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
Contact: South Dakota Workers’ Compensation Division of Labor and Management South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation 123 W Missouri Avenue Pierre, SD 57501 Phone: (605) 773-3101 Fax: (605) 773-6184 Website: www.dlr.sd.gov
ONE-TIME DEATH BENEFITS
There is no one-time death benefit for firefighter LODD survivors in South Dakota.
COMPENSATION FOR DEATH OR DISABILITY OF FIREFIGHTERS FROM OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
Pursuant to SD pension law (§9-16-3.2), a firefighter may make a claim for impairment caused by cancer. This applies to any condition of impairment of health caused by cancer resulting in total or partial disability to an officer or member of a fire department who, upon entering the fire service, successfully passed a physical exam which failed to reveal any evidence of such condition.
Contact:
South Dakota Workers’ Compensation
Division of Labor and Management
South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation
123 W Missouri Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605) 773-3101
Fax: (605) 773-6184
Website: www.dlr.sd.gov
Reference: SD Codified Laws Occupational Disease Chapter 82-8
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
Career firefighters
Spousal benefit is 66 2/3% of average earnings, paid in installments plus a monthly allowance for each dependent child. Benefit payable to spouse until death or remarriage. Upon remarriage, spouse is paid a lump sum equal to two years of compensation and benefits terminate. Children eligible until age 18, age 22 if a full-time student, or for life if incapable of self-support. An additional $50 per month will be paid to each of your legally dependent children until that child reaches the age of 18 years.
Volunteer firefighters
Benefit is calculated at the state’s maximum compensation allowable for death or injury.
Education Benefit
A deceased employee’s dependents (children and spouse) are each also entitled to a $2,000 a year (for up to five years) benefit if they are enrolled in an accredited SD post-secondary educational institution.
Contact:
South Dakota Workers’ Compensation
Division of Labor and Management
South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation
123 W Missouri Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605) 773-3101
Fax: (605) 773-6184
Website: www.dlr.sd.gov
Reference: SD Codified Laws Chapter 62-4-8, 12-15
FUNERAL BENEFIT
When injury causes death, eligible for a maximum of $10,000 for burial expenses, including expense of a headstone grave marker. Employer also pays expense of transporting the body to the community where the employee will be buried.
Contact:
South Dakota Workers’ Compensation
Division of Labor and Management
South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation
123 W Missouri Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605) 773-3101
Fax: (605) 773-6184
Website: www.sdjobs.org
Reference: SD Codified Laws Chapter 62-4-8, 12-15
RETIREMENT/PENSION PLAN
Career Firefighters
Covers career firefighters employed by city, county or state, except for Sioux City. If ki lled in the line-of-of-duty, there is no vestment threshold. The surviving spouse having the care of children shall receive an annual amount, payable in monthly installments, equal to 50% of the highest annual compensation earned by the member during any one of the last three years of service, plus 10% of such compensation for each child up to a maximum of six children. There is a provision for the purchase of additional spouse coverage. There is an annual COLA adjustment.
Generally, the family benefit equals the greater of 25 percent of Final Average Compensation at the time of the death. A surviving spouse benefit is effective and payable when your surviving spouse reaches age 65. There are permutations regarding the spouse’s age at the time of benefits beginning, so contact the SDRS regarding clarity of your situation.
Contact:
South Dakota Retirement System
P.O. Box 1098
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605) 773-373-7377
Fax: (605) 773-3949
Website: www.sdrs.sd.gov
Resource: Disability and Optional Spouse coverage
Resource: South Dakota Retirement System Law
Reference: South Dakota Retirement System, SDCL 3–12–1 to 3–12–521
EDUCATION BENEFIT - CHILDREN
Contact: South Dakota Board of Regents 306 E. Capital Avenue, Suite 200 Pierre, SD 57501-3159 Phone: (605) 773-3455 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.sdbor.edu
Resource: SDCL 13-55-21, 13- 55-22
If covered under Workers’ Compensation, dependents may also be eligible for a scholarship of $2,000 per year for up to five years payable to a state post-secondary education institute.Contact: South Dakota Workers’ Compensation Division of Labor and Management South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation 123 W Missouri Avenue Pierre, SD 57501 Phone: (605) 773-3101 Fax: (605) 773-6184 Website: www.sdjobs.org
Reference: SD Codified Laws Chapter 62-4-8, 12-15EDUCATION BENEFIT - SPOUSE
Workers’ Compensation scholarships will be provided to the spouses of employees who die as a result of work-related injuries. Payment maximum is $2,000 annually for a South Dakota post-secondary school.
Contact:
South Dakota Workers’ Compensation
Division of Labor and Management
South Dakota Department of Labor & Regulation
123 W Missouri Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605) 773-3101
Fax: (605) 773-6184
Website: www.sdjobs.org
Reference: SD Codified Laws Chapter 62-4-8, 12-15
NON-PROFIT OR PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS
Kids’ Chance of South Dakota
P.O. Box 1898 Sioux Falls, 57101 Phone: (605) 275-5250 Website: www.kidschanceofsd.org Provides post-secondary and trade school scholarships to children of workers in South Dakota who have been severely or fatally injured in a workplace accident.South Dakota Firefighters Association
Division of Labor and Management PO Box 626 Pierre, SD 57501 Phone: (605) 773-3681 E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.sdfirefighters.org Education Benefit: The South Dakota Firefighters Association, South Dakota Firefighters Association Auxiliary and the Dear Old Timers Organization offering two $1000 scholarships to two high school student to assist in their higher education. Scholarship money will be awarded second semester, freshman year. A son or daughter of any member (living, deceased or retired) of a fire department in South Dakota or an active member of a junior fire department in South Dakota is eligible to apply for this opportunity. Insurance Benefit: The SDFA provides AD&D insurance: Membership provides $10,000 of Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance. Member is eligible to purchase an additional $50,000 for a low cost. Policy covers on- or off-duty incidents. Amounts up to $250,000 can now be purchased in increments of $50,000 for the Supplemental AD&D, $45.00 per $50k of desired amount, up to $250,000 death benefit.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.
