Updated July 2021 (COVID-19 related benefits updated April 2021)
COVID-19 BENEFITS
COVID-19-related first responder deaths are considered line-of-duty deaths under the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program. Legislation passed in August 2020 established a statutory presumption for first responders who die from, or are disabled by complications related to, COVID-19. Prior to August, suspected cases were required to have proof that exposure occurred during their work duties.
(Legislation: S.3607 – Safeguarding America’s First Responders Act of 2020)
Contact:
Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program
Phone: (888) 744-6513
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: bja.ojp.gov/program/psob
Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA will provide financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will provide up to $9,000 per funeral and up to $35,500 per applicant to help with expenses related to coronavirus deaths that occurred after January 20, 2020.
Contact:
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Information
(Applications accepted starting April 12, 2021)
Phone: (844) 684-6333
TTY: 800-462-7585
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 8:00 am to 8:00 pm CST
Website: www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance#eligible
Check with Maryland Workers’ Comp regarding COVID-19 benefits for first responders.
Contact:
Workers’ Compensation Commission
10 East Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21202-1641
Phone: (410) 864-5100 or, in Maryland, call (800) 492-0479
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.wcc.state.md.us
ONE-TIME DEATH BENEFITS
The 2006 base death benefit was $125,000 to spouse or spouse and dependent children. The benefit is adjusted annually on July 1 based on the Consumer Price Index. Benefit provided when a career or volunteer firefighter dies in performance of duties.
Performance of duties is defined as: actively participating in fighting a fire or while going to or from a fire; performing other duties necessary to the operation or maintenance of a fire company; actively participating in ambulance, advanced life support, or rescue work as part of a fire, ambulance, rescue, or advanced life support unit while going to or from the scene; or providing emergency or rescue assistance, whether acting alone or at the direction of or with a company or advanced life support unit.
Benefit paid is in addition to any benefits from workers’ compensation and life insurance.
Contact:
Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services
Human Resources Services Division
200 East Joppa Road, Suite 1000
Towson, MD 21286
Phone: (410) 389-5000
Website: news.maryland.gov/dpscs/
Reference: Annotated Code of Maryland, Public Safety, 12.11.06.01-03
The Board of Trustees of the Maryland State Firemen’s Association pays a one-time death benefit if a volunteer firefighter or individual serving on a volunteer rescue squad dies in the line-of-duty. The benefits shall be paid from the treasury of the Maryland State Firemen’s Association.
Contact:
Maryland State Firemen’s Association
Board of Trustees
2130 Priest Bridge Road, #4
Crofton, MD 21114
Phone: (443) 302-2911
Website: www.msfa.org
Resource: MSFA Constitution
State Flag Benefit
The Secretary of State shall issue a State flag to the family of a firefighter, police officer, member of the military, sworn member of the office of State Fire Marshal, or professional or volunteer emergency medical services provider who is killed in the performance of duty. Except when the deceased is a member of the military, the flag shall be presented to the family of the deceased by the State Senator of the legislative district in which the deceased resided or served. When the deceased is a member of the military, the flag shall be presented to the family of the deceased by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Resource: Maryland Survivor Benefits Program
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
For survivors of eligible workers, benefit is 2/3 of the employee’s wages for spouse or spouse with children. Upon remarriage of surviving spouse, payments cease 2 years after the date of the remarriage. Children receive benefits until age 18 or longer if disabled and incapable of self-support, or until 23 if full-time students. Compensation cannot exceed state’s average weekly wage.
Volunteer firefighters: Members in specified counties are covered as employees while “on duty.” Wages computed based upon the wages employee received from other employment or, if not employed, by a set formula.
Presumption Law: A paid firefighter, paid firefighting instructor, or sworn member of the Office of the State Fire Marshal employed by an airport authority, a county, a fire control district, a municipality, or the State or a volunteer firefighter, volunteer fire fighting instructor, volunteer rescue squad member, or volunteer advanced life support unit member who is a covered employee under § 9-234 of this title is presumed to have an occupational disease that was suffered in the line of duty and is compensable under this title if individual has: heart disease, hypertension, lung disease, or leukemia, pancreatic, prostate, rectal, or throat cancer caused by contact with a toxic substance encountered in the line of duty.
Contact:
Workers’ Compensation Commission
10 East Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21202-1641
Phone: (410) 864-5100 or, outside Baltimore metro area (800) 492-0479
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: wcc.state.md.us
Reference: Annotated Code of Maryland, Labor and Employment, Title 9, Subtitle 6, Part 12, §9-678
FUNERAL BENEFIT
Maximum of $10,000 paid to the spouse, children, parents, or estate of a volunteer or career firefighter, rescue squad member, or State Fire Marshal who is killed or dies in the performance of duties. See definition of performance of duties listed above under One-Time Death Benefit.
Reduced by the amount of any Workers’ Compensation benefits paid. Workers’ Compensation allows up to $7,000. Exceptions to the limit are made if approved by Workers’ Compensation.
Contact:
Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services
Human Resources Services Division
200 East Joppa Road, Suite 1000
Towson, MD 21286
Phone: (410) 389-5000
Website: news.maryland.gov/dpscs
Reference: Annotated Code of Maryland, Labor and Employment, Title 9, Subtitle 6, Part 13, §9-678
RETIREMENT/PENSION PLAN
Most Maryland firefighters are in plans for public safety workers administered through the State Retirement and Pension System (depending on job title and start date). The benefit is equal to the annual earnable compensation at the date of death plus a return of any accumulated contributions with interest. A surviving spouse may elect to receive a monthly benefit in lieu of the lump sum. If there are only surviving children, the lump sum is the only available benefit. The lump sum consists of contributions with interest PLUS and annual benefit equal to 2/3 of Annual Final Compensation.
In all cases, the local department should be contacted to ascertain the correct pension system for that department.
Contact:
Maryland State Retirement and Pension System
120 E. Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: (410) 625-5555 or (800) 492-5909
Website: www.sra.md.gov
Reference: Employee Manual
EDUCATION BENEFIT - CHILDREN
Edward T. and Mary A. Conroy & Jean B. Cryor Memorial Scholarship Program. May be used for tuition and mandatory fees not to exceed that of a resident undergraduate at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Good for five years of full-time or eight years of part-time study. Covers graduate and undergraduate studies. The amount may not exceed the equivalent annual tuition and mandatory fees, of a resident undergraduate at a four-year public institution of higher education within the University System of Maryland, other than the University of Maryland University College and the University of Maryland, Baltimore, with the highest annual expenses for a full-time resident undergraduate.
Contact:
Maryland Higher Education Commission
State Scholarship Administration
6 North Liberty Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: (410) 767-3300 or (800) 974-0203
Website: mhec.maryland.gov
The Board of Trustees of the Maryland State Firemen’s Association provides scholarships for children of volunteer firefighters or volunteer ambulance or rescue squad members who die or are disabled by any accident while performing any duties necessary to the operations of the fire company or while actively participating in ambulance or rescue squad work.
Contact:
Maryland State Firemen’s Association
Board of Trustees
2130 Priest Bridge Road, #4
Crofton, MD 21114
Phone: (443) 302-2911
Website: www.msfa.org
EDUCATION BENEFIT - SPOUSE
Same as for children. Spouse cannot have remarried.
Contact:
Maryland Higher Education Commission
State Scholarship Administration
6 North Liberty Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: (410) 767-3300 or (800) 974-0203
Website: mhec.maryland.gov
Contact:
Maryland State Firemen’s Association
Board of Trustees
2130 Priest Bridge Road, #4
Crofton, MD 21114
Phone: (443) 302-2911
Website: www.msfa.org
REAL ESTATE TAX CREDIT
- 9-210 of the annotated code of Maryland authorizes each county or municipality within the state to offer a real estate tax credit, to a surviving spouse of a fallen law enforcement or rescue worker.
Currently 14 jurisdictions have enacted some form of local tax credit for a surviving spouse. As this information is received, it will be posted to the respective county information.
If your county does not reflect a tax benefit, you should contact the county treasurer or finance office to inquire as to whether new local legislation has been enacted.
Reference: Annotated Code of Maryland, Tax – Property, Title 9, Subtitle 2, §9-210
NON-PROFIT OR PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS
Kids’ Chance of Maryland, Inc.
P.O. Box 20262
Towson, MD 21284
Phone: (410) 832-4702
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.kidschance-md.org
Provides college scholarships. Scholarships cover tuition and books, but may also include housing and meals. Generally, scholarships are good for one semester. Call for information.
Central Scholarship: Maryland Heroes Scholarship & Career Training Grant
Since 2018, Central Scholarship has offered two funding options to support the children and spouses of Maryland firefighters and law enforcement officers who have been killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty.
- The Maryland Heroes Scholarship is awarded to degree-seeking applicants. Applications are due by March 15, 2023.
- The Maryland Heroes – Career Training Grant is awarded to students pursuing non-degree certificate programs at community colleges and private career schools. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Children and spouses of Maryland state or local law enforcement and career or volunteer firefighters are eligible. Please note that applications for degree-seeking programs will be eligible for consideration for all scholarships offered through Central Scholarship.
For more information and a full list of available scholarships, please visit central-scholarship.org.
Website: central-scholarship.org
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: (410) 415-5558
100 Club of Anne Arundel County
P.O. Box911
Pasadena MD 21123
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.aa100club.org
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.
Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens
200 E. Padonia Road
Timonium, MD 21093
Phone: (410) 666-0490
Website: www.dulaneyvalley.com
Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens provides burial service, space, and memorial free of charge for any firefighter killed in the line of duty.
