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
Washington’s governor issued an administrative order to include COVID-19 as an occupational disease for frontline healthcare workers and first responders,
Administrative Order Announcement
Legislation: Washington RCW 51.32.185
Contact:
Claims Administration
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries
7273 Linderson Way SW
Tumwater, WA 98501-5414
Phone: (360) 902-5800
Website: www.lni.wa.gov
ONE-TIME DEATH BENEFITS
A one-time payment of $214,000 shall be paid to the dependent spouse, children, or parents of a deceased volunteer or career firefighter.
Note that while both volunteer and career firefighters receive the same monetary benefit, they have different administrators.
Volunteer Contact:
Board for Volunteer Firefighters and Reserve Officers
James R. Larson Forum Building
605 E 11th Avenue #112
Olympia, WA 98507
Phone: (360) 753-7318
Fax: (360) 586-1987
Website: www.bvff.wa.gov
Career Contact:
Department of Retirement Systems
6835 Capitol Boulevard SE
Tumwater, WA 98501
Phone: (360) 664.7000
Website: www.drs.wa.gov
Reference: Washington RCW 41.24.160, 41.26.048
COMPENSATION FOR DEATH OR DISABILITY OF FIREFIGHTERS FROM OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
For career firefighters, a prima facie presumption exists that the following are occupational diseases, with the restrictions listed below: respiratory disease; heart problems; cancer; posttraumatic stress disorder; and infectious diseases.
Regular or historical tobacco use may prevent firefighters from applying this presumption to respiratory diseases and heart problems.
Any heart problems must be experienced within 72 hours of exposure to smoke, fumes, or toxic substances, or experienced within 24 hours of strenuous physical exertion due to firefighting activities.
The types of cancer for which this presumption holds are: prostate cancer diagnosed prior to the age of fifty, primary brain cancer, malignant melanoma, leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, bladder cancer, ureter cancer, colorectal cancer, multiple myeloma, testicular cancer, and kidney cancer. The firefighter must have completed 10 years service, and have had a qualifying medical examination upon becoming a firefighter that showed no evidence of cancer.
Posttraumatic stress disorder is only presumed for firefighters who have completed 10 years of service. If they are employed in the private sector, the employer must employ 50 or more firefighters for this presumption to apply.
Covered infectious diseases are: Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, all strains of hepatitis, meningococcal meningitis, or mycobacterium tuberculosis.
These presumptions shall be extended to a firefighter following termination of service for a period of 3 calendar months for each year of requisite service, up to 60 months (5 years) from the last date of employment.
Contact:
Claims Administration
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries
7273 Linderson Way SW
Tumwater, WA 98501-5414
Phone: (360) 902-5800
Website: www.lni.wa.gov
Reference: Washington RCW 51.32.185
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
Contact: Claims Administration Washington State Department of Labor & Industries 7273 Linderson Way SW Tumwater, WA 98501-5414 Phone: (360) 902-5800 Website: www.lni.wa.gov
Reference: Washington RCW 51.32.025, 51.32.050, 51.32.075FUNERAL BENEFIT
Volunteer Firefighters
The Board for Volunteer Firefighters and Reserve Officers shall authorize the issuance of a voucher for the sum of $2,000 to help defray funeral expenses.
Contact:
Board for Volunteer Firefighters and Reserve Officers
James R. Larson Forum Building
605 E 11th Avenue #112
Olympia, WA 98507
Phone: (360) 753-7318
Fax: (360) 586-1987
Website: www.bvff.wa.gov
Career Firefighters
Under Workers’ Compensation law, the expenses of burial shall be paid, not to exceed 200% of the states’ average monthly wage.
Contact:
Claims Administration
Washington State Department of Labor & Industries
7273 Linderson Way SW
Tumwater, WA 98501-5414
Phone: (360) 902-5800
Website: www.lni.wa.gov
Reference: Washington RCW 51.32.050
RETIREMENT/PENSION PLAN
Volunteer Firefighters
Spouses, domestic partners, and dependent children are eligible for a monthly benefit. This benefit is updated yearly on 1 July for a Cost-of-Living Adjustment. Children are no longer dependents once they are emancipated or 18 years old.
This payment can be converted into a lump-sum payment, not to exceed $25,000, upon request.
Contact:
Board for Volunteer Firefighters and Reserve Officers
James R. Larson Forum Building
605 E 11th Avenue #112
Olympia, WA 98507
Phone: (360) 753-7318
Fax: (360) 586-1987
Website: www.bvff.wa.gov
Career Firefighters
The following is for members of the Law Enforcement Officers’ and Fire Fighters’ Retirement System (LEOFF), administered by the Department of Retirement Systems. A surviving spouse, partner or, if neither exists guardian of the firefighter’s minor children will be eligible to choose a benefit consisting of either: a lump-sum payment of 150% of the firefighter’s pension contributions; or a monthly benefit equal to 10% of the firefighter’s Final Average Salary (FAS) plus 2% of the FAS for each year of service beyond 5 years.
As stated above, if the surviving spouse or domestic partner remarries they are no longer eligible for monthly workers’ compensation payments. However, they are able to request additional payment from the DRS equivalent to the monthly workers’ compensation benefit. If they chose the lump sum option before remarriage, the equivalent benefit payments from DRS will be reduced.
If the firefighter was covered under the LEOFF plan before 1 October, 1977, dependents may be eligible for different benefits. Contact the DRS for more information.
Contact:
Department of Retirement Systems
6835 Capitol Boulevard SE
Tumwater, WA 98501
Phone: (360) 664-7000
Website: www.drs.wa.gov
Reference: Washington RCW 41.26.510
EDUCATION BENEFIT - CHILDREN
Children of volunteer and career firefighters shall be exempt from all tuition and service and activity fees at Washington state universities, regional universities, and The Evergreen State College. As of December 2018, this includes the following schools: University of Washington, Washington State University, Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, and Western Washington University, as well as The Evergreen State College. “Service and activity fees” means fees charged to all students such as student use fees or student building use fees.
Children may receive this exemption only if they begin their course of study within ten years of their graduation from high school.
Please contact the Financial Aid or Scholarship Office at the university or college the beneficiary attends or plans to attend for more details.
Reference: Washington RCW 28B.15.041, 28B.15.380
EDUCATION BENEFIT - SPOUSE
Spouses and domestic partners are eligible for the benefit outlined above. They do not need to use it within 10 years of graduating high school.
Please contact the Financial Aid or Scholarship Office at the university or college the beneficiary attends or plans to attend for more details.
Reference: Washington RCW 28B.15.041, 28B.15.380
NON-PROFIT OR PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS
Washington State Spouse and Orphan’s Fund
3242 NE 3rd Ave #177 Camas, WA 98607 Phone: (360) 624-6668 Website: www.wasofund.org E-mail: [email protected] The Washington State Spouse and Orphan’s Fund shall give up to $1,750 to the beneficiaries of a fallen firefighter.Kids’ Chance of Washington
P.O. Box 185 Olympia, WA 98507-0185 Phone: (800) 572-5762 Fax: (360) 943-3030 E-mail: [email protected] Website: kidschancewa.com Kids’ Chance of Washington offers scholarships to children with a parent who has been seriously or fatally injured in a workplace accident in the state of Washington, causing financial need. Scholarships can be used for tuition, books, fees, room and general living expenses and are paid directly to the school where the student is enrolled. The scholarships vary in amount based on demonstrated need and available funds. Can assist with apprenticeships, vocational-technical schools and undergraduate college education. Spouses are also eligible for this benefit.Washington State Fire Fighters’ Association
1910 E. 4th Ave., PMB 117 Olympia, WA 98506-4632 Phone: (360) 264-4632 E-mail: Contact Form Website: wsffa.org WSFFA offers LODD benefits to members of the association. Contact the association for details on requesting this benefit and the benefit amount.Washington State Council of Fire Fighters
1069 Adams Street Southeast Olympia, WA 98501 Phone: (360) 943-3030 Fax: (360) 943-2333 E-mail: Contact Form Website: www.wscff.orgNational 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
Contact: PEBB Program Health Care Authority 626 8th Avenue SE Olympia, WA 98501 Phone: (360) 725-0440 Fax: (360) 725-0771 Website: www.hca.wa.gov
Reference: Washington RCW 41.05.080FUNERAL & 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.
