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Family Benefits

Louisiana Survivor Benefits

Updated February 2024 (COVID-19 related benefits updated April 2021)

COVID-19 BENEFITS

PSOB benefits are available in any State of the U.S., the District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands of the U.S., Guam, American Samoa, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any territory or possession of the U.S.

ONE-TIME DEATH BENEFITS

Covers firefighters who died as a result of an injury arising out of and in the course of performance of official duties or arising out of any activity on or off duty in the capacity of a firefighter. In any case in which a firefighter suffers death as a result of any injury arising out of and in the course of the performance of his official duties as such firefighter, or arising out of any activity, while on or off duty, in his capacity as a firefighter, in the protection of life or property, the sum of $250,000 shall be paid to the surviving spouse of each officer or, if not survived by a spouse, the sum of $250,000 shall be paid to the surviving child or children or, if not survived by a spouse nor a child or children, then the sum of $250,000 shall be paid to the named beneficiary listed on the firefighter’s beneficiary designation form or, if there is no designation form at the time of the firefighter’s death, and no surviving spouse nor a child or children, then the sum of $250,000 shall be paid to the officer’s estate. Each firefighter shall complete a beneficiary designation form. In addition, if the firefighter is survived by (a) dependent child(ren), the sum of $25,000 shall be paid for each of the dependent children, such sums to be paid by the duly appointed and qualified tutor or the legal representative of the child or children. Unmarried children are eligible until age 18, age 23 if full-time student, or longer if disabled and incapable of self-support. Presumption: death by heart attack or a stroke shall be presumed to be the direct and proximate result of an injury sustained in the performance of one’s official duties.

Contact: Law Enforcement Officers and Firemen’s Survivor Benefit Review Board
1885 North Third St.
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Phone: (225) 326-6127
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: ag.state.la.us

Reference: Revised Statutes 40:1665, 40:1665.1, 40:1665.2, & 40:1665.3

COMPENSATION FOR DEATH OR DISABILITY OF FIREFIGHTERS FROM OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES

After ten years of service there is a presumption of occupationally acquired cancers. The disease or infirmity shall be presumed to have been caused by or to have resulted from the work performed.

Contact:
Office of Workers’ Compensation Administration
P.O. Box 94040
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9040
Phone: (225) 342-7555
Fax: (225) 342-5665
E-mail: [email protected]
Websitewww.laworks.net

Reference: Revised Statutes 23:1231, 23:1232, 23:1233, & 23:1234

WORKERS' COMPENSATION

Career firefighters: Benefit is 1) 32 1/2% of employee’s weekly wage to: a) surviving spouse only, b) one child only, c) a single surviving parent only, or d) a single surviving sibling only; 2) 46 1/4% of weekly wage to: a) surviving spouse and one child, or b) 2 children only; c) 65% of weekly wage to: a) surviving spouse and 2 or more children, b) 3 or more children only, or c) 2 surviving parents only. Spouse receives two-year lump sum upon remarriage and remaining benefits cease. Children eligible until age 18 or after if disabled or under age 23 if full-time student. Dependents must file a claim to be eligible.

Contact:
Office of Workers’ Compensation Administration

P.O. Box 94040
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9040
Phone: (225) 342-3111
Fax: (225) 342-7960
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.laworks.net

Reference: Revised Statutes 23:1231, 23:1232, 23:1233, & 23:1234

FUNERAL BENEFIT

Career firefighters: Maximum burial allowance of $8,500.

Contact:
Office of Workers’ Compensation Administration
P.O. Box 94040
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9040
Phone: (225) 342-7555
Fax: (225) 342-5665
E-mail: [email protected]
Websitewww.laworks.net

Reference: Revised Statutes 23:1210

RETIREMENT/PENSION PLAN

A statewide system to provide benefits for full-time firefighters employed by a fire department or a municipality, parish or fire protection district (except New Orleans).

If an active member dies in the line-of-duty, the surviving eligible spouse will receive an annual benefit equal to 2/3 of the deceased member’s final compensation, payable monthly. There are benefits available for minor children as well.

Reference: Louisiana Revised Statutes: 11:2251-2256

Contact:
Firefighters Retirement System of Louisiana
P.O. Box 94095, Capital Station
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
Phone: (225) 925-4060
Fax: (225) 925-4062
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: ffret.com

» Retirement/Pension for: New Orleans

Contact:
New Orleans Fire Fighter’s Pension and Relief Fund
2401 Westbend Parkway, Suite 3001
New Orleans, LA 70114
Phone: (504) 366-8102
Fax: (504) 366-8103
Website: www.noffpf.com

EDUCATION BENEFIT - CHILDREN

Tuition, fees, room and board, and other charges waived at state-supported colleges and universities. Additional cash grant of $250.00 for books. Available for full-time undergraduate study for a maximum of ten semesters.

Contact:

Louisiana Board of Regents
1201 N 3rd Street, Suite 6-200 (Physical Address)
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

OR

P.O. Box 3677 (Mailing Address)
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-3677
Phone: (225) 342-4253
Fax: (225) 342-9318 or 6296
Website: regents.la.gov

Reference: Louisiana Revised Statutes RS 17:1682, & 17:1682.1

EDUCATION BENEFIT - SPOUSE

Offered same as dependent child; may not exceed 10 semesters.

Contact:
Louisiana Board of Regents
1201 N 3rd Street, Suite 6-200 (Physical Address)
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

OR

P.O. Box 3677 (Mailing Address)
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-3677
Phone: (225) 342-4253
Fax: (225) 342-9318 or 6296
Website: regents.la.gov

Reference: Louisiana Revised Statutes RS 17:1682, & 17:1

NON-PROFIT OR PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS

Kids’ Chance
Louisiana Bar Foundation

1615 Poydras Street, Suite 1000
New Orleans, LA 70112
Phone: (504) 561-1046
Fax: (504) 566-1926
Website: www.raisingthebar.org

The Louisiana Bar Foundation Kids’ Chance provides scholarships to children of Louisiana workers who have been killed in an accident compensable under the state Workers’ Compensation Act.

Louisiana State Firemen’s Association

2012 Atteberry Road
Eunice, LA 70535
Phone: (337) 256-9093
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: lsfa.net

Louisiana State Firemen’s Association (LSFA) has a death benefit fund to help spouse/beneficiary of deceased members. Amount up to $15,000 will be paid directly to beneficiary upon receipt of death certificate. A fatality must have occurred in the line of duty, en route to or from an emergency, fire department function or during training.

National 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.

FUNERAL & CREMATION BENEFITS

Dignity Memorial
Phone: (800) 343-4464
Website: 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 Road
Broadview, 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.

DisclaimerThe material contained in the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Survivor Benefits website is not the result of legal research, but rather is based on a scan of public documents. We have made every effort to be accurate and timely, but errors may exist. The material on this website is advisory only and should not be cited as evidence or proof that a benefit exists or that our facts are accurate. Always consult the decedent’s fire department for benefits assistance, or a benefits’ attorney. If, in the course of your own research, you see errors of fact, or new benefit information, please pass this information along to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.