to the service, or a subsequent examination while in the service, which examination failed to reveal any evidence of the disease; 2) the firefighter was exposed to a known carcinogen, as defined on July 19, 1996, by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, while in the service of the fire department; and 3) such carcinogen is reported by the agency to be a suspected or known cause of the type of cancer the firefighter has.
Other diseases covered under Nebraska law are human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, all strains of hepatitis, tuberculosis, meningococcal meningitis, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The firefighter must have passes a physical examination, as above, and have engaged in the service of the fire department within ten years before the onset of the disease.
This law applies to firefighters who passed while in the service of the department, or if the death occurs within three months after separating from the department.
Contact:
Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court
1010 Lincoln Mall, #100
Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: (402) 471-6468
Toll Free: (800) 599-5155 (in-state)
E-mail: Contact Us
Website: www.wcc.ne.gov
Reference: Nebraska Revised Statute 35-1001
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
A surviving spouse is paid death benefits for life or until remarriage. Upon remarriage, the spouse receives two years’ worth of benefits as a lump-sum payment. Benefits are calculated at 66-2/3% of the firefighter’s average weekly wage at the time of death to the spouse if there are no children. If there are any children, 60% shall go to the spouse, or 55% if the children do not live with the spouse, while the children equally split 15%.
If there is no widow or widower but one child, that child shall be given 66-2/3% of such wage. Two or more children shall equally split 75% of the wages.
Children are entitled to a percentage of the death benefit until they reach age 19, or age 25 if enrolled full time at an accredited educational institution, or until the end of actual dependency.
Dependent parents, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren are eligible for up to 25% of the firefighter’s wages, subject to the limits below.
Minimum and maximum weekly compensation is $49.00 and $831.00. The maximum weekly income benefits payable for all beneficiaries in case of death shall not exceed 75% of the average weekly wage of the deceased.
Contact:
Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court
1010 Lincoln Mall, #100
Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: (402) 471-6468
Toll Free: (800) 599-5155 (in-state)
E-mail: Contact Us
Website: www.wcc.ne.gov
Reference: Nebraska Revised Statute 48-121.01, 48-122, 48-122.01, 48-122.03
FUNERAL BENEFIT
RETIREMENT/PENSION PLAN
In Nebraska, pensions for firefighters are set up at the local town and counties levels. Please reach out to your fire department or local government for specific information regarding pension benefits. If you are unsure where to start, contact the state system for assistance.
Contact:
Nebraska Public Employees Retirement System
P.O. Box 94816
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2053
Toll Free: 800-245-5712
Website: npers.ne.gov
EDUCATION BENEFIT - CHILDREN
The “In the Line of Duty Dependent Education Benefit” is available for biological or adopted children of a Nebraska firefighter, paid or volunteer, under the age of 26. This benefit shall be provided for full-time undergraduate students who are pursuing studies leading to an associate or baccalaureate degree. A child becomes eligible for this benefit after they have applied for federal financial aid grants and state scholarships and grants to cover tuition and fees. The eligible child may receive the education benefit for up to five years.
This benefit can be used at any state university, state college, or community college. The institution shall waive all remaining tuition and fees due after subtracting awarded federal financial aid grants and state scholarships and grants for an eligible child during the time the child is enrolled as a full-time student.
Please contact the Admissions or Student Affairs office at your specific college or university for more information and assistance.
Contact:
Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education
140 N. 8th Street
Suite 300
Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: (402) 471-2847
Website: www.ccpe.nebraska.gov
EDUCATION BENEFIT - SPOUSE
The Nebraska In the Line of Duty Dependent Education Benefit is only available for children, not spouses, of fallen firefighters. Spouses should check with a specific higher ed instution of interest for other scholarships or grants opportunities which may help a spouse.
Contact:
Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education
140 N. 8th Street
Suite 300
Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: (402) 471-2847
Website: www.ccpe.nebraska.gov
NON-PROFIT OR PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS
Kids’ Chance of Nebraska
15418 Weir Street, Suite 157 Omaha, NE 68137 Phone: (402) 573-2175 Website: www.kidschancene.org Offers scholarships for children of firefighters who are catastrophically injured or killed.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
For group health plans not covered by the federal COBRA law, such as for employers with fewer than 20 employees, Nebraska law states that any spouse and dependent children of a deceased employee may continue to be covered under that health plan for up to a year after the coverage for the deceased would have been terminated. Please contact your group health provider, or fire department, to see if this applies.
Reference: Nebraska Revised Statute 44-1643
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.
