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: AskPSOB@.usdoj.gov
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
Most generally, COVID-19 is treated as an occupational disease/injury for first responders.
Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Frequently Asked Questions
State Of Ohio Workers’ Compensation Covid-19 Quick Guide
Contact:
Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation
30 West Spring Street
Columbus, OH 43215-2256
Phone: (800) 644-6292
Fax: (866) 336-8352
E-mail: Contact us
Website: www.bwc.ohio.gov
ONE-TIME DEATH BENEFITS
Ohio does not have a statewide one-time death benefit for fallen firefighters.
COMPENSATION FOR DEATH OR DISABILITY OF FIREFIGHTERS FROM OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
Any cardiovascular, pulmonary, or respiratory disease of a firefighter, paid or volunteer, caused or induced by the cumulative effect of exposure to heat, the inhalation of smoke, toxic gases, chemical fumes and other toxic substances in the performance of the firefighter’s or police officer’s duty constitutes a presumption that such occurred in the course of and arising out of the firefighter’s employment. This presumption may be refuted by affirmative evidence to the contrary. Compensation, medical, hospital, and nursing expenses are payable only in the event of such disability or death resulting within eight years after the last injurious exposure.
Cancer contracted by a firefighter who has been assigned to at least six years of hazardous duty as a firefighter constitutes a presumption that the cancer was contracted in the course of and arising out of the firefighter’s employment if the firefighter was exposed to an agent classified by the international agency for research on cancer or its successor organization as a group 1 or 2A carcinogen. This presumption is not held if the firefighter is over 70 years old, it has been more than fifteen years since the firefighter was last assigned to hazardous duty, there is evidence that the firefighter incurred the type of cancer alleged before becoming a member of the fire department, there is evidence that the firefighter was not exposed to an agent classified by the international agency for research on cancer as a group 1 or 2A carcinogen, there is evidence that shows by a preponderance of competent scientific evidence that exposure to the type of carcinogen alleged did not or could not have caused the cancer being alleged, or there is evidence that the firefighter’s exposure, outside the scope of the firefighter’s official duties, to tobacco products or other conditions presenting an extremely high risk for the development of the cancer alleged, was probably a significant factor in the cause or progression of the cancer.
Contact:
Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation
30 West Spring Street
Columbus, OH 43215-2256
Phone: (800) 644-6292
Fax: (866) 336-8352
Contact: Contact Us Form
Website: info.bwc.ohio.gov
Reference: Ohio Revised Code, Section 4123.68
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
The weekly payment is 66-2/3% of the average weekly wage of the deceased, not to exceed a maximum aggregate amount of weekly compensation equal to the statewide average weekly wage. The state’s average weekly wage for 2018 is $932 and is updated yearly. If the deceased was receiving total disability compensation at the time of death, the dependents are eligible for the full state average weekly wage amount, irrespective of the deceased’s average weekly wage.
A dependent spouse will receive this benefit until death or remarriage. Upon remarriage, they shall receive a one-time payment equal to 2 years’ worth of this weekly benefit. Children are eligible for this benefit while under the age of 18, or 25 if enrolled full time in an educational program, or incapable of supporting themselves due to mental or physical incapacitation.
Where there is more than one person who is wholly dependent at the time of the death of the employee, the Administrator of workers’ compensation shall apportion the weekly payments among the dependents.
Other family members may be considered dependent based on the particulars of the family.
Contact:
Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation
30 West Spring Street
Columbus, OH 43215-2256
Phone: (800) 644-6292
Fax: (866) 336-8352
Contact: Contact Us Form
Website: info.bwc.ohio.gov
Reference: Ohio Revised Code, Sections 4123.59, 4123.62
FUNERAL BENEFIT
Reasonable funeral expenses may be paid or reimbursed up to a maximum of $5,500 by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.
Contact:
Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation
30 West Spring Street
Columbus, OH 43215-2256
Phone: (800) 644-6292
Fax: (866) 336-8352
Contact: Contact Us Form
Website: info.bwc.ohio.gov
Reference: Ohio Revised Code, Section 4123.66
RETIREMENT/PENSION PLAN
Career Firefighters:
The Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund is the main state pension plan for firefighters in Ohio. If a firefighter had not qualified for an age and service retirement then the eligible survivors, as a group, receive the firefighter’s base pay, minus any payments from another retirement system, as a pension.
This is split equally among a spouse and up to 2 dependent children. If the firefighter leaves a spouse and more than 2 dependent children, 1/3rd of the pension goes to the spouse while the remaining 2/3rds of the pension are split equally among the children.
Spouses shall receive this benefit until the date the firefighter would have qualified for an age and service retirement.
On the date the firefighter would have qualified for an age and service retirement the spouse shall receive a pension of 50% of the base pay the firefighter would have earned for their position on the date they would have been eligible to retire. Spouses receive this benefit for life.
If the firefighter had already been eligible for retirement on the date of death, the spouse shall receive a pension of 50% of the base pay the firefighter was actually earning in their position on the date of death. Spouses receive this benefit for life.
Children are considered dependent as long as they remain unmarried and under the age of 22, or are mentally or physically disabled and totally dependent on the firefighter. Dependent parents are eligible for this benefit if the deceased leaves neither spouse nor child.
Call/Volunteer Firefighters:
Surviving spouses shall be given a one-time payment of $1,000 and a monthly benefit of $300. The spouse, or whosoever is the guardian of any dependent children, shall receive $125 per month for each dependent child.
Note the benefit for call or volunteer firefighters is not administered through OP&F. Each political subdivision or fire district is charges with establishing its own volunteer fire fighters’ dependents fund board.
Contact:
Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund
140 East Town Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 228-2975
TTY: (614) 221-3846
Fax: (614) 628-1777
E-mail: questions@op-f.org
Website: www.op-f.org
Reference: Ohio Revised Code, Sections 146.12, 742.37, 742.50, 742.63
Resource: Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund Survivor Benefits Guidebook
Resource: Surviving Spouse Checklist
EDUCATION BENEFIT - CHILDREN
The Ohio Department of Education offers the Ohio Safety Officers College Memorial Fund to children and spouses of fallen firefighters. This fund will provide benefits which cover 100% of the instructional and general fee charges at public colleges and universities in Ohio or a set amount for private and proprietary post-secondary institutions. For the 2018-2019 academic year this amount is $7,334. This fund can be used by full or part time students pursuing an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
Contact:
Ohio Department of Higher Education
25 South Front Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 728-8862
Fax: (614) 466-5866
E-mail: Contact Us
Website: highered.ohio.gov
EDUCATION BENEFIT - SPOUSE
The Ohio Department of Education offers the Ohio Safety Officers College Memorial Fund to children and spouses of fallen firefighters. This fund will provide benefits which cover 100% of the instructional and general fee charges at public colleges and universities in Ohio or a set amount for private and proprietary post-secondary institutions. For the 2018-2019 academic year this amount is $7,334. This fund can be used by full or part time students pursuing an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
Contact:
Ohio Department of Higher Education
25 South Front Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 728-8862
Fax: (614) 466-5866
E-mail: Contact Us
Website: highered.ohio.gov
NON-PROFIT OR PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS
Kids’ Chance of Ohio
52 East Gay Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
E-mail: Contact Us Form
Website: www.kidschanceohio.org
Kids’ Chance of Ohio awards scholarships to children ages 16-25 of Ohio workers fatally injured or rendered disabled as due to work-related accidents or occupational disease. Scholarship awards can be used for Trade School, Vocational School, Industrial Training, Junior College, Community College, Undergraduate and Graduate School. Scholarships may be put toward tuition, books, or room and board. Scholarship amounts vary by applicant but are up to $5,000 per year.
Ohio State Firefighters’ Association
Phone: (888) 414-6732
Website: www.ohiofirefighters.org
Members of the Ohio State Firefighters Association are eligible for a $1,000 Line of Duty Death benefit. OSFA also offers an insurance plan with various benefits.
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.
HEALTH INSURANCE
Survivors receiving a pension from the Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund as described above are eligible for a health plan benefit. Prior to 1 January 2019, this benefit is membership in a group health plan. Starting 1 January 2019 OP&F is switching to a health care stipend plan. This plan gives retirees and survivors a monthly deposit into a health reimbursement account (HRA) as a way to be reimbursed for certain out of pocket health care costs such as premiums for coverage and other eligible health expenses.
For a surviving spouse with or without children, this benefit is $685 per month if the spouse is not on Medicare and $250 per month if they are.
Contact:
Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund
140 East Town Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 228-2975
TTY: (614) 221-3846
Fax: (614) 628-1777
E-mail: questions@op-f.org
Website: www.op-f.org
FUNERAL & CREMATION BENEFITS
Dignity Memorial
Phone: (800) 343-4464Website: 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 RoadBroadview, 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.
