Federal Benefits
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• Public Safety Officers' Benefits Act (P.S.O.B.)
• Eligible Public Safety Officers
• Public Agency
• Eligible Survivors
• Limitations and Exclusions
• Reduction of Benefits
• Interim Payment
• Attachment Tax Exemption
• Attorney Fees
• Filing a Claim

Line-of-duty death is a possibility that police families must prepare for. The ability of survivors to cope with line-of-duty death is directly affected by the department's reaction to the tragedy and the knowledge the family has concerning their rights and benefits.

The purpose of this booklet is to provide police families and agencies with general information about benefits to families in the event of a line-of-duty death. This booklet is not a legal document nor is it intended to serve as a legal interpretation of existing statues. In fact, information on the death benefits listed may have been changed through legislation or contract negotiations without our knowledge. This document is for information only.

Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc., does not warrant that all or any benefits will be awarded to survivors who apply. Survivors may use the information contained herein to verify with local agencies and offices that they are receiving all benefits to which they are entitled or may investigate whether they are entitled to benefits listed in this reference booklet.

The compilation of benefits information for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico occurred over a five-year period, utilizing hundreds of reference sources. Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. would sincerely appreciate knowing of any errors or updates in this document. Send documentation of corrected or most current information to Concerns of Police Survivors, P.O. Box 3199, Camdenton, MO 65020.

This project was supported by Grant Number 94-PS-DX-0001 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.

An acknowledgment of appreciation to members of the COPS staff who took part in this tedious compilation process, with special thanks to COPS Staffer Terrie Soper Merritt, and a special thank-you to Mr. Fred Tredy, Los Angeles Police Protective League, for getting this project off on the right foot.

LINE OF DUTY DEATH BENEFITS

This book is the compilation of information about death benefits available to surviving families of law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty.

Information within deals with the major death benefits available from the federal and state government levels. Therefore, you are advised to check with your local government (city and county) agencies, retirement programs, unions and private organizations and associations (both local and state) for benefits that may be available to surviving spouses and dependents of law enforcement officers.

General information on benefits is reported in this booklet; some legislation is too detailed to print. Therefore, there may be exceptions or restrictions on payment of these benefits that are not included in the printout. We may also be unaware of recent changes in state statutes. So we strongly suggest you check with appropriate state agencies for exceptions or changes to the state benefits listed.

Handling your legal and financial affairs is a personal matter. We might, however, suggest the following:

1. Consult legal assistance
2. Consult financial planning assistance

You may also want to:

1. Have a current will.
2. Review the named beneficiary in your life, health, and accident insurance policies on a regular basis.
3. Keep your insurance papers, your will and other important papers in a secure place, such as a safety deposit box.
4. Leave specific final instructions for interring your remains.

We cannot "over-stress" the importance of having a current will. Our experience in working with surviving families has shown the difficulties encountered when one dies without a will. Further, we encourage you to review the named beneficiary in your life, health, and accident insurance policies on a regular basis. Keep your insurance papers, your will and other important papers in a secure place, such as a safety deposit box.

Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. would like to express our sincere thanks to everyone who forwarded the necessary information from their state to help make this booklet possible. A special thanks to Fred Tredy of the Los Angeles Protective League for his expert advice. We have attempted to put this information together in a readable format.

Information on state laws on wills is reproduced with permission from the MARTINDALE HUBBELL LEGAL DIRECTORY, 1993 Reed Elsevier, Inc.