Updated: November 2009

One-time Death Benefit $100,000 death benefit to spouse of state of Connecticut firefighters with more than one child, including heart attacks in some instances. $50,000 to remaining spouse or spouse with one child. As of 2007, volunteer firefighters can be eligible for a $200,000 death benefit. On July 1, 2007, The Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management Agency (CIRMA) doubled the Living and Death benefit limits and expanded coverage of its Volunteer Accident Insurance program-the program it introduced last year to provide accident insurance coverage at no cost to its workers' compensation member volunteer rescue workers. The death benefit for volunteer members is now $200,000. Contact: Connecticut State Employees Retirement System 55 Elm Street Hartford CT 06106 Phone: (860) 702-3480 Website: www.osc.state.ct.us CIRMA Contact: Connecticut Conference of Municipalities 900 Chapel Street, 9th Floor New Haven, CT 06510 Phone: (203) 498-3000 Fax: (203) 562-6314 Website: www.ccm-ct.org Death benefit handbook posted on website. Workers' Compensation Career firefighters: 75% of employee's average weekly earnings payable to spouse with children. Minimums and maximums apply. Annual cost-of-living adjustment. Cumulative payments cannot exceed 100% of weekly earnings. Benefits offset by Social Security. Public Act 07-11 requires municipalities to continue to provide benefits to spouse of a paid firefighters who dies in the line of duty even if the spouse remarries; children until age 18, until age 22 if full-time student, or longer if disabled and incapable of self-support. Benefit continues to spouse until remarriage. Connecticut's Heart and Hypertension Act This Act is separate from the Workers' Compensation Act. The Heart and Hypertension Act is codified in Connecticut General Statutes Section 7-433c. Connecticut's Heart and Hypertension Act is a separate compensation program for police officers and firefighters with hypertension or heart disease. The purpose of this Act is to permit a police officer or firefighter who develops hypertension or heart disease after beginning employment to recover benefits without having to prove that the problem is job related. To qualify for benefits under the Heart and Hypertension Act, one must be a uniformed member of a municipal fire department or a regular member of a paid municipal police department who was hired before July 1, 1996. Effective July 1, 2009, Public Act No. 08-61 provides a rebuttable presumption that a "cardiac emergency" is compensable for regular members of police and fire departments or constable, hired on or after July 1, 1996 Volunteer firefighters: Active members of volunteer fire departments or companies are construed to be employees of the municipality for which they render services and shall be compensated according to state workers' compensation law. If injured while engaged in fire duties, any active volunteer may collect benefits based on the salary of regular employment or the state average production wage, whichever is greater. (Reference: Volunteer may collect workers' comp under provisions in Chapter 568) Contact: CT Workers' Compensation Commission Capitol Place 21 Oak Street Hartford, CT 06106 Phone: (860) 493-1500 or (800) 223-WORK Website: wcc.state.ct.us All workers' compensation benefits are non-taxable except for benefits obtained under Sect. 9-433c, Heart and Hypertension Benefits for Police and Firefighters. Funeral Benefit Maximum burial benefit of $4,000. Contact: CT Workers' Compensation Commission Capitol Place 21 Oak Street Hartford, CT 06106 Phone: (860) 493-1500 or (800) 223-WORK Website: wcc.state.ct.us (Reference: WC Part D, Section 31-306) Retirement/Pension Plan Local Police Officer & Firefighter Survivor's Benefit Fund provides benefits to survivors of members covered by the program. Spouse receives 30% of firefighter's compensation. Spouse with children receives more compensation up to a total of 60%. Spouse is eligible until death or remarriage. Children eligible until age 18. Contact the municipality for further information on this benefit & contact: Connecticut State Employees Retirement System 55 Elm Street Hartford CT 06106 Phone: (860) 702-3480 Website: www.osc.state.ct.us Education Benefit - Children Tuition waived in the Connecticut University System, a regional community-technical college or the University of Connecticut. Contact: Registrar's Office University of Connecticut Wilbur Cross Building 233 Glenbrook Road Storrs, CT 06269-4077 Phone: (860) 486-3331 Website: www.uconn.edu Education Benefit - Spouse None. Health Insurance & Tax Abatement Survivor Health Insurance: Surviving spouses & dependent children, under age 18, of municipal and state employees, including firefighters, who die from injuries received in the course of their employment, get state health insurance coverage, provided they are not otherwise eligible for another health insurance plan. Contact: Office of the State Comptroller State of Connecticut 55 Elm Street Hartford, Connecticut 06106 Phone: (860) 702-3300 Contact: Director of Retirement and Benefits Services at (860) 702-3481. Website: www.osc.state.ct.us Tax Abatement: Municipalities may abate all or a portion of the property taxes due to real property occupied as the principal residence of the surviving spouse of a firefighter who dies in the line of duty. Check with your local government to see of this applies. Non-Profit or Private Organizations Hundred Club of Connecticut 119 Oakwood Drive P.O. Box 419 Glastonbury, CT 06033-0419 Phone: (860) 633-8357 Website: www.hundredclubofct.org E-mail: CT100@hundredclubofct.org Provides an initial death benefit of $10,000, special financial assistance, and annual savings bond for children until age 18. Also offers a comprehensive college scholarship up to $25,000 a year for spouse and children. Scholarship covers tuition, and other expenses. Beginning at age seven, each student eligible to receive a complete computer system. Money is available to help children ages 5-16 to attend summer camp. Under The Fixed Indebtedness Program, the board may provide financial relief related to mortgage and other debts. Connecticut State Firefighters Association, Inc. P.O. Box 9 Mansfield Center, CT 06250 Phone: (860) 423-5799 Website: www.ct.gov/cfpc/site/default.asp Provides up to $15,000 benefit for survivors of Connecticut State Firefighters Association, Inc. members. In addition, weekly benefit of $105 per child until age 18.