North Carolina

One-Time:
The "State in Line of Duty Death Benefit" consists of $50,000 in four increments. Benefits are paid to surviving spouse. If there is no surviving spouse, benefit is divided among surviving dependent children. If there are no qualifying family members, benefit is paid in lump sum to the estate. If the spouse remarries, benefits are transferred to the next eligible survivor. The firefighter's death must have been the result of bodily injuries, extreme exercise, or extreme activity experienced in the course and scope of official duties. Line-of-duty death includes myocardial infarction while on duty or within 24 hours after participating in a training exercise or responding to an emergency situation. There also exists a Federal Public Safety Officers death benefit, which provides $295,194 as of October 2006. The Provident Accident and Sickness Association AD & D provides a $5,000 non-line of duty death benefit.

Contact: North Carolina Industrial Commission, Workers' Compensation. 4340 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-4340. Phone: (919) 807-2500. www.comp.state.nc.us.

 

Workers Compensation:
Departments are eligible for the purchase of workers' compensation. Benefit is based on the average weekly wage earned in the employment where the firefighter principally earned his/her income. Minimum compensation is 2/3 of maximum weekly benefit. Benefit is 2/3 of deceased employee's average weekly wage for 400 weeks. Maximum amount applies and is adjusted annually. Benefit is divided among those wholly dependent for support upon the earnings of the deceased. A spouse who was disabled at the time of firefighter's death receives lifetime benefit, unless remarriage occurs. Children are considered dependent until age 18.

 

Also, there exists a local relief fund for members of the North Carolina State Firemen's Association (NCSFA). This local relief fund was developed to safeguard any firefighters in active service from financial loss, ocassioned by sickness contracted or injury received while in the performance of his/her duties as a firefighter. Also, to provide reasonable support for those actually dependant upon the services of any firefighter who may lose his/her life inthe fire service of his/her town, city, or state. Firefighters can also apply for fraternal insurance: $30,000 for 30 and under to $2,000 for 61 and up. The NCSFA's Emergency Responder 1, plan 1, also provides benefits payments for line of duty actions ranging from Covered Injury Death Benefits to Bereavement Benefits.

Contact: North Carolina Industrial Commission, Workers' Compensation. 4340 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-4340. Phone: (919) 807-2500. www.comp.state.nc.us.

 

Funeral:
Maximum of $3,500 for burial expenses.

Contact: North Carolina Industrial Commission, Workers' Compensation. 4340 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-4340. Phone: (919) 807-2500. www.comp.state.nc.us.

 

Pension:
The spouse receives a lump-sum benefit for the amount the firefighter paid into the pension fund. If there is no spouse, benefits are paid to children or their guardian. The NC Firemen's Pension Fund provides $165.00 per month at age 55 and 20 years of service.

Contact: North Carolina Firemen's and Rescue Squad Workers' Pension Fund, Department of State Treasurer, Albemarle Building, 325 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27603-1385. Phone: (919) 508-5360. nc.retirement@treasurer.state.nc.us.

 

Child's Education:
A tuition waiver is provided, not including any other fees and charges, or costs of textbooks to state-supported institutions of higher education, community colleges, industrial centers, and technical institutes only if the firefighter?s death was the direct result of a traumatic injury sustained in the line of duty. Children between ages 17 and 22 are eligible for the benefit. Benefit cannot exceed 48 months if the child is seeking a baccalaureate degree, or if the child is not seeking a baccalaureate degree, the number of months required to complete the educational program. There are also member scholarships totaling $102,000 per year. Attractive loans are also available through College Foundation, Inc., with low interest rates and long repayment periods. NCFSA grant program totaling $112,000.

Contact: North Carolina Community College System. 200 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27603. Phone: (919) 733-7051. www.ncccs.cc.nc.us or contact any state college or university.

 

Spouse's Education:
A tuition waiver is provided, not including any other fees and charges, or costs of textbooks to state-supported institutions of higher education, community colleges, industrial centers, and technical institutes only if the firefighter's death was the direct result of a traumatic injury sustained in the line of duty. Benefit cannot exceed 48 months if the spouse is seeking a baccalaureate degree, or if the spouse is not seeking a baccalaureate degree, the number of months required to complete the educational program. Spouse becomes ineligible upon remarriage.

Contact: North Carolina Community College System. 200 West Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27603. Phone: (919) 733-7051. www.ncccs.cc.nc.us or contact any state college or university.

 

Support Organizations:
North Carolina State Firemen's Association
104 North Contentnea Street
PO Box 188
Farmville, NC 27828-0188
(800) 253-4733
(252) 753-2626
www.ncsfa.com
Members' beneficiaries eligible to receive benefits. $50,000 paid to the surviving spouse if firefighter was performing duties for the fire department; may include presumptive findings such as heart attack and stroke. $10,000 to spouse for each dependent child. Additional $10,000 if death was accidental. Survivors may receive additional $12,000 if the death involved a motor vehicle and the firefighter was wearing a seat belt. Survivors of North Carolina state fire service instructors receive additional benefit of $500. Association covers all educational expenses for dependent children at all state institutions. If attending private school within state, Association provides funding equivalent to that for a state institution.

All volunteer departments are eligible for support from the Volunteer Fire Department Fund, which is funded by one-half of one percent of fire and lightning insurance coverage. This funding may be used to buy equipment and make capital expenditures. Also, the Firemen's Relief Fund is available for firefighters who are injured or killed in the line-of-duty. Funding from this source may be provided to firefighters who are injured off-duty, but they must have served for five years or more.

Contact: Office of State Fire Marshal Grants of the Department of Insurance. Post Office Box 26387, Raleigh, NC 27611. Phone: (919) 733-2142.

 

North Carolina State Treasurer.

Phone: (919) 508-5176