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Family Benefits

Arkansas Survivor Benefits

Updated July 2021 (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

Up to $200,000: $50,000 for deaths related to official duties and an additional up to $200,000 if killed in an incident related to responding, engaging in, or returning from a fire. Full payment to spouse and/or children under age 22. Lesser amount to parents if no surviving spouse or children. Additional benefits paid in three annual installments. Covers State Forestry and Arkansas Fire Training Academy employees and firefighters at Camp Robinson and Fort Chaffee. Volunteer firefighters are eligible for the award.

Contact:
State Claims Commission
101 E. Capitol Avenue, Suite 410
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: (501) 682-1619
Fax: (501) 682-2823
Website: arclaimscommission.arkansas.gov

The Claims Commission is governed by Ark. Code Ann. §19-10-201–223, 21-5-701–708, 6-82-501–507.

Claims Submission Quick Link

COMPENSATION FOR DEATH OR DISABILITY OF FIREFIGHTERS FROM OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES

Includes, firefighters who die from the following cancers including death from leukemia, lymphoma, mesothelioma, and multiple myeloma and cancer of the brain, digestive tract, urinary tract, liver, skin, breast, cervical, thyroid, prostate, testicles, or a cancer that has been found by research and statistics to show higher incidences of occurrences in firefighters than in the general population, if he or she was exposed to a known carcinogen as determined by the Department of Heath with consideration to the findings of the International Agency for Research on Cancer while in the official line of duty. [ArkansasTitle 21-5-7-705(a)]

Applies also to volunteer firefighters.

The Attorney General’s office determines exact amounts of benefits.

Contact:
State Claims Commission
101 E. Capitol Avenue, Suite 410
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: (501) 682-1619
Fax: (501) 682-2823
Website: www.arclaimscommission.arkansas.gov

Reference: Arkansas annotated code 19-10-201 Act 839

 

WORKERS' COMPENSATION

Career firefighters: Spouse receives 35% of wages earned at time of death with weekly minimum and maximum; spouse with children receives an additional 15% per child, not to exceed a total of 65%. If spouse remarries, weekly benefits cease. Spouse will receive two-year lump sum. Children receive benefits until age 18, beyond if physically or mentally disabled; eligible to age 25 if full-time student. Benefit cannot exceed 662/3 of maximum deceased employee’s Average Weekly Wage. Volunteer firefighters: Deemed county employees so survivors receive minimum level compensation. Survivors also receive death benefits in same manner as regular employees. Arkansas Death and Permanent Total Disability Trust Fund (Arkansas Code Annotated, § 11-19-509) assumes beneficiary liability after Workers’ Compensation pays $75,000.00.

Contact: Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission P.O. Box 950 324 Spring Street Little Rock, AR 72203-0950 Phone: (501) 682-3930 Toll Free: (800) 622-4472 Website: www.awcc.state.ar.us

Reference: Workers’ Comp ARKLEG Statutes 11-9-527; 14-28-102

FUNERAL BENEFIT

A maximum of $6,000 is available for burial expenses.

Contact:
Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission
P.O. Box 950
324 Spring Street
Little Rock, AR 72203-0950
Phone: (501) 682-3930
Toll Free: (800) 622-4472
Website: www.awcc.state.ar.us

RETIREMENT/PENSION PLAN

For members of Arkansas Local Police and Fire Retirement System (LOPFI). LOPFI is a statewide defined benefits system for police officers and firefighters.

If a member dies prior to retirement, a benefit may be payable to spouse and dependent children based on criteria including years of credited service.

Career firefighters: If duty-related death occurs before age 55 with any amount of service, credit determined as if deceased has accrued 25 years of service. Spousal benefit computed as if employee had retired; monthly benefit equal to 50% of the amount firefighter would receive. Benefit for dependent children based on several factors.

Volunteer firefighters: If duty-related death, service credit is determined as if the member has accrued 25 years of service. Volunteer service is indexed. Spousal benefit computed as if employee had retired; monthly benefit equal to 50% of the amount volunteer firefighter would receive. Benefit for dependent children based on several factors.

Disability Benefits: Any active LOPFI member who becomes totally and permanently disabled from their duties is eligible for disability retirement upon meeting established criteria. Check with local jurisdiction or your department’s benefits’ officer.

Contact:
LOPFI
620 W. 3rd Street, Suite 200
Little Rock, AR 72201-2223
Phone: (501) 682-1745
Toll Free: (866) 859-1745
Fax: (501) 682-1751
Website: www.lopfi-prb.com

Reference: LOPFI Handbook 2020

 

EDUCATION BENEFIT - CHILDREN

Law Enforcement Officer’s Dependents’ Scholarship. Applies to full-time or volunteer firefighters, EMTs, and state forestry firefighters. Scholarship for 8 semesters at any state-supported college or university if the student has a 2.0 or above on the 4.0 GPA scale. Up to 4 semesters may be at a technical institute. Does not cover cost of books, food, school supplies, materials and fees for extracurricular activities. Benefit available until age 23.

Contact: Arkansas Department of Higher Education 423 Main Street, Suite 400 Little Rock, AR 72201 Phone: (501) 371-2000 Website: www.adhe.edu

Reference: Law Enforcement Officer’s Dependents’ Scholarship

EDUCATION BENEFIT - SPOUSE

Same as for children, except for age limit. If spouse remarries, benefits cease at the end of the semester in which remarriage occurs.

Contact:
Arkansas Department of Higher Education
423 Main Street, Suite 400
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: (501) 371-2000
Website: www.adhe.edu

Reference: Law Enforcement Officer’s Dependents’ Scholarship

NON-PROFIT OR PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS

Kid’s Chance of Arkansas

Phone: (866) 880-8444
Websitewww.kidschancear.org

A scholarship program for children of workers killed or left permanently and totally disabled by job-related injuries or illnesses that are covered under the Arkansas workers’ compensation laws. Act 1757 of 2001 granted the Workers’ Compensation Commission the authority to donate any excess funds from the Commission’s annual educational conference to Kids’ Chance of Arkansas.

Arkansas State Firefighters’ Association

Attn: President Bo Higgenbothem
Phone: 870-364-4134
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.theasffa.com

Provides a $4,000 Firefighter AD&D accident policy, and $1,000 funeral benefit. Contact ASFA for details specific to the deceased firefighter. Additional AD&D benefits are available.

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.

COUNTY & LOCAL JURISDICTION BENEFITS

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.