New Jersey


Death	One-Time: None. Workers Compensation: Benefit is 50% to 70% of average weekly wage, based on the number of dependents. Compensation is based on a weekly salary presumed to be received by the firefighter. The spouse receives the state's maximum benefit amount. Medical costs associated with the death are covered. Children are eligible for benefits until age 18, age 23 if a full-time student, or longer if disabled or incapable of self-support. The spouse receives benefits until death or remarriage. If remarriage occurs during the period covered by such weekly payments and before the total compensation is paid, the spouse is entitled to receive the remainder of compensation which would have been due had the spouse not remarried, or 100 times the amount of weekly compensation paid immediately preceding remarriage, whichever is less. Contact: New Jersey Division of Workers' Compensation, NJ Department of Labor. PO Box 381, Trenton, NJ 08625-0381. Phone: (609) 292-2515 or (609) 292-2414. Fax: (609) 984-2515. www.nj.gov/labor/wc/wcindex.html. Funeral: Maximum of $3,500 for burial expenses. Contact: New Jersey Division of Workers' Compensation, NJ Department of Labor. PO Box 381, Trenton, NJ 08625-0381. Phone: (609) 292-2515 or (609) 292-2414. Fax: (609) 984-2515. www.nj.gov/labor/wc/wcindex.html. Pension: The pension program provides $15,000 annually to the surviving spouse or children, $10,000 annually to the children if the spouse remarries, or $5,000 annually to the parents if the firefighter leaves no surviving spouse or children. To receive benefits, the firefighter must have died as the result of injuries sustained in the course of performance of duty on or after January 1, 2000. Contact: Pension and Benefits Division, New Jersey State Treasury. PO Box 295, Trenton, NJ 08625-0295. Phone: (609) 292-7524. pension.nj@treas.nj.us. www.state.nj.us/treasury/pensions. Child's Education: Survivor Tuition Benefits Program grants pay the actual cost of tuition up to the highest tuition charged at a New Jersey public institution. If enrolled in a New Jersey private school, survivors receive the same amount as in New Jersey public institutions. The child must enroll at least half time in an undergraduate degree or certificate program at a college or university in New Jersey. Benefit is limited to eight years following graduation from high school. Contact: New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. 4 Quaker Bridge Plaza, PO Box 540, Trenton, NJ 08625. Phone: (800) 792-8670. www.njhesaa.org. Spouse's Education: Survivor Tuition Benefits Program grants pay the actual cost of tuition up to the highest tuition charged at a New Jersey public institution. If enrolled in a New Jersey private school, survivors receive the same amount as in New Jersey public institutions. The spouse must enroll at least half time in an undergraduate degree or certificate program at a college or university in New Jersey. Benefit is limited to eight years following the death of the firefighter. Contact: New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. 4 Quaker Bridge Plaza, PO Box 540, Trenton, NJ 08625. Phone: (800) 792-8670. www.njhesaa.org. Support Organizations: New Jersey State Firemen's Association 1700 Galloping Hill Road Kenilworth, NJ 07033-1303 Phone: (908) 620-1871 or (800) 852-0137 (NJ only); Fax: (908) 620-1874 Must be a member to receive benefits. $9,700 death benefit as of July 1, 2010. Triple if LODD or if firefighter is killed while in the military if death occurs by hostile action. Plus full benefits in Relief Fund (amount awarded varies). The following organizations provide benefits to survivors of career and volunteer firefighters within specific counties of New Jersey: The 200 Club of Bergen County 560 Hudson Street Hackensack, NJ 07601 Phone: (201) 229-0600, Fax: (201-229-0326 www.BC200Club@Conversent.net $5,000 for immediate expenses. If there is additional need, assistance may be available. Tuition may be paid for children if need exists. 200 Club of Burlington County 325 New Albany Road Moorestown, NJ 08057 (856) 222-0100 About $5,000 one-time death benefit to the family. Scholarships available for children. Camden County Hero Scholarship 200 Club 191 W. White Horse Pike Berlin, NJ 08009 Phone: (856) 768-9656, Fax: (856) 768-5855 $5,000 one-time death benefit. Educational scholarships available for children up to the highest tuition at a New Jersey state tuition but children may attend any college/university. Cape May & Atlantic Counties 200 Club PO Box 622 Northfield, NJ 08225 (800) 515-7770 Financial support to family. Scholarships available for children. 200 Club of Essex County PO Box 32249 Newark, NJ 07102-9713 (732) 441-3786 Immediate financial assistance is provided to spouse or other relative. If special need, additional financial assistance available. Educational assistance available to each child under age 26. 200 Club of Hudson County PO Box 1444 Bayonne, NJ 07002 Phone: (201) 858-4925, Fax: (732) 701-4949 Up to $5,000 based on each individual case. One-time scholarships available for $2,000. 200 Club of Hunterdon County PO Box 5518 Clinton, New Jersey 08809 Phone: (908) 730-0678 ext 202, Fax: (908)730-0680 $5,000 immediate death benefit. Further assistance available if needed. Scholarships available for children. 200 Club of Mercer County PO Box 5471 Trenton, NJ 08638 Phone: (609) 396-0200, Fax: (609) 396-5232 $5,000 one-time death benefit. The 200 Club of Middlesex County PO Box 387 Woodbridge, NJ 07095 (732) 887-5770 $5,000 immediate death benefit. Additional financial assistance provided if needed. Scholarships are provided to children with need. The 200 club of Monmouth County PO Box 402 Spring Lake, NJ 07762 (732) 449-3800 The 200 Club of Morris County PO Box 1743 Morristown, NJ 07963-1743 (973) 252-8293 Spouse awarded $20,000 death benefit. $3,500 annual dependency award for each eligible child. $5,000 per year provided for each child's undergraduate education. 200 Club of Ocean County PO Box 1749 Pt. Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742 (732) 244-5900 Passaic County 200 Club 55 Union Blvd Totowa, NJ 07512 (973) 754-6445 The 200 Club of Somerset County PO Box 179 Somerville, NJ 08876 (908) 526-2565 Immediate death benefit of up to $10,000. Survivors contacted a few months after death and assistance is provided in paying current debts. Annual scholarships are available to children. 200 Club of Sussex County PO Box 2024 Branchville, NJ 07826 (973) 827-2914 Benefits vary. The Two Hundred Club of Union County 222 Park Avenue Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 (908) 322-2422 Benefits vary. 200 Club of Warren County 50 Alfalfa Hill Milford, NJ 08848 (908) 995-9110



Education	Free classes are offered during the fall and spring at county academies by Fire Safety Division of the Department of Community Affairs. Contact: New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Division of Fire Safety. 101 South Bend Street, PO Box 800, Trenton, NJ 08625-0800. Phone: (609) 292-6055.



Workers Compensation	State law mandates that all workers are covered by workers' compensation. Each district or department must contract with its own insurance carrier.



Funding	The state offers a volunteer emergency services organization low interest loan program. Any volunteer fire or EMS organization is eligible to apply for a loan of up to $50,000. Fire departments are provided with a thermal imaging camera in return for participation in the NFIRS program. Contact: New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Division of Fire Safety. 101 South Bend Street, PO Box 800, Trenton, NJ 08625-0800. Phone: (609) 292-6055.



Health	There is no state benefit, but some local jurisdictions provide physicals, immunizations and disease testing.



Legal	None.



Malpractice	Under the Good Samaritan Law, volunteers are not liable for any civil damages caused in response to an emergency, except in cases of gross negligence.



Retirement	Some local governments provide LOSAP programs, but there is not a state-wide program. The New Jersey State Fireman's Relief Association provides funding for the New Jersey Firemen's Home. Contact: The New Jersey State Firemen's Home. 565 Lathrop Ave., Boonton, NJ 07005. Phone: (973) 334-0024, Fax: (973) 334-1383 for admittance information.



Tax	None.



Additional	Any person who has served as a firefighter for a period of one year is eligible for entry into the New Jersey Firemen's Home in Boonton. The cost is currently $850 per month or less if the individual's financial situation warrants it. Contact: The New Jersey State Firemen's Home. 565 Lathrop Ave., Boonton, NJ 07005. Phone: (973) 334-0024, Fax: (973) 334-1383 for admittance. Community college tuition credit program allows volunteer firefighters and EMS responders to obtain $600 per year for up to four years. This money may be applied to the tuition of the volunteer, the volunteer's spouse, or the volunteer's dependent child. Volunteers up to the age of 46 may join the New Jersey State Firemen's Association, which provides financial relief benefits for those in need. Once the volunteer has been a member for 84 months, the benefits are available for life. Contact: New Jersey State Firemen's Association. 50 Evergreen Place, East Orange, New Jersey 07018-2144. Phone: (973) 677-9295. Toll Free: 1-800-852-0137. Fax: (973) 677-7643.

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