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Family Benefits

Pennsylvania 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

The Emergency and Law Enforcement Personnel Death Benefits Act provides for a one-time payment of death benefits to the surviving spouse, minor children, or parents of a firefighter killed in the performance of their duties. The benefit is adjusted annually for inflation using the Consumer Price Index. In 1976, the benefit was established at $50,00 but had grown considerably since then.

Contact: Pennsylvania Department of General Services Bureau of Risk and Insurance Management 406 North Office Building Harrisburg, PA 17125 Phone: (717) 787-2492 Fax: (717) 772-3846 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.dgs.pa.gov

Reference: PA Act 1976 P.L.424, No.101/1976

COMPENSATION FOR DEATH OR DISABILITY OF FIREFIGHTERS FROM OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES

After 4 or more years as a firefighter, the following are presumed to be occupational diseases for firefighters: Hepatitis C, diseases of the heart and lungs, tuberculosis of the respiratory system, or any cancer which is caused by exposure to a known carcinogen which is recognized as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Contact:
Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry
Bureau of Workers Compensation

1171 S. Cameron Street, Room 324
Harrisburg, PA 17104-2501
Phone: (717) 783-5421
E-mail: Contact Us
Website: www.dli.pa.gov

Reference: PA Act 1915, P.L. 736, No. 338, Section 106

WORKERS' COMPENSATION

Dependents of workers who die due to their employment as a paid or volunteer firefighter are entitled to regular payments at the same interval as the deceased received their wages, based on the amount deceased’s wages and limited by the state average weekly wage.

A spouse with no dependent children is entitled to 51% of the deceased’s wages. With one dependent child, this increases to 60%, and with two or more dependent children, 66-2/3%.

If the spouse is not the guardian of any surviving children, these payments shall be split equally between the spouse and all dependent children.

If there is no surviving spouse but there is a surviving dependent child, that child shall receive 32% of the wages. 2 children shall receive 42%, 3 children receive 52, 4 children receive 62, 5 children receive 64%, and 6 or more children receive 66-2/3%.

If there is neither a surviving spouse nor dependent child, dependent parents or siblings are eligible to receive a benefit: 32% for a partially dependent parent, 52% for a totally dependent parent, and 22% for a dependent sibling plus 5% for each additional sibling up to 32%.

This benefit shall continue for any dependent child or sibling until that dependent reaches the age of 18, or 23 if a full-time student, or as long as the dependent is disabled.

For a spouse, this benefit continues until remarriage, at which time they shall receive a lump sum equal to 104 weeks (2 years) worth of payments at 51% of the deceased’s wages.

For volunteer firefighters, their wages shall be assumed to be at lease the full state average weekly wage. If the deceased’s wages are less than 50% of the state average weekly wage, the above shall be computed using 50% of the state average weekly wage instead.

The maximum amount payable for this benefit is the state average weekly wage. The statewide average weekly wage for Pennsylvania in 2018 is $1,025.00 per week.

Contact:
Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry
Bureau of Workers Compensation

1171 S. Cameron Street, Room 324
Harrisburg, PA 17104-2501
Phone: (717) 783-5421
E-mail: Contact Us
Website: www.dli.pa.gov

Reference: PA Act 1915, P.L. 736, No. 338, Sections 307, 308, 601

FUNERAL BENEFIT

The reasonable expenses of burial, not to exceed $7,000, shall be covered under Workers’ Compensation.

Contact: Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry Bureau of Workers Compensation 1171 S. Cameron Street, Room 324 Harrisburg, PA 17104-2501 Phone: (717) 783-5421 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.dli.pa.gov

Resource: PA Workers’ Compensation Act

RETIREMENT/PENSION PLAN

The Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System administers pension plans for local governments which cover many career firefighters. Details of the plans are tailored to the municipality. In general, these plans pay out 50% of the firefighter’s expected pension to the firefighters’ survivors. Contact your local retirement system, or the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System, for more information.

Under state law, a spouse or dependent child of a paid firefighter killed in the line of duty shall receive a monthly pension equal to the monthly salary of the firefighter, less any workers’ compensation, other pension, or retirement benefits paid to such survivors. Spouses are eligible for this benefit for life. Children are eligible for this benefit for as long as they are considered dependent. This benefit shall continue and pass among dependents until there is no eligible beneficiary to receive them.

Contact:
Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System

1721 North Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102-2315
Phone: (800) 622-7968
Fax: (717) 783-2065
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.pmrs.state.pa.us

Resource: The individual county retirement plans for emergency responders are on the website.

Resource: Pennsylvania Laws Relating to Emergency Services

EDUCATION BENEFIT - CHILDREN

The Postsecondary Educational Gratuity Program provides a waiver for tuition, fees, and on-campus room and board costs charged by a Pennsylvania public postsecondary institution. This waiver applies only to charges that remain after all other grants (federal, state, and outside scholarships) have been applied. This benefit is available for a maximum of 5 years, and can be put toward an associate or baccalaureate degree. The child must be 25 years of age or younger at the time of initial application for the program.

Contact: Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency Postsecondary Educational Gratuity Program State Grant and Special Programs 1200 North 7th Street Harrisburg, PA 17102 Phone: (800) 692-7392 Fax: (717) 720-3786 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.pheaa.org

Resource: PA Postsecondary Educational Gratuity Program (PEGP)

EDUCATION BENEFIT - SPOUSE

Spouses are not eligible for the benefit outlined above.

Contact: Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency Postsecondary Educational Gratuity Program State Grant and Special Programs 1200 North 7th Street Harrisburg, PA 17102 Phone: (800) 692-7392 Fax: (717) 720-3786 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.pheaa.org

Resource: PA Postsecondary Educational Gratuity Program (PEGP)

NON-PROFIT OR PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS

Firemen’s Association State of Pennsylvania

484 Allegheny Avenue
Suite 2D
Franklin, PA 16323
Phone: (814) 437-6098
Fax: (814) 432-5087
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.pafirefighters.org

Members of the FASP are eligible for a $500 death benefit after 1 year of membership. Scholarships are available for children & grandchildren of deceased or living firefighters that were a member of the Firemen’s Association of the State of Pennsylvania. Scholarship amounts are $500 toward an associate’s degree or $1,000 toward a bachelor’s degree.

Kids’ Chance of Pennsylvania

1231 Highland Avenue
Ft. Washington, PA 19034
Phone: (215) 302-3598
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.kidschanceofpa.org

Kids’ Chance of Pennsylvania offers scholarships to students with a parent who has been seriously or fatally injured in a workplace accident in the state of Pennsylvania. The applicant must be under the age of 25. Applicant must be entering to study or already studying toward receiving an undergraduate bachelor or associates degree. Applicants are eligible for 4 years or 8 semesters of scholarship award. The scholarships vary in amount based on demonstrated need and available funds.

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

Pennsylvania has enacted a “mini-COBRA” law to supplement the federal COBRA law. This law allows employees and their survivors to continue health care coverage offered by an employer with between 2 and 19 employees for up to 9 months after employment ends with premiums not to exceed 105% the group rate. Additional health insurance continuation, benefits, and cost vary by municipality and in some cases pension plan.

Contact your fire department for more information.

TAX ABATEMENT

Pennsylvania state law allows any municipality to establish a program to abate all or a portion of the property taxes due on real property owned and occupied as the principal residence of the surviving spouse of a firefighter who dies while in performance of their duties. Contact your local municipal government to see if this has been enacted for your benefit.

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.