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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

16.615:  Public Safety Officers' Educational Assistance

Popular Name:  PSOEA

Objectives:  The PSOEA Program, an expansion of the Federal Law Enforcement Dependents Assistance (FLEDA) Program, provides financial assistance for higher education to the spouses and children of public safety officers killed in line of duty deaths or who received permanent and totally disabling injuries that occurred on or after October 1, 1997. The FLEDA Act makes program benefits available retroactively to families of Federal law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty on or after May 1, 1992. The effective date for families of permanently and totally disabled Federal law enforcement officers is October 3, 1996.

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

16.615 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Dependents who 1) attend a program of education at an eligible institution; or 2) are the spouse and/or surviving children under the age of 27 of Federal, State and local public safety officers, whose deaths or permanent and totally disabling injuries are covered by the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Program (42 U.S.C. 3796 et seq.) are eligible for this program. 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.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  The spouse and surviving children under the age of 27 of Federal, State and local public safety officers receive the ultimate benefits from this program.

Credentials/Documentation:  Documentation needed to apply for assistance includes: the Application for Public Safety Officer's Educational Assistance (42 U.S.C. 3796 d); educational transcripts; acceptance letters to educational/professional institutions; schedule of classes; verification of full or part-time status; and certification of other forms of educational assistance. Contact the PSOB office at 1-888-SIGNL13 (744-6513) for full credential/documentation requirements.

16.615 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  Claimants may initiate a claim by writing or telephoning the PSOEA Program, Benefits Office, Bureau of Justice Assistance, 810 Seventh Street, NW., Washington, DC 20531, 1-888-SIGNL13 (744-6513). This program is excluded from E.O. 12372 "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs."

Application Procedure:  The applicant must submit a fully executed application to the PSOEA Program, Benefits Office, Bureau of Justice Assistance, 810 Seventh Street, NW.,Washington, DC 20531.

Award Procedure:  Upon a finding of eligibility by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, claimants are typically awarded funds in 9 to 15-month increments.

Deadlines:  Children of public safety officers (who have been found eligible for the PSOB Program) must apply for assistance before their 27th birthday.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  Dependent on sufficiency of claim documentation.

Appeals:  Applicants may appeal within 30 days of denial notification. The appeal process consists of a record review by an administration hearing officer.

Renewals:  Not applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Applications received by BJA are reviewed for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with all program requirements.

Examples of Funded Projects:  Not applicable.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  Assistance ranges from $404 per month for full-time students, $304 for three-quarter-time students, and $202 for half-time students. The amount of assistance is subject to change consistent with the current computation of educational assistance allowance set forth in Title IV of the Higher Education Act, Section 3532 of Title 38, U.S.C.

16.615 RELATED PROGRAMS:

• 16.571 Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program;
• 16.575 Crime Victim Assistance;
• 16.576 Crime Victim Compensation.

16.615 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

16.615 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:  (Grants) FY 99 $35,761; FY 00 est $2,432,863; and FY 01 est $0.

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

Authorization:  Educational Assistance to Dependents of Civilian Federal Law Enforcement Officers Killed or Disabled in the Line of Duty, 42 U.S.C. 3796d.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  The Bureau of Justice Assistance's Public Safety Officers' Educational Assistance Program Fact Sheet (August 1999); Federal Register guidelines are available.

16.615 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  None.

Headquarters Office:  Bureau of Justice Assistance, Fourth Floor, 810 Seventh Street, NW., Washington, DC 20531. Phone: (202) 514-6278 or Justice Response Center, 1-800-421-6770.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

16.615 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  Not applicable.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Assistance is available for 45 months of full-time education or training, or for a proportional period of time for a part-time program. Assistance is typically awarded in 9-month installments to coincide with the length of a school semester.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Program funds are intended solely to defray eligible applicants' educational expenses, which may include tuition, room and board, books, supplies, and fees consistent with the educational, professional or vocational objectives of the applicant. Funds are restricted to defray above costs only. A certification of educational use is required.

16.615 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Not applicable.

Audits:  Not applicable.

Records:  Not applicable.