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All of the benefit information below has been complied by COPS, a support group for police survivors.
Rev.08/03
STATE OF CONNECTICUT
DEATH BENEFITS
To obtain certified copies of registered personal documents, contact the Vital Records
Unit, Department of Health Services, 150 Washington Street, Hartford, CT 06106,
(203)566-2334.
In Connecticut, death benefits are governed by the General Statutes, and include the general
retirement benefits for all state employees. There are no special state benefits for police
officers killed in the line of duty, although benefits are provided from other sources, such as
unions and the federal government.
STATE DEATH BENEFITS
STATE EMPLOYEES SEC. 5-144.
If any state employee sustains an injury while acting within the scope of his/her employment,
which injury is not the result of his own willful or wanton act, and dies as a result of such
injury, and a spouse and dependent child(ren) under eighteen years of age survive him, the
comptroller, upon the recommendation of the appointing authority, and with the approval of
the attorney general, shall draw his order on the treasurer for the sum of seven thousand five
hundred dollars ($7,500), payable in equal monthly installments over a period of not less
than five years to such employee's spouse, provided any such payments shall terminate on the
death or remarriage of such spouse within said five-year period, and the comptroller, upon
the recommendation of the appointing authority and with the approval of the attorney general,
shall also draw and order on the treasurer for monthly payments of twenty dollars ($20) for
each dependent child under eighteen years of age, payable to such spouse or the guardian
of such child or children until such child or children reach eighteen years of age.
If such employee leaves a spouse and no dependent child(ren) under eighteen years of age,
the comptroller, upon recommendation of the appointing authority and with the approval of
the attorney general, shall draw an order on the treasurer for the sum of four thousand
dollars ($4,000), payable in equal monthly installments over a period of not less than five
years, to such spouse, provided any such payments shall terminate on the death or
remarriage of such spouse within a five-year period.
If such employee leaves no spouse and no child(ren) under eighteen years of age but leaves a
parent or parents dependent upon him, the comptroller, shall draw an order on the treasurer for
the sum of four thousand dollars ($4,000), payable to such employee's parent or parents
in equal monthly installments over a period of not less than five years, provided, on the death
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of one such parent, the surviving parent shall continue to receive the entire monthly payments
under the provisions of this section. Payments shall cease on the death of both such parents
during such five-year period.
ALLOWANCES FOR SURVIVORS OF MEMBERS OF STATE POLICE
DIVISION WITHIN DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
STATE EMPLOYEES SEC. 5-146
(a) If any member of the Division of State Police within the Department
of Public Safety in employment on June 21, 1961, who has elected
survivors' benefits, or any state police officer who commenced
employment subsequent to June 21, 1961, and who in either event
was not subject to the Federal Insurance Contributions Act for such
employment, dies from any cause before retirement from state
service, leaving a surviving spouse or dependent unmarried children
under the age of eighteen years, there shall be paid survivors'
allowances from the state employees retirement fund on and after
July 1, 1982, on the following basis:
(1) To the surviving spouse, a monthly allowance of five hundred
fifty dollars ($550) commencing immediately upon the death of
such member of the division of state police within the
department of public safety payable for the surviving spouse's
lifetime or until subsequent remarriage;
(2) If there are less than three surviving dependent children, a
monthly allowance of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) per
child payable to the surviving spouse or other guardian until
each child reaches the age of eighteen or until the child's
marriage if such occurs earlier;
(3) If there are three or more surviving dependent children, a
monthly allowance of five hundred seventy-five dollars ($575)
to be divided equally among all the dependent children; as
each such dependent child reaches the age of eighteen years,
or marries, if such occurs earlier, that such child's share shall
be deemed divided equally among the remaining surviving
children, provided each child's share not exceed two hundred
fifty dollars ($250); when the shares of all but one of such
surviving children have ceased, the pension to the remaining
surviving child shall be two hundred fifty dollars ($250).
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PENSION BENEFITS
The retirement benefits for all state employees provide, for example, that a surviving spouse
receive $7,500 over five years, with an additional $20/month/child. In addition, for state
police, a surviving spouse receives an additional $550/month for life or until remarriage
and each dependent child receives $250/month until eighteen. The state also provides life
insurance to employees which may be purchased by the officer which will pay an amount
dependent on the wages being earned at the time of death.
The retirement commission shall, at least once every two years, prepare a valuation of the
assets and liabilities of the fund with respect to the system of benefits provided by this section
of determining the cost of funding such system and the cost of funding such system on an
actuarial reserve basis.
SEC. 31-306.
Cost-of-living increases shall be paid by the employer without any order or award from the
commissioner. Such adjustments shall apply to each such payment made in the next
succeeding the date of injury. The weekly compensation rate of each dependent entitled to
receive benefits under this section as a result of death arising from a compensable injury
occurring on or before September 30, 1977, shall be adjusted as of October 1, 1977, and
October 1, 1980, and thereafter, to provide such dependent shall be increased by twenty-five
percent. In addition, as of October 1, 1980, and on each subsequent October first, the
weekly compensation rate of each such dependent shall be increased to provide further costof-
living adjustments in his weekly compensation rate.
Employees and their dependents can find out about these benefits by contacting the Employee
Assistance Office of the Division of State Police, Middletown, CT 06457, (203)238-6519,
or contact the Office of the State Comptroller, 55 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106,
(203)566-4043.
EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS
No Statewide educational benefits available.
POLICE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS
The Police Corps is administered by the Office of the Police Corps and Law Enforcement
Education (OPCLEE), within the Office of Justice Programs, US Department of Justice, in
partnership with participating States that have submitted an approved State Plan. Information
can be found at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/opclee.
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The Police Corps awards scholarships and reimburses educational expenses to students who
agree to work in a State or local police force for at least four years. Students must pursue an
undergraduate or graduate degree in a course of study which, in the judgment of the State or
local police force to which the participant will be assigned, includes appropriate preparation
for police service. Police Corps funds cover education expenses (including tuition, fees,
books, supplies, transportation, room and board, and miscellaneous expenses) up to $7,500
per academic year, with a limit on total payments to any student of $30,000.
Police Corps scholarship funds are also available to dependent children of law
enforcement officers killed in the line of duty if the death occurred within the state after
that state was approved to participate in the Police Corps program. In Connecticut, the
death must have occurred since April 1997. These scholarships may be applied to any
course of study, without any service or repayment obligation.
Police Corps participants are selected on a competitive basis by each State under regulations
prescribed by OPCLEE.
For more information, contact: David Swenson at the Connecticut Police Officer
Standards and Training Council (POST), phone 860-536-4791, fax 860-536-4797, email
David.Swenson@po.state.ct.us or CTPoliceCorps@aol.com.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Connecticut provides health insurance coverage for the surviving spouse and dependent
children of any law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty. Children's coverage
terminates at age 18; remarriage will not terminate spousal coverage. The group medical plans
offered to survivors are the same plans that are available to state retirees. Currently, available
plans range from no cost to nominal cost. For more information, contact the Director of
Retirement and Benefits Services at 860-702-3481.
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
Workers' Compensation coverage is compulsory for employers in Connecticut.
These benefits include a maximum $4,000 burial expense, and a weekly compensation equal
to 75% of the employee's weekly earnings payable to the spouse or the spouse and
child(ren), with a minimum weekly benefit of $127.60 and a maximum weekly benefit of
$638. Benefits are subject to Social Security benefit offsets.
Spouse receives benefit until remarriage. Children receive benefits until age 18, or beyond
age 18 if physically or mentally disabled, or until age 22 if full-time students.
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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.
Contact the Worker's Compensation Commission at 1890 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, CT
06514, telephone (203) 789-7783.
PERSONAL LIFE POLICY - INTESTATE
Subject to interests of surviving spouse, real and personal estate descends and is distributed as
follows, each class of which a member is living taking to exclusion of subsequent classes: (1)
Children and representatives of deceased children, advancements being taken into
consideration (45-274) (child in gestation at time of intestate's death inherits equally with
prior born children.; (2) parent or parents, provided such parent has not abandoned minor
children and continued such abandonment until time of death; (3) brothers and sisters and
their representatives; (4) next of kin of equal degree, no representation being permitted, and
kinship being reckoned according to civil law (relatives of half and whole blood share
equally); (5) stepchildren and their representatives.
Issue of deceased children, brothers or sisters take by representation, even though there be no
surviving child, brother or sister of the intestate.
If any minor child dies intestate, unmarried and without issue, and before any distribution of
estate, portion of such deceased child must be distributed as if such child had died in lifetime
of such parent. (45-275).
Real property subject to life use of husband or wife, remaining at end of term, is distributed as
above provided, or may be so distributed during term subject to life interest. (45-276).
Surviving spouse - or conservator or guardian of his or her estate of intestate decedent takes as
follows: (1) if no surviving issue or parents of deceased, entire estate; (2) if no surviving
issue but deceased parents alive, $100,000, plus one-half of remainder; (3) if issue of deceased
survive who are not issue of surviving spouse, one-half of estate absolutely. Issue shall
include children born out of wedlock and issue of children who qualify for inheritance under
provisions of 45-274 of general statutes.
Share of surviving spouse may be set out in realty or personalty or both. Probate court can set
out allowance for support during settlement. (45- 273A, am'd PA 85-332, 2). Different rules
govern where marriage was contracted prior to June 20, 1877.
Surviving spouse is not entitled to statutory share of estate or to elective or intestate share
where, by written contract, before or after marriage, he or she has received from other spouse
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provision in lieu thereof, or where he or she, without sufficient cause, has abandoned other
spouse and continued abandonment to time of death.
PEER SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
Established in 1984, Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc., (COPS), is a national, non-profit
organization that works with law enforcement agencies, police organizations, mental health
professional, and local peer-support organizations to provide assistance to surviving families
of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. COPS has become a "lifeline" to police
survivors nationwide. Survivors in Connecticut may contact Massachusetts COPS, Mrs.
Melissa Abdallah, Office Administration, 10-G Roessler Road, Suite 505, Woburn, MA
01801, (781)376-9966, MACOPS@gis.net.
PRIVATE SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS
Founded in 1967, The 100 Club of Connecticut is a private organization that comes to the
financial aid of public safety officers killed in the line of duty. After an initial grant to the
spouse, Hundred Club representatives provide close and frequent follow-up on the well-being
of the family to alleviate any special problems which may develop. The Club, through is
Special Assistance and Scholarship Committee, provides families with the necessary help to
manage the often crushing expenses that may overwhelm them. It arranges for any medical,
dental or other professional services. If there is one area of singular pride, it is the college and
vocational school funding project. Over 140 surviving children and spouses have taken
advantage of its Scholarship program. For more information, contact The 100 Club, 70
Oakwood Drive, P. O. Box 419, Glastonbury, CT 06033, telephone (203)633-8357.
All of the benefit information above has been complied by COPS, a support group for police survivors.
Contact the National Office of Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. for additional information, or to support any of COPS' programs.
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Web site copyrighted © 2005 by Lydia Warner Miller
