Updated June 2018
ONE-TIME DEATH BENEFIT
None.
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
Weekly benefits to dependents determined by number of dependents. Spouse with no dependent children receives 50% of deceased’s average weekly wage; spouse with dependent children receive 66 2/3%. There are reduced benefits for other survivors, depending on their dependency status and relationship to the deceased. The sum of all weekly benefits shall not exceed 66 2/3% of the employee’s average weekly wage.
Contact:
Hawaii Workers’ Compensation Disability Compensation Division
Labor and Industrial Relations
830 Punchbowl Street, Room 209
Honolulu, HI 96813-5080
Phone:(808) 586-9161
Website: labor.hawaii.gov/dcd
E-mail: dlir.workcomp@hawaii.gov
COMPENSATION FOR DEATH OR DISABILITY OF FIREFIGHTERS FROM OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
The Hawaii Firefighter Cancer Presumptive Law, Act 107, provides compensation for claims of cancer, including leukemia, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, or cancer of the lung, brain, stomach, esophagus, intestines, rectum, kidney, bladder, prostate, or testes.
FUNERAL BENEFIT
Employer shall pay funeral expenses not to exceed ten times the maximum weekly benefit rate. Burial expenses shall not exceed five times the weekly benefit rate. Payments paid directly to the mortician and cemetery selected by the family or next of kin. If expenses are prepaid, benefits go directly to the survivors or next of kin.
Contact:
Hawaii Workers’ Compensation Disability Compensation Division
Labor and Industrial Relations
830 Punchbowl Street, Room 209
Honolulu, HI 96813-5080
Phone:(808) 586-9161
Website: labor.hawaii.gov/dcd
E-mail: dlir.workcomp@hawaii.gov
RETIREMENT/PENSION PLAN
Most career firefighters are registered in a contributory plan through state of Hawaii Retirement system. Survivors have a range of payment options. The lump sum ordinary death benefit consists of the return of the member’s accumulated constitutions and payment of an amount equal to 50% of the salary earned by the member during the year immediately preceding the death. Monthly benefit payment continues until survivor remarries.
Contact:
Hawaii State Retirement System (HSRS)
City Financial Tower
201 Merchant Street, Suite 1400
Honolulu, HI 96813-2980
Phone: (808) 586-1735 or 888-659-0708 (Members residing on the continental United States)
Fax: (808) 587-5766
Website: ers.ehawaii.gov
EDUCATION BENEFIT – CHILDREN
None.
EDUCATION BENEFIT – SPOUSE
None.
NON-PROFIT OR PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS
Hawaii 200 Club
PO Box 4221
Honolulu, HI 96812
Initial presentation plus educational assistance; provides immediate financial assistance and covers all the island.
The International Association of Fire Fighters
1750 New York Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 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. 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.
Disclaimer: The 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.
