Updated: February 2010

One-time Death Benefit $50,000 Contact: State Fire Marshal's Division P.E.R.A. Building, Rm 413 1120 Paseo Dr Peralta Santa Fe, NM 87501 Workers' Compensation Career firefighters: Benefit is 66 2/3% of employee's average weekly wages payable to spouse and/or dependent children not to exceed 700 weeks. If no eligible spouse or children, parents or siblings may be eligible for some benefits. Minimum and maximum amounts apply. All medical and hospital expenses associated with the death are paid. Benefit paid only if the firefighter died as a result of work-related accident within 2 years after the incident. State Average Weekly Wage for 2010 is $563.32. Upon remarriage, spouse receives two-year lump sum and benefits terminate; the total benefits must not exceed the maximum compensation benefit. Children are considered dependent until age 18, age 23 if enrolled as a full-time student, or longer if incapable of self-support and unmarried. Contact: State of New Mexico Workers' Compensation Administration 2410 Centre Avenue SE P.O. Box 27198 Albuquerque, NM 87125-7198 Phone: (505) 841-6000 or In-state Toll Free (800) 255-7965 Website: www.state.nm.us/wca (Reference: NM Statutes § 52-1-46; See Workers' Comp Handbook #B2, Page 20) Funeral Benefit Career firefighters: Maximum of $7,500 for burial expenses. Contact: State of New Mexico Workers' Compensation Administration 2410 Centre Avenue SE P.O. Box 27198 Albuquerque, NM 87125-7198 Phone: (505) 841-6000 or In-state Toll Free (800) 255-7965 Website: www.state.nm.us/wca Retirement/Pension Plan Career firefighters: Coverage is mandatory for public employees under the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) of New Mexico. If no beneficiary was previously selected, eligible spouse and children receive pension. The beneficiary will receive either a monthly pension equal to 50% of the member's final average salary or a monthly payment calculated using the member's age and years of service, whichever is higher. Members are strongly advised to complete a Survivor Beneficiary form. Volunteer firefighters: Upon death of a pensioned volunteer firefighter, surviving beneficiary will be paid 2/3 of the pension firefighter was receiving. There are no pre-retirement or disability retirements. A pension to a surviving spouse terminates upon either remarriage or death. A pension to a dependent child ceases when they reach age 18 or death. Special rules apply to calculating survivor pension benefits. Contact PERA for further information. Contact: Public Employees Retirement Association of New Mexico 2500 Louisiana Boulevard, Suite 420 Albuquerque, NM 87110 Phone: (505) 883-4503 Fax: (505) 883-4573 Website: www.pera.state.nm.us (Reference: July 2009 Member Handbook; New Mexico Volunteer Firefighter's Benefits Brochure) Education Benefit - Children Fire Fighter and Peace Officer Survivors' Scholarships provide free tuition at a New Mexico state institution of higher education, for no more than five years. Children eligible if under age 22 at time of firefighter's death. Individual public institutions provide funding. Contact: New Mexico Commission on Higher Education 1068 Cerrillos Road Santa Fe, NM 87501 Phone: (505) 827-7383 Website: hed.state.nm.us or contact financial aid office at public institutions. Education Benefit - Spouse Same as for children, except for age restriction. Contact: New Mexico Commission on Higher Education 1068 Cerrillos Road Santa Fe, NM 87501 Phone: (505) 827-7383 Website: hed.state.nm.us or contact financial aid office at public institutions. Non-Profit or Private Organizations Kids' Chance Workers' Compensation Association of New Mexico P.O. Box 35757 Station D Albuquerque, NM 87176 Website: www.wcaofnm.com Special State Services New Mexico Grief Services Program provides short-term crisis intervention, counseling services, and community referrals. Contact: University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center Office of the Medical Investigator Albuquerque, NM 87131-3053 Phone: (505) 272-3053 Website: omi.unm.edu/grief.html