Updated: December 2009

One-time Death Benefit The Emergency and Law Enforcement Personnel Death Benefits Act provides for a one-time payment of death benefits to the surviving spouse, minor children, or parents of firefighters killed in the performance of their duties. It is adjusted annually. If no spouse, then payment goes to children under age 21; if no children, then to parents. Benefit covers deaths that occurred as a result of the performance of duties. For 2009 - 2010, the benefit is $110,334.62. Contact: Governor's Office of Administration Bureau of Risk Management and Insurance/Classification and Compensation 406 North Office Building Harrisburg, PA 17125 Phone: (717) 787-2492 Website: www.portal.stat.pa.us (Reference: Pennsylvania ACT 101) Workers' Compensation Benefit is 51% of the deceased employee's average gross wages to spouse with no children, 60% to spouse with one child, or 66 2/3% to spouse with two or more children. Wages used for basis cannot be in excess of statewide average weekly wage. Children are considered dependent until age 18, age 23 if a full-time student, or longer if disabled. Children include stepchildren, adopted children, and other situations. Upon remarriage, spouse receives two-year lump sum and benefits terminate. If spouse cohabitates, no lump sum is awarded and benefits terminate. Death from diseases of the heart and lungs may also be considered. Volunteer firefighters: Volunteers are considered employees for the purpose of Workers' Compensation. Survivors receive state's average weekly wage using same percentage breakdown (51%-60%-66 2/3%). Contact: Bureau of Workers' Compensation Department of Labor & Industry 1171 S. Cameron Street, Room 324 Harrisburg, PA 17104-2501 Phone: (717) 783-5421 or (800) 362-4228 Website:www.dli.state.pa.us (Reference: WC Act of PA 307.1-6) Funeral Benefit Maximum of $3,000 for burial expenses. Contact: Bureau of Workers' Compensation Department of Labor & Industry 1171 S. Cameron Street, Room 324 Harrisburg, PA 17104-2501 Phone: (717) 783-5421 or (800) 362-4228 Website:www.dli.state.pa.us Retirement/Pension Plan Career firefighters: Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System administers individual pension plans for firefighters. If a firefighter covered under a plan dies in the line of duty, the spouse or minor children will receive approximately 50% of the monthly benefit the firefighter was eligible to receive if retired. Unless the employee selected a Single Life Annuity, the beneficiary will receive a monthly benefit. If the firefighter dies before being eligible for a normal or voluntary early retirement benefit, the firefighter's accumulated deductions will be paid to the beneficiary. Contact: Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System P.O. Box 1165 Harrisburg, PA 17108-1165 Phone: (717) 787-2065 or (800) 622-7968 Website: www.pmrs.state.pa.us Education Benefit - Children Postsecondary Educational Gratuity Program provides waiver of tuition, fees, and room and board to children of firefighters who died after January 1, 1976, as the direct result of performing their official duties. To qualify, child must be a state resident, attend a state institution full-time, be age 25 or under, and be enrolled in an academic program leading to an associate or bachelor's degree. To be eligible for this benefit, the child must have applied for other available scholarships, including state and federal grants. Adopted children are also covered under this benefit. Contact: Postsecondary Educational Gratuity Program PHEAA State Grant and Special Programs PO Box 8144 Harrisburg, PA 17105-8144 Phone: (717) 720-2800 or (800) 692-7392 Website: www.pheaa.org Education Benefit - Spouse None. Non-Profit or Private Organizations Kids' Chance of Pennsylvania P.O. Box 543 Pottstown, PA 19464 Phone: (610) 970-9143 E-mail: info@kidschanceofpa.org Website: www.kidschanceofpa.org Kids' Chance of Pennsylvania offers scholarships for children age 16-25 whose parent died from a work-related accident which qualified for compensation under the Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Law and resulted in financial need. Must attend an accredited, postsecondary institution. Deadline for application is April 15th of each year. Hero Scholarship Fund of Philadelphia 1617 JFK Boulevard, Suite 933 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Phone: (215) 496-1822 E-mail: HERO1954@aol.com Provides assistance to children of City of Philadelphia firefighters killed in the line of duty. $10,000 one time payment. Full tuition to any college for children age 21 or under. $250 provided each semester for books. $1,250 per semester for tuition and $250 per semester for books to children of disabled firefighters. Firemen's Association of the State of Pennsylvania 484 Allegheny Avenue, Suite 2D Franklin, PA 16323 Phone: (866) 753-FASP or (814) 432-5080 Website: www.pafire.org Provides one-time death benefit and scholarship opportunities for survivors of Association members.