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| Death |
One-Time:
Death must result from accidental injuries related to the performance of duties. The primary death benefit for volunteers is based on four times the annual earnings of full-time paid firefighters with similar experience in the nearest municipality. If that amount is greater than the set maximum, currently $200,700, the amount is reduced to the set maximum. The final benefit is 75% of that amount, but not less than $50,000. If there are more than four dependents, an additional benefit of $2,000 will be paid for each dependent in excess of four. This additional amount is not included in the set maximum.
Contact: Wisconsin Workers' Compensation Division. PO Box 7901, Madison, WI 53707-7901. Phone: (608) 266-1340. www.dwd.state.wi.us/wc/default.htm.
Workers Compensation:
Weekly benefit is based on the wages of full-time paid firefighters with similar experience in the nearest municipality. Spousal benefit is 2/3 of this weekly wage. Minimum and maximum amounts apply and are adjusted annually. Currently, the maximum death benefit a spouse can receive under Workers' Compensation is $200,700. After payment of primary death benefit ends, payment to dependent children continues at a rate of 10% of the surviving spouse's weekly indemnity. Children are considered dependent until age 18 or longer if disabled. If spouse remarries, death benefit will be reassigned to minor children in separate bank accounts. If there are no minor children, the spouse continues to receive the benefit.
Contact: Wisconsin Workers' Compensation Division. PO Box 7901, Madison, WI 53707-7901. Phone: (608) 266-1340. www.dwd.state.wi.us/wc/default.htm.
Pension:
A new program will provide length-of-service awards for volunteer firefighters. Municipalities may make annual contributions to individual's account. The state will match that amount with a limit of $257 per account, adjusted annually. The beneficiary of a firefighter who dies in the line of duty will be entitled to the participant's full service award either in a lump sum or in a manner specified by rule, consisting of all municipal and state contributions made on behalf of the volunteer firefighter and all the earnings on the contributions.
Contact: Length of Service Award Program, Department of Administration, Division of Housing and Intergovernmental Relations. 101 East Wilson Street, PO Box 8944, Madison, WI 53702-8944. Phone: (608) 261-6580. www.doa.state.wi.us.
Child's Education:
Program and material fees waived to any resident undergraduate student who is enrolled in a bachelor's degree, associate degree, or technical diploma program at a state institution. Line-of-duty death must have occurred when the child was under age 21 or unborn. Stepchildren are eligible for this benefit. Student may not receive a remission for more than five consecutive years in the University of Wisconsin System or for more than three consecutive years in the Wisconsin Technical College System.
Contact: University of Wisconsin System, Academic Affairs Division. 1620 Van Hise Hall, 1220 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706. Phone: (608) 262-8778.
Wisconsin Technical College System Board. 310 Price Place, PO Box 7874, Madison, WI 53707-7874. Phone: (608) 266-1207.
Spouse's Education:
Program and material fees waived to any resident undergraduate student who is enrolled in a bachelor's degree, associate degree, or technical diploma program at a state institution. Student may not receive a remission for more than five consecutive years in the University of Wisconsin System or for more than three consecutive years in the Wisconsin Technical College System.
Contact: University of Wisconsin System, Academic Affairs Division. 1620 Van Hise Hall, 1220 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706. Phone: (608) 262-8778.
Wisconsin Technical College System Board. 310 Price Place, PO Box 7874, Madison, WI 53707-7874. Phone: (608) 266-1207.
Support Organizations:
Blue Coats Foundation, Inc.
PO Box 2035
Milwaukee, WI 53201-2035
(414) 962-3918
Serves residents of Milwaukee County. |
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| Education |
Training offered by the State Vocational Technical System at forty-seven local campuses across the state. The state pays for Firefighter I and Firefighter II training. Subsequent classes include tuition.
Contact: Wisconsin Technical College System Office, Fire Service Education & Training. 310 Price Place, PO Box 7874, Madison, WI 53707-7874. Phone: (608) 266-7289. Fax: (608) 266-1690. |
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| Workers Compensation |
Volunteer firefighters must have workers' compensation provided by either their department or their municipality. For the purposes of compensation, their pay is presumed to be 60% of the wages of full-time firefighters in the nearest municipality. The amount of the benefit depends on the severity and permanence of the disability. |
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| Funding |
2% of fire insurance premiums are distributed to municipalities for training, supplies and inspections. |
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| Health |
There is no state program. Some local departments provide benefits. |
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| Legal |
N/A |
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| Malpractice |
Any person who renders emergency care at the scene of an emergency in good faith and without compensation is immune from civil liability for his or her acts or omissions. |
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| Retirement |
Eligible participants are fully vested after 20 years of service and reach age 60 and partially vested after 10 years of service but less than 20 years. The state does match up to $250 contributed on behalf of a volunteer, and the $250 amount is adjusted annually to reflect changes in the Consumer Prince Index.
Contact: Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds. PO Box 7931, Madison, WI 53707-7931. Phone: (608) 266-3285. Fax: (608) 267-4549. |
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| Tax |
N/A |
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| Additional |
N/A |
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