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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

16.571:  Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program

Objectives:  To provide a $146,949 death benefit to the eligible survivors of Federal, State or local public safety officers whose death is the direct and proximate result of a personal (traumatic) injury sustained in the line of duty. Beginning on October 1, 1988, and on each October 1st thereafter, the benefit is adjusted by the percentage of change in the Consumer Price Index during the previous year. Effective November 29, 1990, the Act also provides the same benefit to a public safety officer who has been permanently and totally disabled as the direct result of a catastrophic personal injury sustained in the line of duty. The injury must permanently prevent the officer from performing any gainful work.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

16.571 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Public safety officers — A public safety officer is a person serving a public agency in an official capacity, with or without compensation, as a law enforcement officer, firefighter or member of a public rescue squad or ambulance crew. Law enforcement officers include but are not limited to police, corrections, probation, parole and judicial officers. Volunteer firefighters and members of volunteer rescue squads and ambulance crews are covered if they are officially recognized or designated members of legally organized volunteer fire, rescue or ambulance departments. Disabled public safety officers and eligible survivors of deceased public safety officers in DC, Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Pacific Trust Territories and the Northern Mariana Islands are also entitled to benefits under the Act. Death benefit coverage for (1) State and local law enforcement officers and firefighters applies to deaths occurring on or after September 29, 1976; (2) Federal law enforcement officers and firefighters applies to deaths occurring on or after October 12, 1984; and (3) Federal, State and local rescue squad and ambulance crew members applies to death occurring on or after October 15, 1986. Disability benefit coverage for Federal, State and local law enforcement officers, firefighters and members of public rescue squads and ambulance crews applies to injuries sustained on or after November 29, 1990.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  The spouse and children of the public safety officer are eligible survivors. The parents of the public safety officer become eligible if the public safety officer is not survived by a spouse or children. Children include any natural, out of wedlock, adopted or posthumous child, or stepchild who is 18 years old or younger. Children over 18 may be eligible if they are full-time students or incapable of self-support.

Credentials/Documentation:  Claim forms entitled "Claim for Death Benefits" and "Report of Public Safety Officers' Death" or "Report of Public Safety Officer's Permanent and Total Disability," and supporting family, medical and investigative documentation. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

16.571 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  Employing agencies and/or claimants should initiate a claim by writing to or telephoning the Benefits Office, Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Washington, DC 20531. Phone: 1-888-SIGNL13 (744-6513). Upon receiving such notification, program staff will provide claim forms and advise the employing agency and claimant of claim documentation requirements. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:  Submit "Claim for Death Benefits" and "Report of Public Safety Officers' Death" or "Report of Public Safety Officers' Permanent and Total Disability," and supporting documentation to the Benefits Office, Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Washington, DC 20531. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular Nos. A-102 and A-110.

Award Procedure:  Upon a finding of eligibility by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, eligible claimants are awarded a lump sum benefit. For Death Benefit: Entire benefit to surviving spouse if no children. If there are children, one-half of benefit to spouse with remaining one-half to child or children in equal shares. If no spouse, entire benefit to child or children in equal shares. If no spouse or children, entire benefit to parent or parents in equal shares.

Deadlines:  Claim must be filed within 1 year of public safety officer's death or prerequisite disability certification. (A preliminary determination by the PSOB Office that the officer is medically retired from his/her agency, and receiving the maximum disability compensation allowed by his/her jurisdiction.)

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  Dependent on circumstances of death, sufficiency of claim documentation, and/or the need for expert medical reviews.

Appeals:  A claimant may, within 30 days after notification of ineligibility, request an oral appeal hearing. When making this request, the claimant may waive the oral appeal hearing and within 60 days, present written evidence for reconsideration by an Administrative Hearing Officer. A claimant may initiate an appeal by writing the Chief, Benefits Office, Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Washington, DC 20531.

Renewals:  Not applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Not applicable.

Examples of Funded Projects:  Not applicable.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  Not applicable.

16.571 RELATED PROGRAMS:

None.

16.571 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

In fiscal year 1999, 205 death benefit claims were approved and 49 were denied, 49 disability claims were initiated, 6 disability claims were approved, and 14 disability claims were denied.

16.571 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS, BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Type of Assistance:  Direct Payments with Unrestricted Use.

Obligations:  (Direct payments) FY 99 $29,591,256; FY 00 est $32,541,000; and FY 01 est $33,224,000.

Budget Account Number:  15-0403-0-1-754.

Authorization:  Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 3796.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  Title 28, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 32.

16.571 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  None.

Headquarters Office:  Benefits Office, Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Washington, DC 20531. Phone: (202) 307-0635 or 1-888-SIGNL13 (744-6513). Use the same number for FTS.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

16.571 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  Not applicable.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Not applicable.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  To provide a $146,949 death benefit to the eligible survivors of Federal, State or local public safety officers, or a $146,949 disability benefit to the Federal, State or local public safety officer, whose permanent and total disability is the direct and proximate result of a catastrophic personal injury sustained in the line of duty. There are no restrictions as to how the monies are spent once they reach the recipient with the exception that monies paid on behalf of minor children must be used for their care and benefit.

16.571 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Not applicable.

Audits:  Not applicable.

Records:  Not applicable.