Responding to Line-of-Duty Deaths: Understanding the PSOB

• NCJ Number: 177421
• Journal: Police Chief Volume: 66 Issue: 5 Dated: May 1999 Pages: 40-42
• Author(s): Ashton E. Flemmings
• Date Published: 1999
• Length: 3 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The Public Safety Officers Benefits (PSOB) program was created by legislation in 1976 to award death, disability, and education assistance benefits to survivors of law enforcement officers who are killed or permanently and totally disabled in the line of duty.

Abstract

The PSOB program presents a unique opportunity for Federal, State, and local public safety organizations to protect law enforcement officers before tragedies occur. Law enforcement officers covered by the program include but are not limited to police corrections, probation, parole, and judicial officers. The benefit under the program increased from $50,000 to $100,000 for deaths occurring on or after June 1, 1988. Since October 15, 1988, the benefit has been adjusted each year to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. For fiscal year 1999, the benefit totals $143,943. After a claim has been approved, payment is made in a lump sum. State and local law enforcement officers and firefighters are covered for line-of-duty deaths occurring on or after September 29, 1976. Federal law enforcement officers and firefighters are covered for line-of-duty deaths occurring on or after October 12, 1984. Members of Federal, State, and local public rescue squads and ambulance crews are covered for line-of- duty deaths occurring on or after October 15, 1986. The PSOB program also provides benefits to law enforcement officers who have been permanently and totally disabled in the line of duty by a catastrophic injury, if that injury permanently prevents them from performing gainful work. After a claim for disability benefits has been approved, payment is made in a lump sum. Educational assistance is also available to spouses and children of Federal law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty on or after May 1, 1992, or permanently and totally disabled on or after October 3, 1996. Restrictions on the payment of benefits by the PSOB program are noted, and claim filing procedures are briefly described.