Updated: December 2009

One-time Death Benefit 25,000 to the spouse of a public safety officer killed in the line of duty or to an officer permanently disabled. Those officers covered include regularly employed members of a fire department of a city, county, township, village, state university, or community college, or a member of the department of natural resources who is employed to fight fires. Volunteer members of a fire department are also covered. The death or permanent disability must be in the line of duty. This means any action which a firefighter is obligated or authorized by rule, regulations, conditions of employment or service, or law to perform. The benefit goes to the surviving spouse. If no spouse, surviving dependents receive the benefit. The benefit shall be paid in addition to any other benefit that the beneficiary receives as a result of the death. Contact: Michigan Public Safety Officers Benefits Program Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards 106 W. Allegan, Suite 600 Lansing, MI 48913 Phone: (517) 322-1417 Website: www.michigan.gov/mcoles (Reference: Public Safety Officers Benefit Act - Public Act 46 of 2004) Workers' Compensation Benefit is 80% of after-tax value of worker's wages for spouse or spouse with children under age 21. Weekly minimum and maximum for up to 500 weeks. Spousal benefit terminated upon remarriage. On-call members: Entitled to all benefits when injured in the performance of duties whether paid or unpaid. Shall be considered to be receiving the state average weekly wage at the time of injury unless the actual average wage was greater. Contact: Workers' Compensation Agency P.O. Box 30016 7150 Harris Drive Lansing, MI 48909 Phone: (888)396-5041 Website: www.michigan.gov/wca Funeral Benefit Maximum burial allowance of $6,000 or actual costs, whichever is less. Contact: Workers' Compensation Bureau P.O. Box 30016 7150 Harris Drive Lansing, MI 48909 Phone: (888)396-5041 Website: www.michigan.gov/wca (Reference: Act 317 of 1969 Chapter 418-345) Retirement/Pension Plan Under Firefighters and Police Officers Retirement Act, spouse receives pension of the same amount as that which has been paid as a weekly benefit under Workers' Compensation. Pension becomes payable upon the termination of the Workers' Compensation and continues for spouse's life or until remarriage. Dependent children receive pension of same amount as they received under Workers' Compensation when that payment ceased. Payment to unmarried children continues until age 18. Contact: Firefighters and Police Officers Retirement Board Career and volunteer firefighters: Under Municipal Employees' Retirement System (MERS) of Michigan, payment to spouse shall not be less than 25% of the member's final average compensation. Surviving child's allowance shall not be less than an equal share of 25% of the member's final average compensation. If the municipality has adopted Benefit Program D-2, the allowance shall not be less than the amount computed as if the member had acquired an additional 10 years of service not to exceed a total of 30 years of credited service. Remarriage of the spouse does not end eligibility to receive pension. Unmarried children are eligible until age 21. Contact: Michigan Employees Retirement System (MERS) 1134 Municipal Way Lansing, MI 48917 Phone: (517)703-9030 or (800) 767-6377 Website: www.mersofmich.com (Reference: Michigan Statutes, Chapter 38) Education Benefit - Children Death must have been result of traumatic injury. Provides tuition waiver at public community and junior colleges and state universities for classes leading to a certificate or undergraduate degree. Must be under 21 at time of initial application for benefit. Some income restrictions apply. Available for a maximum of 9 semesters or completion of bachelor's degree-whichever comes first. Contact: Survivor Tuition Program Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards 106 W. Allegan, Suite 600 Lansing, MI 48913 Phone: (517) 322-3968 (Reference: Police Officer and Firefighter Survivor Tuition Act, Public Act 195 ) Education Benefit - Spouse Same as for children, except for age limit. Contact: Survivor Tuition Program Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards 106 W. Allegan, Suite 600 Lansing, MI 48913 Phone: (517) 322-3968 (Reference: Police Officer and Firefighter Survivor Tuition Act, Public Act 195 ) Non-Profit or Private Organizations The Hundred Club of Detroit 1717 South Dort Highway Flint, MI 48503 Phone: (810) 237-5778 Provides benefit to spouse or to parents if deceased not married. Savings bonds to children on each birthday through age 18. Scholarships for spouses and dependent children. Hundred Club of Flint 5349 Timberline Court Grand Blane, MI 48439 Phone: (210) 599-3751 Provides $3,000 lump sum and savings bond to children under 18 at Christmas. The William S. Martens Hundred Club Fund of Grand Rapids 161 Ottawa Avenue, NW #209-C Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2757 Phone: (616) 454-1751 Provides $2,500 to family to use at its discretion. Limited to Kent County. The Hundred Club of Lansing 3315 S. Pennsylvania Avenue Lansing, MI 48910 Phone: (517) 394-4614 $10,000 lump sum, Police and Fire Academy Tuition cost for Lansing Community College. The One Hundred Club of Saginaw P.O. Box 250 Freeland, MI 48623 Phone: (517) 695-5366 Website: www.100clubsaginaw.com Provides $3,000 to family within first 24 hours following death. Survivor Committee meets with family to review finances. Club will provide additional help as needed, dependent upon available funds. Washtenaw One Hundred Club, Inc. 3135 S. State Street, Suite 208 Ann Arbor, MI 48108 Phone: (734) 741-0400 Provides immediate cash assistance and scholarships for children.