State Death Benefits
When a law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty, it is the responsibility of the employing agency to file a claim for benefits with the Public Safety Officers Benefits Program, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. If approved as a line-of-duty death according to Federal government criteria, a Federal death payment is made to eligible survivors.
States also have benefits available to the survivors of fallen public safety officers; however, state benefits are not uniform. Some states pay a one-time death benefit, while some do not. Some states offer tuition-free education for surviving children and some states include surviving spouses in this benefit. A continuation of health care coverage, a pension payment, the officer's badge and/or uniform, a waiver of property taxes - these represent the variety of benefits that may be available to the primary survivors of a law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty.
C.O.P.S. has compiled information on benefits available to law enforcement survivors in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The initial research occurred over a five-year period, utilizing hundreds of reference sources. Information is updated as it is received in the C.O.P.S. National Office. This information includes benefits sources and contact information. But specific benefits packages cited in the information are based on the State Police/Patrol benefits.
Information on benefits is valuable to the survivors so they know the benefits available to them and can verify that all benefits claims have been filed. This information is also valuable to law enforcement officers still on the job as well as the benefits assistance personnel within the agencies who might be filing for benefits for a newly-bereaved family.
When legislation is passed in your state that effects law enforcement survivors' benefits, please send the information to the C.O.P.S. National Office.