National Benefits (Click Here)

Scholarships (Click Here)

Public Safety Officers Benefit (Click Here)

Texas Benefits:

One-time Death Benefit

Texas Government Code Chapter 615 
$250,000 lump sum payment to eligible spouse if firefighter died in performance of duty and from exposure to a risk. If no spouse, payment in equal shares to children, with no limit on age. If no eligible surviving spouse or children, payment to parents in equal shares. The program also provides a monthly benefit for the firefighter's minor children. The monthly benefit totals $200 for one child, $300 for two children and $400 for three or more children. Payments are made to the appointed guardian or legal representative.
Career firefighters: Career firefighters: Spouse and dependent children are eligible for continued health & dental insurance benefits.
Contact:
Employees Retirement System of Texas
P.O. Box 13207
Austin, TX 78711-3207
Phone: (512) 867-7711 or (877) 275-4377
Website: www.ers.state.tx.us
(Reference:Texas Government Code Chapter 615)

Workers' Compensation

Death and Burial Benefits [Sections 408.181 - 408.187, Rules 132.1 - 132.17 
Workers' compensation is not mandatory for career or volunteer firefighters so this benefit may not apply to all firefighters. For those firefighters covered under workers' compensation, weekly benefit of 75% of employee's average weekly wage paid 50% to surviving spouse and 50% divided equally among dependent children. If no spouse survives, children receive total benefit, and vice versa. Children are eligible for benefits until age 18, age 25 if a full-time student, or longer if disabled. Lifetime benefit for spouse who does not remarry. Upon remarriage, spouse receives a two-year lump sum and benefits terminate.
Contact:
Texas Department of Insurance
Division of Workers' Compensation
333 Guadalupe
Austin TX 78701
Phone:  (512) 463-616 or Toll Free (800) 578-4677
Website: www.tdi.state.tx.us/wc/

Funeral Benefit 

Workers' compensation is not mandatory for career or volunteer firefighters so this benefit may not apply. For those firefighters covered under workers' compensation, maximum of $6,000 for burial expenses, plus the cost of transporting the body to the home area.

Contact:
Texas Department of Insurance
Division of Workers' Compensation
333 Guadalupe
Austin TX 78701
Phone:  (512) 463-6169 or Toll Free  (800) 578-4677
Website: www.tdi.state.tx.us/wc/

Retirement/Pension Plan 
Volunteer and auxiliary firefighters: Texas Statewide Emergency Services Personnel Retirement Act provides a lump-sum payment of at least $60,000 to the beneficiary and monthly pension payments equal to 66 2/3% of the member's full retirement annuity to be shared equally between spouse and minor children. Children are eligible until age 18, age 19 if full-time student, or if the child became disabled before his or her 22nd birthday and remains incapable of self-support. This is a lifetime benefit for the spouse. Department must participate in the plan for firefighter to receive benefits.
Contact: Fire Fighters' Pension Commission
P.O. Box 12577 Austin, TX 78711
Phone:  (512) 936-3372  or Toll Free  (800) 919-3372
www.ffpc.state.tx.us/tesrs/tesrs.html

TRMS: For survivors of those firefighters who participated in the TRMS Supplementary Death Benefit program, there is a one-time lump sum payment approximately equal to one year's salary based on the 12 months immediately preceding the month of death.
Contact:
Texas Municipal Retirement System
P.O. Box 149153
Austin, TX 78714-9153
Phone: (512) 476-7577 or (800) 924-8677

Contact: Fire Fighters' Pension Commission
P.O. Box 12577 Austin, TX 78711
Phone: (512) 936-3372 or Toll Free (800) 919-3372
www.ffpc.state.tx.us/tesrs/tesrs.html
Career firefighters: If firefighter was a vested Texas Municipal Retirement System member, the beneficiary who was a spouse may select a monthly benefit to begin immediately, payable for either 15 years or for lifetime. The monthly benefit includes the city manager's matching funds and any other credits that would be used to calculate normal retirement. Withdrawal in a lump sum does not include city manager's matching funds. City may also choose to include a supplemental death benefit of $7,500.
Contact:
Texas Municipal Retirement System
P.O. Box 149153
Austin, TX 78714-9153
Phone: (512) 476-7577  or (800) 924-8677

(Reference: TMRS handbook Page 44-46)

 Education Benefit - Children

Texas Education Code Article 54.204 
For deaths occurring before September 1, 2001: Tuition, dues, fees, and charges waived at public state institutions. Does not include lodging, board, or clothing. May be used at public junior colleges, senior colleges, and universities. Can be used for eight semesters and is not restricted to undergraduate education. Applicant must be age 21 or under when first applying.
For deaths occurring on or after September 1, 2001: Student exempt from tuition and fees at institution of higher education until the student receives a bachelor's degree or 200 hours of college credit, whichever occurs first. If the student elects to reside in housing provided by the institution and qualifies to reside there, the institution shall pay the cost of the student's contract for housing and food, as well as the cost of the student's textbooks, until the student receives a bachelor's degree or 200 hours or course credit, whichever occurs first.
Contact:
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Capitol Station
P.O. Box 12788
Austin, TX 78711
Phone: (512) 427-6101 or Toll Free(800) 242-3062
Website: www.thecb.state.tx.us
(Reference: Texas Education Code Article 54.204)

Education Benefit - Spouse 

For deaths occurring before September 1, 2001: no benefits.
For deaths occurring on or after September 1, 2001: Student exempt from tuition and fees at institution of higher education until the student receives a bachelor's degree or 200 hours of college credit, whichever occurs first. If the student elects to reside in housing provided by the institution and qualifies to reside there, the institution shall pay the cost of the student's contract for housing and food, as well as the cost of the student's textbooks, until the student receives a bachelor's degree or 200 hours or course credit, whichever occurs first.
Contact:
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Capitol Station
P.O. Box 12788
Austin, TX 78711
Phone:  (512) 427-6101 or Toll Free (800) 242-3062
Website: www.thecb.state.tx.us

Non-Profit or Private Organizations 

Fleetwood Memorial Foundation
501 South Fielder Road
Arlington, TX 76013
(817) 261-8954
Website: www.fleetwoodmemorial.org
Grants awarded up to $10,000. Designed to provide immediate financial relief. Funds also available for education expenses in state public institutions for the dependent children.

Williams-Pyro Firefighters Fund
200 Greenleaf Street
Fort Worth, TX 76107
Phone: (817) 872-1500 or (888) 616-7976
Website: www.williams-pyro.com
Provides grants to the families based on need.

The Hundred Club of San Antonio
P.O. Box 6741
San Antonio, TX 78209-6741
Phone: (210) 340-0100
Website: www.100clubofsanantonio.org
Serves residents of San Antonio/Bexar County. $5,000 benefit immediately after death. Trust fund set up for each child. Extra benefits depending on individual situation.

The Victoria 100 Club
P.O. Box 5176
Victoria, TX 77903-5176
Phone: (361) 578-1502
Serves residents of Victoria County. Assistance varies according to each individual case, up to $5,000.

100 Club of Central Texas (Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop & Caldwell Counties)
3409 Executive Center Drive, # 128
Austin, TX 78731
Phone: (512) 345-3200
Website: www.100clubcentex.com
Contact for benefits.

The Hundred Club of Wichita Falls
1400 Eleventh Street
Wichita Falls, TX 76301
Phone: (940) 767- 9256

The 100 Club, Inc.
1233 W. Loop South, Suite 1250
Houston, TX 77027
Phone: (713) 952-0100 or  (877) 955-0100
Website: www.the100club.org
Serves Austin, Brazos, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Liberty, Madison, Montgomery, Walker, Waller, and Washington counties. $10,000 check provided immediately after death. A month later, more assistance will be provided, if needed.

Kids' Chance
c/o Texas Mutual Insurance Company
6210 East Highway 290
Austin, TX 78723-1098
Phone:  (800) 859-5995 x3820
E-mail: tmcvea@texasmutal.com

Crime Victims 
Texas Crime Victims' Compensation Fund. Firefighter's death must have been the result of a violent crime such as arson. Survivors are eligible to receive up to $50,000 to help cover medical costs, counseling, loss of wages, childcare, funeral expenses, and other costs.
Contact:
Crime Victims' Compensation Program
Office of the Attorney General
P.O. Box 12198
Austin, TX 78711-2548
(512) 936-1200
(800) 983-9933
Website: www.oag.state.tx.us

Thank you to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation for this comprehensive list.