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 the survivors.

States also have benefits available to the survivors; 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 a few 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.

COPS 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 COPS National Office. This information includes benefits sources and contact information.

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.

Check the Downloads section on this website for information in your state. When legislation is passed in your state that effects law enforcement survivors' benefits, please send the information to the COPS National Office.

COPS

P.O. Box 3199

3096 S. State Highway 5

Camdenton, MO 65020

Phone: 573-346-4911

Fax: 573-346-1414

cops@nationalcops.org

DISCLOSURE: If you would like to help our organization by doing a fundraiser using our name, acronym, trademark or logo, or if you are with another organization and want to reference your support of COPS in your organization’s materials, please keep the following in mind: Our organization has developed a proprietary interest in its name, acronym, trademark and logo, and all uses of same require our prior approval. Please submit your proposals or requests in writing to our national office to the attention of: Suzie Sawyer, Executive Director, Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc., P.O. Box 3199, Camdenton, MO 65020. Any unauthorized use of our name, acronym, trademark or logo can result in legal action. Only our national office can give consent, so please receive permission first.