Line of Duty Benefits

 

Line of Duty Disability

 

Firefighters who have become permanently and totally disabled may be eligible for funds to help defray the cost of both life and health insurance. The requirements for eligibility are in KRS 95A.070.

The spouse, and any child of a permanently and totally disabled volunteer firefighter injured while in active service or in training for active service may be eligible for free tuition at a state supported university, community college, or vocational training institution for up to thirty-six (36) months in order to obtain a diploma. Additional information can be found under KRS 164.2842.

 

Line of Duty Death

 

Pursuant to KRS 61.315 a firefighter who has lost their life as a direct result of an act in the line of duty shall receive a lump-sum payment of eighty thousand dollars ($80,000) if there are no surviving children, which sum shall be paid by the State Treasurer from the general expenditure fund of the State Treasury. If there are surviving children and a surviving spouse, the payment shall be apportioned equally among the surviving children and the spouse. If there is no surviving spouse, the payment shall be made to the surviving children, eighteen (18) or more years of age. For surviving children less than eighteen (18) years of age, the State Treasurer shall:

1. Pay thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000) to the surviving children; and
2. Hold forty-five thousand dollars ($45,000) in trust divided into equal accounts at appropriate interest rates for each surviving child until the child reaches the age of eighteen (18) years.

The spouse, and any child of a firefighter who died as a result of a line of duty injury may be eligible for free tution at a state supported university, community college, or vocational training. Additional information can be found under KRS 164.2841.