Updated: December 2009

One-time Death Benefit Death benefit is $100,000 to spouse or spouse and dependent children. If no spouse or dependent children, payment to dependent parents. Benefit adjusted annually based on the consumer price index. As of October 1, 2009, benefit is $142,420.99. Benefit for career and legally enrolled members of volunteer fire departments. Contact: Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of the Commissioner 444 Cedar Street St. Paul, MN 55101 Phone: (651) 201-7000 Website: www.dps.state.mn.us (Reference: Minnesota Statute 299A:44 2007) Workers' Compensation Covers all firefighters killed or disabled in the line of duty. Benefit for spouse with no children is 50% of employee's weekly wage at time of death; 60% for spouse with one child. Benefit for spouse with two or more children is 66 2/3%. Benefit for spouse with no children lasts for 10 years. For spouse with children, benefit continues 10 years after last child is no longer dependent, at a rate equal to 50% of employee's weekly wage at time of death. Spousal benefit continues after remarriage. Unmarried children eligible until age 18 or longer if disabled and incapable of self-support, or until age 25 if full-time student. Benefit adjusted to reflect cost of living increases. Medical costs directly related to the injury are paid. Combined total of government benefits and Workers' Compensation cannot exceed 100% of employee's weekly wage. Special Note: For volunteer firefighters and rescue workers, workers' compensation liability is the responsibility of the entity for which the emergency services are provided while the employee is responding to the call. Compensation is based on the usual wage for similar services performed by paid employees. Contact: Workers' Compensation Division State Department of Labor and Industry 443 Lafayette Road North St. Paul, MN 55155 Phone: (651) 284-5005 or (800) 342-5354 Website: www.doli.state.mn.us/workcomp (Reference: Minnesota Statutes 176.111 Secrion d) Funeral Benefit Maximum burial allowance of $15,000. Contact: Workers' Compensation Division State Department of Labor and Industry 443 Lafayette Road North St. Paul, MN 55155 Phone: (651) 284-5005 or (800) 342-5354 Website: www.doli.state.mn.us/workcomp (Reference: Minnesota Statutes 176.111 Secrion 18) Retirement/Pension Plan For firefighters covered under Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) of Minnesota, Police and Fire Plan: If a member dies in the line of duty, spouse is eligible for a Lifetime Survivor Benefit based on either 50% of average salary during six months of public service immediately prior to death or on a formula using several factors. Spouse will always receive the higher of the two options. Spousal benefits continue for life, even upon remarriage. If member is under age 50, dependents are only eligible for the Lifetime Survivor Benefit, not other formula. Dependent children eligible for benefits equal to 10% of the employee's salary during the last six months of public service. Dependent children eligible for benefits until age 18 or, if a full-time student, until age 23. Maximum family benefit is 70% of average monthly salary during last six months of service; minimum family benefit is 50% of this salary. Disability: PERA Members injured in the line of duty may receive benefits equal to 60% of average salary over the five highest-paid years of service, presuming 20 years of service. There is no minimum service time required to qualify and condition must be expected to last more than one year. Firefighters who are totally and permanently disabled as a result of a line-of-duty injury receive the duty disability and continued health insurance benefits for life. Contact: Public Employees Retirement Association 60 Empire Street, Suite 200 St. Paul, MN 55103-2088 Phone: (651) 296-7460 or (800) 652-9026 Website: www.mnpera.org Education Benefit - Children Provides tuition and fees for undergraduate or certificate programs at state-supported colleges and universities. If student attends approved Minnesota private college or university, state will pay no more than the highest tuition and fees charged by a Minnesota public institution. Eligible until age 23. Renewable for a maximum of eight semesters or 12 quarters, whichever occurs first. Annual full-time tuition and fee maximums are $10,488 for students in a four-year degree program and $5,808 for students in a 2 year-degree program (2010). Eligibility limited to children of firefighters killed in the line of duty which does not include death from natural causes. Eligibility determined by Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Applicants must present a "Public Safety Officer's Benefit Fund Certificate" issued by the Minnesota Commissioner of Public Safety to qualify for tuition benefits. Contact: Public Safety Officer's Survivor Grant Program Minnesota Higher Education Services 1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350 St. Paul, MN 55108-5227 Phone: (651) 642-0567 or (800) 657-3866 Website: www.ohe.state.mn.us/pdf/SOSGrantGuidelines.pdf (Reference: Minnesota Statutes 299A:45 Ed Benefits) Education Benefit - Spouse Same as for children, except no age limit. Eligibility limited to spouses of firefighters killed in the line of duty which does not include death from natural causes. Contact: Public Safety Officer's Survivor Grant Program Minnesota Higher Education Services 1450 Energy Park Drive, Suite 350 St. Paul, MN 55108-5227 Phone: (651) 642-0567 or (800) 657-3866 Website: www.ohe.state.mn.us/pdf/SOSGrantGuidelines.pdf (Reference: Minnesota Statutes 299A:45 Ed Benefits) Non-Profit or Private Organizations Minnesota 100 Club 1187 Dale Street St. Paul, MN 55117 Phone: (651) 4872955 (651) 287-5796 Website: www.minnesota100club.com Provides immediate contribution of $3,000. Minnesota Fire Service Foundation 1710 County Highway 10 Spring Lakes, MN 55432 Phone: (866)- mnmem99 Website: http://www.fire.state.mn.us/2010MFSFScholarApp.pdf Joint effort of the MN Professional Fire Fighters, the MN State Fire Chief's Organization, and the MN State Fire Departments Association. Provides minimum of one $1,000 scholarship per year to survivor of fallen firefighter. Children eligible through calendar year of reaching age 23. Spouse eligible up to five years following the death, starting with the calendar year after the death. Health Insurance Career firefighters: For line-of-duty deaths, the employer shall continue to cover the firefighter's dependents, including the spouse. Employer is responsible for the employer's contribution for the coverage of the firefighter's dependents up to age 65. . Disability: For career firefighters who suffer a disabling injury in the line of duty that results in retirement or separation from service, the employer is responsible for the continued payment of the employer's contribution for coverage of the firefighter until age 65 and, if applicable, for the dependents as long as they are eligible. As of July 1, 2005, as eligibility panel was created which puts the burden of proof for continuing disability benefits on the employee who must submit proof that an injury was career-ending and occurred within the scope of duties. Contact: Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of the Commissioner 444 Cedar Street St. Paul, MN 55101 Phone: (651) 201-7000 Website: www.dps.state.mn.us (Reference: MN Statutes 299A-465 (Continuous Health Coverage))