Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program Fact Sheet

U.S. Department of JusticeOffice of Justice ProgramsBureau of Justice AssistanceFS 000317 • SEPTEMBER 2009Public Safety Officers’Benefits ProgramBy Hope D. Janke, PSOB DirectorEnacted in 1976, the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Program:• Assists in the recruitment and retention of qualified public safety officers.• Establishes the value communities place on contributions from those who are willingto serve their communities in dangerous circumstances.• Offers peace of mind to men and women who are seeking careers in public safety.A unique partnership effort of the U.S. Department of Justice; local, state, and federalpublic safety agencies; and national organizations, the PSOB Program provides deathand education benefits to survivors of fallen law enforcement officers, firefighters, andother first responders, as well as disability benefits to officers catastrophically injured inthe line of duty.The PSOB Office is responsible for reviewing nearly 700 death, disability, andeducation claims submitted annually. The PSOB Office also collaborates with nationalfirefighter, law enforcement, and first responder groups to provide a wide range ofPSOB training and technical assistance resources, through conferences, seminars, andprinted materials such as the PSOB Information Kit, to offer vital information and supportto survivors and agencies of America’s fallen public safety officers.PSOB BenefitsDeathPSOB provides a one-time benefit to eligible survivors of public safety officers whosedeaths were the direct and proximate result of an injury sustained in the line of duty onor after September 29, 1976. For the current death benefit amount, visit the PSOB website at www.psob.gov.DisabilityPSOB provides a one-time benefit to eligible public safety officers who were permanentlyand totally disabled as a result of a catastrophic injury sustained in the line of duty on orafter November 29, 1990. Injuries must permanently prevent officers from performing anygainful work in the future. For the current disability benefit amount, visit www.psob.gov.EducationPSOB provides support for higher education to eligible spouses and children of publicsafety officers who died in the line of duty on or after January 1, 1978, or werecatastrophically disabled in the line of duty on or after October 3, 1996. For the currentmaximum educational assistance amount per month, visit www.psob.gov.MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTORAcross the country, dedicated public safetyofficers watch over our neighborhoodsand work to make our communitiessafer. As Director, I respect these officers’devotion and their willingness to placethemselves in danger to protect ournation’s citizens. We owe officers—andtheir families—a tremendous debt ofgratitude. And when tragedy strikes, ourfocus must be on helping the survivors andthe public safety agencies.To that end, the Bureau of JusticeAssistance (BJA) and the Office of JusticePrograms (OJP) are moving forwardwith enhancements to the Public SafetyOfficers’ Benefits Office and Program tobetter serve our public safety officers, theirfamilies, and their agencies. In just thepast several months, key steps have beentaken to ensure that the PSOB Programhas sufficient resources so that survivorswill receive the highest quality serviceKEY POINTScontinued on p. 2• The Public Safety Officers’ Benefits(PSOB) Program serves the broaderpublic safety community—lawenforcement, firefighter, and otherfirst responder survivors and disabledpublic safety officers.• PSOB provides no-cost support topublic safety agencies includingtraining and technical assistance inresponding to line-of-duty deaths.continued on p. 21 • Fact Sheet

MESSAGE (cont.)available and the PSOB Office staff canwork efficiently and effectively to providegrieving families with the benefits they sogreatly deserve and coworkers with caringand helpful assistance when filing claimson behalf of their fallen colleagues.Without question, “PSOB Cares,” andBJA and OJP remain committed to providingsurvivors and law enforcement, firefighter,and other first responder agencies with theinformation and support needed throughoutthe claim process.Hometown HeroesOn December 15, 2003, the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act expanded thecircumstances under which public safety officer deaths resulting from heart attacks andstrokes may be covered by the program.llllThe Hometown Heroes Act establishes a statutory presumption that public safetyofficers who die from a heart attack or stroke following a nonroutine stressful orstrenuous physical public safety activity or training, died in the line of duty for benefitpurposes.The Hometown Heroes presumption may be overcome by “competent medicalevidence to the contrary.”The Hometown Heroes Act excludes actions of a “clerical, administrative, ornonmanual nature” from consideration.The regulations governing the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act, as well asthe entire PSOB Program, were finalized September 11, 2006.KEY POINTS (cont.)• PSOB is implemented by the U.S.Department of Justice’s Bureauof Justice Assistance, an agencydedicated to supporting state andlocal public safety agency needs andcommitted to serving these agenciesand their families, while respectingand honoring their sacrifices.• Tools and checklists are available toassist agencies and survivors withsubmitting claims and ensuring atimely claim review and decision.• The Hometown Heroes SurvivorsBenefits Act expanded programcoverage to include certain heartattack and stroke circumstances.For more information, visit www.psob.gov.CONTACT USPublic Safety Officers’ Benefits OfficeBureau of Justice AssistanceOffice of Justice Programs810 Seventh Street NW.Fourth FloorWashington, DC 20531Phone: 202–307–0635Toll-free: 1–888–744–6513E-mail: AskPSOB@usdoj.govPSOB web site: www.psob.govCHECKLIST FOR FILING A PSOB DEATH CLAIMThe following checklist is provided to streamline the PSOB filing process for you andthe fallen officer’s survivors. Please do not hesitate to call the PSOB Office toll free at1–888–744–6513 for assistance with any part of the PSOB claim.Step 1: Collect the following information regarding the officer’s line-ofdutydeath from your agency records.l PSOB Report of Public Safety Officer’s Death form completed and signed by thehead of the public safety agency or designee.l Detailed Statement of Circumstances from the initiation of the incident to thepronouncement of the officer’s death.l Investigation, Incident, and Accident Reports, if any.l Death Certificate.l Autopsy, Toxicology Report, or a statement signed by the head of the public safetyagency or designee explaining that none were performed.l For claims involving heart attacks and strokes, please refer to the Hometown HeroesChecklist, available at www.psob.gov.Step 2: Collect the following information regarding the officer’ssurvivors/beneficiaries.l PSOB Claim for Death Benefits form completed and signed by the survivor/claimant.l Officer’s current Marriage Certificate, if applicable.l Divorce Decrees for the officer’s and current spouse’s previous marriages, includingreferences to physical custody of any children, if applicable.l Death Certificates for the officer’s and current spouse’s previous marriages, if any ofthe marriages ended in death, if applicable.l Birth Certificates for all the officer’s surviving children and step-children, regardlessof age or dependency, identifying the children’s parents, if applicable. For furtherdetails on this requirement, please go to www.psob.gov.Please e-mail (preferred), fax, or mail the above information to the PSOB Office, keeping acomplete copy for your records.2 • Fact Sheet