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| Death |
One-Time:
The benefit amount for fiscal year 2007-2008 is $105,985.. The benefit amount is adjusted annually on July 1. If there is no spouse, then payment goes to children under age 21; if there are no children, then to parents. Benefit covers deaths that occurred as a result of the performance of duties.
Contact: Department of General Services, Bureau of Risk and Insurance Management, Room 406, Harrisburg, PA 17125. Phone: (717) 787-2492.
Workers Compensation:
The benefit is 51% of state's average weekly wage to a spouse with no children, 60% to a spouse with one child, or 2/3 to a spouse with two or more children. Children are considered dependent until age 18, age 23 if a full-time student, or longer if disabled. Stepchildren are eligible to receive benefits. Upon remarriage, a spouse receives a two-year lump sum and benefits terminate. If a spouse cohabitates, no lump sum is awarded and benefits terminate. Death from diseases of the heart and lungs may also be considered line-of-duty deaths.
Contact: Bureau of Workers' Compensation, Department of Labor & Industry. 1171 S. Cameron Street, Room 324, Harrisburg, PA 17104-2501. Phone: (717) 772-4447 or (800) 482-2383. www.dli.state.pa.us.
Funeral:
Maximum of $3,000 for burial expenses.
Contact: Bureau of Workers' Compensation, Department of Labor & Industry. 1171 S. Cameron Street, Room 324, Harrisburg, PA 17104-2501. Phone: (717) 772-4447 or (800) 482-2383. www.dli.state.pa.us.
Child's Education:
Postsecondary Educational Gratuity Program provides waiver of tuition, fees, and room and board. Child must attend a state institution full-time, be age 25 or under, and be enrolled in an academic program leading to an associate or bachelor's degree. Covers undergraduate education for up to five years.
Contact: Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency. 1200 North Seventh Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102-1444. Phone: (717) 720-2800 or (800) 692-7392. www.pheaa.org.
Support Organizations:
Kids' Chance of Pennsylvania
PO Box 543
Pottstown, PA 19464
(484) 945-2104
nkidschanceofpa@hotmail.com
Kids? Chance of Pennsylvania offers scholarships for children age 16-25 whose parent died from a work-related accident which qualified for compensation under the Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Law.
Hero Scholarship Fund of Philadelphia
1617 JFK Boulevard, Suite 933
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 496-6678
Provides assistance to children of City of Philadelphia firefighters killed or injured in the line of duty; must be age 21 or under. A full scholarship may be awarded that covers tuition and books. Applicants must go through a selection process to be considered for scholarships. |
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| Education |
Free courses at the State Fire Academy are available to any member of a Pennsylvania fire department. The "Resident Curriculum Program" is conducted at the Academy, while the "Academy on the Road" and the "Local Level Training" programs are offered within the fire departments.
Contact: Pennsylvania State Fire Academy. Phone: (717) 248-1115. |
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| Workers Compensation |
By state law, local governments are required to provide workers' compensation for their volunteer firefighters, either through the state or through private insurers.
The state also that provides both career and volunteer emergency service responders with workers' compensation benefits if they contract Hepatitis C. |
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| Funding |
The Volunteer Loan Assistance Program (VLAP) through the Office of the State Fire Commissioner provides loans at a fixed 2% interest rate to volunteer fire companies for the acquisition and upkeep of apparatus, facilities and equipment. In addition, the Office of the Auditor General administrates a Firefighters' Relief Fund. This state aid is generated from a 2% tax on fire insurance purchased by Pennsylvanians and is distributed to each municipality in which a relief association exists. The associations must use the funds to provide relief funding to volunteer firefighters.
Also, in 2003, Pennsylvania passed legislation that establishes a $25 million one-time grant program for volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance services. The program designates $22 million to the Volunteer Fire Grant Program and $3 million to the Volunteer Ambulance Service Grant Program. The minimum grant is $2,500; the maximum is $15,000. The company must sign an agreement to actively participate in the Pennsylvania Fire Information Reporting System administered by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
Contacts: Office of the State Fire Commissioner. 2605 Interstate Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9364. Phone: (717) 651-2205. Fax: (717) 651-2210.
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| Health |
Funds from the Firefighters' Relief Fund may be used to purchase health insurance.
Contact: Department of the Auditor General. 318 Finance Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120. Phone: (717) 787-1381. Fax: (717) 783-4408.
For Pre-audit Advice Contact: The Center for Local Government Services, Department of Community and Economic Development, 1-888-223-6837. |
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| Legal |
N/A |
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| Malpractice |
N/A |
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| Retirement |
Currently, about ten percent of volunteer and combination fire departments have retirement plans for their volunteers. |
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| Tax |
N/A |
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| Additional |
Volunteers cannot be terminated from their regular employment because of tardiness or absences caused by the volunteer responding to a fire prior to the time he or she was supposed to report to work. |
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