Texas

One-Time:
Effective September 1, 2001, $250,000 lump sum payment to eligible spouse if firefighter died in performance of duty and from exposure to a risk. If there is no spouse, payment is given in equal shares to children. New legislation includes children with no limit on age. If there is no eligible surviving spouse or children, payment is given to parents in equal shares.

Contact: Texas Employee Retirement System of Texas. PO Box 13207, Austin, TX 78711-3207. Phone: (512) 867-7711, Toll free: (877) 275-4377. Fax: (512) 867-7438.  www.ers.state.tx.us.

 

Workers Compensation:
Workers' compensation is not mandatory for career or volunteer firefighters so this benefit may not apply to all firefighters. For those firefighters covered under workers' compensation, the weekly benefit of 75% of employee's average weekly wage from regular employment is paid to survivors, 50% to surviving spouse and 50% divided equally among dependent children. If no spouse survives, children receive the total benefit, and vice versa. Children are eligible for benefits until age 18, age 25 if a full-time student, or longer if disabled. There is a lifetime benefit for a spouse who does not remarry. Upon remarriage, the spouse receives a two-year lump sum and benefits terminate.

Contact: Texas Division of Workers' Compensation Commission. 7551 Metro Center Drive, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78744-1609. Phone: (512) 804-4000. www.tdi.state.tx.us/wc/indexwc.html.

 

Funeral:
Workers' compensation is not mandatory for career or volunteer firefighters so this benefit may not apply. For those firefighters covered under workers' compensation, there is a maximum of $6,000 for burial expenses, plus the cost of transporting the body to the home area.

Contact: Texas Division of Workers' Compensation Commission. 7551 Metro Center Drive, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78744-1609. Phone: (512) 804-4000. www.tdi.state.tx.us/wc/indexwc.html.

 

Pension:
Texas Local Fire Fighters' Retirement Act, covering many municipalities and departments, provides different death benefits and monthly allowances for each local plan. Departments and municipalities determine the details of their individual plans. Also, Texas Statewide Emergency Services Personnel Retirement Act provides a lump-sum payment of $60,000 (as of 1999) to the beneficiary and monthly pension payments equal to 66 2/3% of the member's full retirement annuity to be shared equally between the spouse and minor children. Children are eligible until age 18, age 19 if a full-time student, or if the child became disabled before his or her 22nd birthday and remains incapable of self-support. This is a lifetime benefit for the spouse. The department must participate in the plan for a firefighter to receive benefits.

Contact: Firefighters Pension Commission. PO Box 12577, Austin, TX 78711. Phone: (512) 936-3372.

 

Child's Education:
For deaths occurring before September 1, 2001: Tuition, dues, fees, and charges are waived at public state institutions. This benefit does not include lodging, board, or clothing. It may be used at public junior colleges, senior colleges, and universities. It can be used for eight semesters and is not restricted to undergraduate education. The applicant must be age 21 or under when first applying. For deaths occurring on or after September 1, 2001: Students are exempt from tuition and fees at institution of higher education until the student receives a bachelor's degree or 200 hours of college credit, whichever occurs first. If the student elects to reside in housing provided by the institution and qualifies to reside there, the institution shall pay the cost of the student's contract for housing and food, as well as the cost of the student?s textbooks, until the student receives a bachelor's degree or 200 hours or course credit, whichever occurs first.

Contact: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Capitol Station, PO Box 12788, Austin, TX 78711. Phone: (512) 427-6101.

 

Spouse's Education:
For deaths occurring before September 1, 2001, there are no benefits. For deaths occurring on or after September 1, 2001, the same benefits as for children apply to spouses. The student is exempt from tuition and fees at institutions of higher education until the student receives a bachelor's degree or 200 hours of college credit, whichever occurs first. If the student elects to reside in housing provided by the institution and qualifies to reside there, the institution shall pay the cost of the student's contract for housing and food, as well as the cost of the student's textbooks, until the student receives a bachelor's degree or 200 hours or course credit, whichever occurs first.

Contact: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Capitol Station, PO Box 12788, Austin, TX 78711. Phone: (512) 427-6101.

 

Support Organizations:
Fleetwood Memorial Foundation
501 South Fielder Road
Arlington, TX 76013
(817) 261-8954
www.fleetwoodmemorial.org
Grants awarded ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. Designed to provide immediate financial relief. Funds also available for education expenses in state public institutions for the dependent children.

Williams-Pyro Incorporated Firemen?s Fund
2721 White Settlement Road
Fort Worth, TX 76107
(817) 335-1147
(888) 616-7976
Provides grants to the families based on need.

100 Club of San Antonio
PO Box 6741
San Antonio, TX 78209-6741
(210) 340-0100

Serves residents of San Antonio/Bexar County. $2,500 benefit immediately after death. Trust fund set up for each child. Extra benefits depending on individual situation.

The Victoria 100 Club
PO Box 5176
Victoria, TX 77903-5176
(361) 578-1502
Serves residents of Victoria County. Assistance varies according to each individual case.

The Hundred Club of Wichita Falls
1111 Seventh Street
Wichita Falls, TX 76301
(940) 723-2104

The 100 Club, Inc.
1233 W. Loop South, Suite 1250
Houston, TX 77027

(713) 952-0100
Serves Houston public safety officers' survivors. $10,000 check to assist with needs.