STATE OF MARYLAND DEATH BENEFITS

STATE DEATH BENEFITS 
4-1002.ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND 
A death benefit shall be paid to the surviving spouse, children or dependent parents of any law enforcement officer of the State or of any political subdivision of the State, any sheriff or deputy sheriff, any correctional officer, or any volunteer or professional firefighter or rescue squad member who is killed or dies in the performance of duties on or after July 1, 1989. The amount of the benefit shall be $50,000. (There has been a cost of living increase to this benefit since 1989. Check with your benefits coordinator for current information. 

This sum shall be in addition to any workmen's compensation benefits and proceeds of any form of life insurance regardless of who paid the premium on the insurance. 

Payment shall be made as follows: 

1. To the surviving spouse; 

2. If there is no surviving spouse, payment shall be made 
to the surviving child or children of the decedent in equal shares. 

3. If there is no surviving spouse or children, payment shall be made to the surviving parent or parents, if the parent was a dependent as defined in section 152 of the Internal Revenue code. If there are no surviving dependents, the benefit will be paid to the estate. 

FUNERAL BENEFIT 

The Maryland Legislature passed and the governor signed a bill in 1996 to provide reasonable funeral expenses, not to exceed $10,000. The funeral benefit shall be reduced by the amount of any related Workers' Compensation benefits paid. 

Contact: Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, Suite 310, 6776 Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21215-2341. 

HEALTH BENEFITS 

This benefits varies depending upon the police department the officer worked for. Spouses of state, county, and city officers may elect to continue to participate in the same benefit program in effect at the time of the officer's death. Contact the Benefits Coordinator at your agency. 

WORKERS' COMPENSATION 

Workers' Compensation coverage for employers in Maryland is compulsory; however, waivers are allowed. 

To receive workers' compensation benefits the surviving spouse must take the initiative and file a workers' compensation claim through a workers' compensation attorney to receive any compensation. The determination as to whether the claim will be paid will be determined by the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board. 

To obtain a claim form, contact the Workers' Compensation Commission at 6 North Liberty Street, Baltimore, Md. 21201-3785. Telephone # (410) 333-4700. 

Education Benefits 

There is a program of scholarships that are awarded under the Edward T. Conroy Memorial Scholarship Program. A survivor is eligible if they are at least 16 years old and a son or daughter of any State or local public safety employee killed in the line of duty or a surviving spouse. Each person of a scholarship may hold the award for up to 5 years of full time study or 8 years of part-time study. Scholarship amounts are determined by the funding available and the number of applicants. In recent years, scholarships have ranged from 65% to 91% of total tuition and mandatory fees. Applications can be obtained from the Maryland Higher Education Commission, State Scholarship Administration, 16 Francis Street, Annapolis, Md. 21401. Phone (410)-974-2971. 


The following is a list of benefits for Maryland State Police Survivors. 

MARYLAND STATE POLICE

STATE PENSION BENEFITS 

MARRIED TROOPERS 

The Maryland State Retirement Agency (M.S.R.A.) returns the retirement contributions with interest to the beneficiary listed on file with the M.S.R.A. A monthly payment equal to one-half of the average final salary will be paid to the spouse. 

SINGLE/DIVORCED TROOPERS 

The Maryland State Retirement Agency returns the retirement contributions with interest and 100% of the average final salary to the beneficiary listed on file. If there are children under the age of 18 years, a monthly benefit will be paid to each divided equally until the age of 18. If there are no children, the benefit will be paid to the dependent parents of the deceased Trooper. If there are no eligible survivors, the death benefit would be paid to the beneficiary on file with M.S.R.A. 

RETIRED TROOPERS 

If a Trooper is married at the time of death the M.S.R.A. will pay a monthly benefit equal to one-half of the monthly retirement check to the spouse for life plus continued health care. If there is no surviving spouse the benefit will be paid to surviving children under the age of 18. The benefit will be paid in equal shares. If the Trooper is not married at the time of death, the benefit will be paid to the beneficiary named based on the retirement option chosen at the time of retirement. 

OTHER BENEFITS 

IMMEDIATE DEATH RELIEF FUND 

If the Trooper was a member of the Immediate Death Relief Fund, a payment of $5,000 will be paid to the primary beneficiary listed on file with I.D.R.F. Contact the Retirement Coordinator for more information. 

MARYLAND TROOPERS ASSOCIATION 

If the Trooper was a member of the Maryland Troopers Association, a payment of $50,000 will be paid to the beneficiary listed on file with the M.T.A. Contact the Maryland Troopers Association for more information. 

COALITION OF BLACK MARYLAND STATE TROOPERS 

If the Trooper was a member of the Coalition of Black Maryland State Troopers, a payment of $15,000 will be paid to the beneficiary listed on file with the Coalition of Black Maryland State Troopers. Contact The Coalition of Black Maryland State Troopers for more information. 

F.O.P. LODGE 69 

If the Trooper was a member of F.O.P. Lodge 69, a death benefit of $35,000 is paid. Contact the President of Lodge 69 for more information. 

PERSONAL ACCIDENTAL DEATH & DISMEMBERMENT PLAN 

A personal accidental death and dismemberment plan is available in amounts from $100,00 to 300,000. Contact the Health Benefits Coordinator for more information. 


HEROES, INC. 

Heroes was founded in 1964 as a nonprofit volunteer organization to assist families of all officers in the Metropolitan Washington DC area (The District of Columbia, Prince George's County and Montgomery County, Maryland and Arlington and Fairfax Counties in Virginia). 

Within 24 hours of an officer's death, a check in the amount of $3,500 is delivered to the family to be used for immediate emergency expenses. At a later date, the surviving spouse will meet with HEROES Executive Committee to identify other personal areas where financial assistance is needed. A comprehensive scholarship program is available to ensure that each child can receive an education of his or her choice. Phone: (202)638-2772 


County and Local Department Benefits 

Benefits vary in each county and local department. Contact the Benefits Coordinator in the department where employed. As information from local departments is obtained they will be added to this page.