The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) announced today that it has finalized more than three times as many Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Program survivor claim determinations over the past four weeks as it did in the previous nine months, delivering over $96 million in benefits to eligible surviving families of fallen public safety officers. The acceleration follows a directive from Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. surging additional resources to the PSOB team.
“This is a meaningful step forward, and I want to thank Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Associate Attorney General Woodward and the entire PSOB team for their commitment to getting benefits into the hands of Fire Hero Families. Delivering $96 million in benefits in a matter of weeks shows what’s possible when we prioritize the first responder community. For families carrying the weight of losing a firefighter or another public safety officer, timely recognition and support make a real difference during one of the hardest moments of their lives,” said Victor Stagnaro, CEO of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
“We look forward to continuing to work alongside the DOJ to keep this momentum going for current and future applicants, including the families now eligible for occupational cancer–related benefits under the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act.”
Families who need help navigating the PSOB process don’t have to do it alone. Through the NFFF’s Local Assistance State Team (LAST) Program — a longstanding partnership with the DOJ Bureau of Justice Assistance — trained responders, including benefit specialists, help survivors prepare and submit PSOB claims and connect them with peer support, counseling and other resources.
Families and fire departments can reach the LAST Program at (866) 736-5868 or contact National LAST Team Coordinator Ian Bennett at ibennett@firehero.org to find assistance in their state. More information is available on the NFFF’s website.
Read the full DOJ announcement here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-triples-claims-processed-under-public-safety-officers-benefits-program
