COVID-19 and Public Safety Officers’ Benefits
This is one of three stories courtesy of Supporting Heroes that focus on supporting law enforcement and other first responders during the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information on Supporting Heroes, visit SupportingHeroes.org
As the number of first responders dying from COVID-19 continues to rise, it is important for all who serve to understand how COVID-19 is treated regarding benefits.
Also, with an increasing number of first responders who have survived COVID-19 but suffered life-altering debilitating effects, it is important to discuss disability benefits that could be available now or death benefits that could be available later. More specifically, it is important to know key elements to document now to improve chances of approval later.
While our sincere wish is that no family goes through the loss that necessitates these benefits, we know that more first responders will die, and there will be families in need. For that reason, it is important to discuss these topics and, especially, for leaders to take note.
To emphasize the importance of understanding these provisions, all who serve should know that the federal line-of-duty death or disability benefit for Public Safety Officers is currently $370,670. If approved, there would also be an Education Assistance benefit available to the spouse and each dependent child. The current value of that benefit for each recipient is $56,925.
The federal disability benefit for Public Safety Officers is only for "permanent and total disability." However, there is pending legislation that could ease that standard.
Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) are only available to individuals serving an agency that qualifies as a “unit of government” or “instrumentality of government.”
For more information, email HonorAndBenefits@SupportingHeroes.org or call 502-585-2282.
