December 14, 2023
The Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program (PSOB) offers death, disability, and education benefits to survivors of fallen first responders. Public Safety Officers include law enforcement officers, firefighters, and others. Under certain circumstances, members of rescue squads and ambulance crew, chaplains, department of energy employees, and trainees (law enforcement, firefighters, and rescue squad or ambulance crew members) are also included.
In August 2022, the Public Safety Officer Support Act was amended to include post-traumatic stress disorders and expanded coverage to include suicide or suicide attempt-related death or injury.
The Public Safety Officers’ Benefits program online portal is designed to make application for benefits as seamless as possible during a difficult time. The first step for application is to make an account here.
There are three types of benefits available: PSOB Death Benefits, PSOB Disability Benefits, and Public Safety Officers’ Educational Assistance (PSOEA) Benefits.
PSOB Death Benefits:
A one-time benefit for eligible survivors, now including those of officers who died by suicide.
- Two parts are required for this application: The first part is completed by the applicant, and the second part is completed by the employing agency
- After the applicant’s initial answers are recorded, a custom list of further required documents will be provided. Once these are completed, the application will be considered complete.
- A list of potential documents can be found here.
PSOB Disability Benefits:
Available to officers permanently disabled in the line of duty, including those disabled due to a suicide attempts.
- Similar to PSOB Death Benefits, the application consists of two parts: The first part is completed by the Officer and the second part is completed by the employing agency
- After the Officer’s initial answers are recorded, a custom list of further required documents will be provided. Once these are completed, the application will be considered complete.
- A list of potential documents can be found here.
Public Safety Officers’ Educational Assistance (PSOEA) Benefits
Offered to eligible spouses and children of fatally or catastrophically injured Officers.
- Includes and education prescreen and an education payment application.
- A fact sheet for completing this application can be found here.
After all documentation is complete and submitted, a claim number is assigned, and the case undergoes review by a Senior Benefits Specialist and a PSOB Director. The applicant will receive a final decision by mail. Please reach out to NFFE if you have any questions.