Updated: December 2009

One-time Death Benefit For deaths on or after January 1, 2003, the amount shall be the rate for the previous calendar year plus the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index. Current duty death (as of January 2010) is $313,878.96. Death must occur within one year from the date the injury was received and injury must result from violence or other accidental cause. Covers firefighters employed by the state or local government and volunteer firefighters, as well as officially designated fire department chaplains. Payments made to designated beneficiary. If no beneficiary designated, entire sum paid to spouse. If no surviving spouse, payment made to surviving children in equal parts. Parents receive benefit if no surviving spouse or children. Contact: Court of Claims 630 South College Street Springfield, IL 62756 Phone: (217) 782-7102 or Attorney General, Court of Claims Div. Phone: (312) 814-6125 Website: www.sos.state.il.us/departments/court_of_claims Municipalities may also provide a death benefit of up to $15,000. Contact: Local municipality for further details. (Reference: Line of Duty Compensation Act - 820 ILCS 315/3) Workers' Compensation All first-aid, medical and hospital expenses connected with fatal injury paid. Benefit of 66 2/3% of deceased's gross average weekly wage continues until spouse is compensated for 20 years or total compensation reached is $250,000, whichever is greater; children attain age 18 and leave school; children attain age 23 if attending an accredited educational institution; dependency ends for any other dependents. Payments to spouse end at remarriage with a 2-year lump sum payment Volunteer firefighters: Income benefits are based upon the average weekly wage in their regular employment Contact: Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission 4500 S. Sixth St. Frontage Road Springfield, IL 62703 Phone: (217) 785-7087 or (866) 352-3033 Website: www.iwcc.il.gov (Reference: Handbook on Workers' Compensation and Occupational Diseases Page 35 and 36) Funeral Benefit Maximum of $10,000 provided through Workers' Compensation. Contact: Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission 4500 S. Sixth St. Frontage Road Springfield, IL 62703 Phone: (217) 785-7087 or (866) 352-3033 Website: www.iwcc.il.gov (Reference: Handbook on Workers' Compensation and Occupational Diseases Page 35 and 36) Additional burial benefit of up to $10,000 provided to surviving spouse or estate. Contact: Court of Claims 630 South College Street Springfield, IL 62756 Phone: (217) 782-7101 or Attorney General, Court of Claims Div. Phone: (312) 814-6125 Website: www.sos.state.il.us/departments/court_of_claims Retirement/Pension Plan Career firefighters: Police and Firefighters Pension Plans exist in municipalities having at least 5,000 but fewer than 500,000 inhabitants, and in any fire protection district with full-time paid firefighters. Downstate Firefighters' Pension Plan provides minimum of 100% of salary on last day of service Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund Plan. Benefits differ based on years of service. Additional death benefit of $3,000 for any member's death. Website: www.imrf.org Contact: Local department for more information on plan benefits. (Chicago only) The annuity for the spouse of a firefighter whose death results from the performance of an act or acts of duty shall be an amount equal to 75% of the current annual salary attached to the classified position. Contact: Firemen's Annuity & Benefit Fund of Chicago 20 South Clark, Suite 1400 Chicago, IL 60603 Phone: (312) 726-5823 or (800) 782-7425 Website: www.fabf.org (Reference: Compiled Illinois Statutes Chapter 40 Act 5, Art 6 6-150; 6-151-1 Occupational) Education Benefit - Children Grant Program for Dependents of Police and Fire Officers: Waiver of tuition and mandatory fees at any approved public postsecondary institution. Students at private Illinois institutions receive equivalent of tuition and mandatory fees at most expensive comparable program at a public post-secondary institution. Limited to full-time equivalent of eight semesters or 12 quarters for undergraduate and graduate programs. Full-time or part-time students eligible until age 25. Stepchildren not eligible. Contact: Illinois Student Assistance Commission 1755 Lake Cook Rd. Deerfield, IL 60015-5204 Phone: (800) 899-4722 Website: www.collegezone.com/studentzone (Reference: 820 Illinois Code 320 Section 15) Education Benefit - Spouse Same as for children, except for age restriction. Remarriage ends eligibility. Contact: Illinois Student Assistance Commission 1755 Lake Cook Rd. Deerfield, IL 80015 Phone: (800) 899-4722 Website: www.collegezone.com/studentzone (Reference: 820 Illinois Code 320 Section 15) Non-Profit or Private Organizations Illinois Firefighters Memorial Foundation c/0 Timothy S. Clemens, Chairman 188 Industrial Drive, Suite 18A Elmhurst, IL 60126 Scholarships available for children of firefighters who are deceased in, or as a result of, the performance of duty. Application is available on the Illinois State Fire Marshal's Web site at: www.state.il.us/osfm/Memorial/FFMOHScholarshipApplicationForm.pdf Backstoppers 10411 Clayton Road, Suite A5 (Le Chateau Village) Frontenac, MO 63131 Phone: (314) 692-0200 Provides aid in Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe and St. Clair Counties. Within hours of the death of a police officer or firefighter, their family receives a check for $3,000 from a Backstoppers representative. After the family has recovered from the initial shock, Backstoppers officers visit with family members and review the family's financial situation. Traditionally, the Backstoppers assume most of the existing debts, including home mortgage payments. Payment of debts is made after approval by the Board of Directors. Illinois has several 100 Clubs that provide benefits in specific local areas. These include: 100 Club of Cook County 30 North LaSalle St. #3400 Chicago, IL 60602 Phone: (312) 346-3838 Website: www.hundredclubcookcounty.org Covers all federal, state, county, city or village firefighters in the County and all sworn firefighter personnel and paramedics, full-time or volunteer. Provides immediate check of $5,000 for immediate needs. After 10 days, conducts complete review of family's finances. Club will pay debts up to $50,000, including $30,000 against real estate debt or mortgage. Will work to arrange better interest rate on remaining loan. Additional educational assistance to spouse and children. Covers trade or vocational school, college, university, and graduate school for those who are full-time students and maintain a C average. Covers in- and out-of-state schools. 100 Club of DuPage County 5007 Lincoln, Ste. 100 Liske, IL 60532 Phone: (630) 769-4210 E-mail: judy@hundredclubofdupage.org Offers death, scholarship and compassion award benefits. Provides immediate $5,000 for family to spend as needed. Fire Chief and Club Liaison will determine further needs such as paying off credit cards, mortgage, etc. Club provides ongoing support as well as counseling and scholarships to spouse and children to any school, contingent upon grade point average. Also offers a compassion award of $5,000 to firefighters and police officers for injuries or long-term illnesses. 100 Club of East Central Illinois 1455 North 1750 E Watseka, IL 60970 Phone: (815) 473-4404 100 Club of Jo Daviess County c/o DeSoto Hotel 230 South Main Street Galena, IL 61036 Phone: (815) 777-9356 Provides financial assistance of up to $5,000 to families within Jo Daviess County. Hopes to provide scholarships and other programs. 100 Club of Kankakee County P.O. Box 352 Kankakee, IL 60901 Phone: (815) 933-5529 Provides a one-time benefit of $5,000 for line-of-duty death. Scholarships and medical assistance available as needed. Also provides financial assistance if needed for injured firefighters. 100 Club of Lake County P.O. Box 163 Libertyville, IL 60048 Phone: (708) 681-1700 Benefits in Lake County only. Provides one-time donation of around $2,000 immediately after death. Offers $1,000 educational assistance for dependents. Families given $500 annually. 100 Club of Will County 323 Springfield Ave. Joliet, IL 60435 Phone: (815) 725-9981 Only for families in Will County. Provides immediate cash assistance to families; amount is on case-by-case basis. Offers scholarships and financial assistance. Health Benefit Career firefighters: Employer pays entire premium for the surviving spouse and each dependent child. Continues until child reaches age of majority, or until the end of the calendar year in which the child reaches age 25 if the child continues to be dependent for support, or is a full-time or part-time student and dependent for support. Remarriage of spouse terminates spousal coverage. Health insurance benefits from other sources reduce these benefits. Contact: Local department for further information. (Reference: Public Safety Employee Benefits Act Pub Act 90-535)