Updated: November 2009

One-time Death Benefit None. Workers' Compensation Death benefit is divided between spouse and children who were wholly dependent on the deceased at the time of death. Spouse receives no less than 50% of the benefit. Minimum and maximum amounts apply. Includes payment of medical costs associated with death. Children are considered dependent until age 19, age 23 if a full-time student, or longer if incapable of self-support. Death caused by heart disease or respiratory disease shall be presumed to have arisen out of and in the course of employment if the firefighter was under the age of 37 and the death occurred while actively engaged in fighting a fire or within 24 hours from the date of last service. Firefighter must also have successfully passed a physical examination by a competent physician upon entering into service at the department. Career firefighters: 500 weeks of compensation at 66 2/3% of the employee's average weekly wages for the preceding year. Volunteer firefighters: 500 weeks of compensation at 37 1/2% of the state's average weekly wages for the preceding year. For 2005, the state's average weekly wage is $681.36. Contact: South Carolina Workers' Compensation Commission 133 Main Street, Suite 500 P.O. Box 1715 Columbia, SC 29201 Phone: (803) 737-5700 Website: www.wcc.state.sc.us (Reference: Title 42-9-290) Funeral Benefit Maximum of $2,500 for burial expenses. Contact: South Carolina Workers' Compensation Commission 133 Main Street, Suite 500 P.O. Box 1715 Columbia, SC 29201 Phone: (803) 737-5700 Website: www.wcc.state.sc.us Retirement/Pension Plan Must be an active member of the Police Officers Retirement System (PORS) to receive benefits. For an in-service death, spouse receives a monthly survivor annuity equal to 50% of the firefighter's annual compensation divided by 12. If no spouse, benefit is provided to dependent children in equal shares. If no spouse or children, parents are eligible to receive benefits. Other benefits may be available based on age and years of service. Employees contribute a tax-deferred 6.5% of gross pay. Contact: South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System P.O. Box 11960 Columbia, SC 29211-1960 Phone: (803) 737-6800 or Toll Free in SC (800) 868-9002 Website: www.retirement.sc.gov (Reference: www.retirement.sc.gov) Education Benefit - Children Tuition waived for four years of undergraduate study at state-supported colleges, universities, or vocational or technical schools. Applies to career and volunteer firefighters. Contact: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education 1333 Main Street, Suite 200 Columbia, SC 29201 Phone: (803) 737-2260 Website: www.che.sc.gov (Reference: SC Code 59-110-111) Education Benefit - Spouse None. Non-Profit or Private Organizations Kids' Chance of South Carolina Angie Kuhl, Executive Director P.O. Box 11155 Columbia, SC 29211 Phone: (803) 356-5862 Website: www.kidschancesc.org Scholarships are available for children whose parent died from an employment-related accident in which the parent is entitled to receive benefits under the South Carolina Workers' Compensation Act. Must be age 16-25 and have financial need. South Carolina State Firefighters' Association P.O. Box 211725 Columbia, SC 29221-6725 Phone: (803) 454-1802 Toll Free: (800) 277-2732 E-mail: info@scfirefighters.org Website: www.scfirefighters.org Provides $25,000 one-time death benefit to members' survivors. $10,000 is provided per dependent child. $5,000 seat belt benefit. Other benefits may also apply. 100 Club of South Carolina, Inc. Box 687 Mt Pleasant, SC 29465 Phone: (843) 559-5764 Offers $2,500 lump sum and some education assistance. 100 Club of Spartanburg County Foundation 424 E. Kennedy Street Spartanburg, SC 29302 Phone: (864) 582-0138 Website: www.spcf.org Health Benefit The spouse or dependent of a firefighter covered by the state health and dental insurance plans who is killed in the line of duty after December 31, 2001 shall receive equivalent coverage under the plans for a period of 12 months and the State shall be responsible for paying the full premium costs. After the 12-month period, the spouse is eligible for state-paid premiums until remarriage. After the 12-month period, a dependent is eligible for state-paid premiums until coverage under the plans would ordinarily terminate. Contact: Employee Insurance Program South Carolina Budget and Control Board 1201 Main Street, Suite 300 Columbia, SC 29201 Phone: (803) 734-0678 or (888) 260-9430 Website: www.eip.sc.gov