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All of the benefit information below has been complied by COPS, a support group for police survivors.
Rev. 04/05
STATE OF ILLINOIS
DEATH BENEFITS
To obtain certified copies of registered personal documents, contact Division of Vital
Statistics, 605 W. Jefferson Street, Springfield, IL 62702-5097, phone (217) 782-6553.
SURVIVOR COMPENSATION
$263,000 award benefit pursuant to the Law Enforcement Officers, Civil Defense Workers,
Civil Air Patrol Members, Paramedics and Firemen Compensation Act as amended in 1995.
Pursuant to Illinois Pension Code, municipalities may provide an allowance not to exceed
$15,000 to officer's beneficiaries. This benefit is adjusted for cost of living on January 1 of
each year. The current figure is valid as of 10/6/04. Allow 4-8 weeks for the benefit to be
processed.
The surviving beneficiary of any State or local governmental law enforcement or public safety
officer who is killed in the line of duty may, within one year, make a claim to the Illinois
Court of Claims for the Survivor Compensation.
The benefit is payable to a designated beneficiary, or if none has been designated to survivors
in the following order: (1) spouse, (2) children, (3) parents, (4) siblings or children of
siblings. If there are no such persons, no compensation is payable.
Additionally, a burial benefit of up to a maximum of $10,000 is payable to the surviving
spouse or estate of a law enforcement officer who is killed in the line of duty on or after
January 1, 1999. This benefit is only paid when the family pays for the funeral/burial
expenses. It is not paid to municipalities as reimbursement for expenses.
An Application for benefits and a Statement of Supervising Officer must be filed with
the Court of Claims, 630 South College Street, Springfield, IL 62756, within one year of
the date of death. Forms for both the application and statement are available from the
Court of Claims Administrative Office (217) 782-0111, or the Attorney General, Court
of Claims Division (312) 814-6125.
Documentation accompanying the claim should include the officer's signed Designated
Beneficiary form, or if none, proof of the claimant's relationship, such as a marriage certificate
or birth certificate.
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POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS PENSION
Police officers are covered by several different pension plans, depending upon the nature of
the governmental entity which employs them. The following information will cover most of
the plans in Illinois.
(1) The State Employees' Retirement System (SERS) covers all State
employees. The Pension and Death Section can be contacted at
(217) 782-7444. Upon being provided with the name and Social
Security number of the deceased member, the System will provide
the survivor with all necessary forms and information.
Documentation needed will include the marriage license, birth
certificates of minor children, and the death certificate.
The member's accumulated contributions plus accrued interest are payable to the designated
beneficiary or the estate of the deceased member as a lump sum. A basic pension benefit of
50% of the member's salary is payable to the surviving spouse for life, plus 15% of the
salary for each minor child, until age 18, to a maximum total benefit of 75% of the
member's salary.
The pension benefit payable, however, will be offset by any Workers' Compensation payable,
so that a surviving spouse may receive only Worker's Compensation during the 20 year
period for which it is paid. In this event, the SERS will pay a minimum $10 monthly
benefit and will continue to provide insurance benefits.
(2) The Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund covers many sheriff's
deputies and municipal police officers. Upon death resulting from
injuries connected with a member's duties, the fund will pay the
amount of the member's accumulated credits, plus interest thereon,
plus an amount equal to the member's annual rate of earnings.
The surviving spouse or child may elect to receive this amount as a lump sum or in the form
of an annuity for life, if the death benefit will provide an annuity provided by the death
benefit will be determined by actuarial tables. Alternatively, if the member was entitled to a
pension at the time of his death, the survivor may elect a regular survivor's pension.
Any annuity will be offset by Workers' Compensation for so long as such compensation is
paid. The lump sum payable, however, will not be offset. Documentation necessary to make a
claim will include:
A. Marriage Certificate;
B. Birth certificate of surviving spouse or other beneficiary;
C. Death certificate;
D. Notice of termination of employment (to certify employment at the
time of death); and
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E. Application for benefit.
The application and Notice of Termination of Employment will be available from the
employer. Additional information may be obtained from the IMRF Benefits Department.
(3) Police Pension Funds and Firefighters Pension Funds are established
by municipalities having at least 5,000, but fewer than 500,000
inhabitants and in any fire protection district having any full-time
paid firefighters. Each such fund is administered by a board of
trustees appointed within the municipality or fire protection district,
so benefits and claims information should be readily available from
the employing police or fire department.
The pension of the surviving spouse of a police officer who dies on or after January 1, 2001,
without having begun to receive either a retirement pension payable under Section 3-111 or a
disability pension payable under Section 3-114.1, 3-114.2, 3-114.3, or 3-114.6, and (iii) as a
result of sickness, accident, or injury incurred in or resulting from the performance of an act of
duty shall not be less than 100% of the salary attached to the rank held by the deceased police
officer on the last day of service, notwithstanding any provision in this Article to the contrary.
However, pension benefits will be offset by amounts paid by Workers' Compensation. In lieu
of a pension, the officer's contributions may be refunded to the surviving spouse or other
beneficiary in a lump sum.
(4) A Policemen's Annuity and Benefit Fund and a Firefighter's Annuity
and Benefit Fund is established in each city with more than 500,000
inhabitants (currently, only the city of Chicago). The funds are
administered by locally appointed Boards, and any benefits or claims
information should be available from the city police and fire
departments. Contact: James Waters, Jr., 221 North LaSalle, Suite
701, Chicago, Illinois 60601 (312) 726-5823.
State statutes require that the Funds provide a $12,000 death benefit for an officer who dies
in the line of duty, in addition to a monthly pension amounting to 75% of the officer's
salary at the time of death, but no less than $400 per month. The amounts may vary based
on individual circumstances.
Under certain circumstances, a refund of contributions to the Fund is available.
(5) A County Employees' and Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund is
established in each county having more than 500,000 inhabitants
(currently, only Cook County qualifies). Deputy sheriffs under the
County Police Merit Board are covered by this fund. The fund is
administered by a board selected within the county. Benefits and
claims information will be available from the County Police
Department. Contact John Fitzgerald, 118 N. Clark, Room 1072,
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Rev. 04/05
Chicago, IL 60602 (312) 443-6535.
Pension benefits payable to the surviving spouse or child of an officer killed in the line of duty
are based upon age and length of service. If the amount so calculated is less than 60% of the
officer's salary at the time of the injury, an additional compensation annuity is payable, so that
the total annuity will equal 60% of the officer's salary.
(6) City Provided Benefits - Municipalities are authorized to provide a
death benefit of up to $15,000 to the survivors of police officers or
firefighters killed in the line of duty. Whether any municipality
elects to do so will be determined by ordinance or resolution of its
corporate authorities.
In addition, some cities or counties may provide life insurance for their employees, including
police officers and firefighters. Some cities may also provide continuing health insurance
benefits.
To learn whether such benefits are provided, inquiry should be made to the employee benefits
administrator or other officers of the employing governmental entity.
(7) State Employees Group Life Insurance - The State of Illinois provides
basic life insurance for all employees, with optional additional
coverage available. Basic coverage is in a principal amount equal to
the employee's annual salary.
The policy principal will be payable to a named beneficiary, or if no beneficiary has been
named, according to legal survivorship in the following order: (1) surviving spouse, (2)
children, (3) parents, (4) siblings, (5) and the estate of the decedent.
Claims must be submitted through the employing agency or the retirement system in
which the member is enrolled. A notarized copy of the death certificate must be
submitted with the claim.
EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS
The children, under age 25, and the surviving spouse of any police officer or firefighter
killed in the line of duty while serving the State or any local public entity in Illinois are
eligible to receive a waiver of tuition and matriculation and registration fees for a total of
120 credit hours.
This benefit is provided for attendance at state vocational-technical schools, public
community colleges, and State universities, and may be either full-time or part-time.
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Applications for benefits and additional information are available from the Illinois
Student Assistance Commission at: 1755 Lake Crook Road, Deerfield, IL, 60015
(847) 948-8500 or 500 W. Monroe St., Springfield, IL 62704, (217) 782-6767. Authority:
110 ILCS 947/55.
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.
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 Illinois, the death
must have occurred since September 1998. 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 Illinois Law Enforcement Training & Standards Board, Cynthia
Bowman, 309-298-3350, Fax 309-298-2515, E-mail policecorps@wiu.edu, or visit
www.ptb.state.il.us/police_corps/index.shtml.
HEALTH BENEFIT
The 1997 Regular Session of the Illinois Legislature enacted Public Act 90-535 also known as
the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act.
Section 10. Required health coverage benefits.
a) An employer who employs a full-time law enforcement, correctional, or correctional
probation officer, or firefighter, who, on or after the effective date of this Act suffers a
catastrophic injury or is killed in the line of duty shall pay the entire premium of the
employer's health insurance plan for the injured employee, the injured employee's spouse,
and for each dependent child of the injured employee until the child reaches the age of
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Rev. 04/05
majority or until the end of the calendar year in which the child reaches the age of 25 if the
child continues to be dependent for support or the child is a full-time or part-time student
and is dependent for support. If the injured employee subsequently dies, the employer
shall continue to pay the entire health insurance premium for the surviving spouse until
remarried and for the dependent children under the conditions established in this section.
However:
1) Health insurance benefits payable from any other source shall reduce benefits payable
under this section.
b) In order for the law enforcement, correctional or correctional probation officer, firefighter,
spouse, or dependent children to be eligible for insurance coverage under this Act, the
injury or death must have occurred as the result of the officer's response to fresh pursuit,
the officer or firefighter's response to what is reasonably believed to be an emergency, an
unlawful act perpetrated by another, or during the investigation of a criminal act.
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
Workers' Compensation coverage is compulsory for employers in Illinois.
Workers' Compensation benefits are payable to the surviving spouse and dependents of any
officer or firefighter who is killed in the line of duty. Additional information may be
obtained from the Illinois Industrial Commission, 100 W. Randolph Street, 8th Floor,
Chicago, Illinois 60601, with which claims are to be filed. The Chairman's office can be
reached at (312) 814-6555.
Benefits available include:
A. $4,200 funeral expense benefit;
B. All first aid, medical and hospital expenses connected with the fatal injury;
C. 66 2/3% of the deceased's average weekly wage continuing weekly until:
*the surviving spouse is compensated for 20 years.
*minor children attain age 18 and leave school.
*minor children attain age 23 while attending an accredited educational
institution.
*dependency of any other dependent (parent, collateral, grandchild) ends.
In order to file for benefits, the following documents will be needed:
A. Marriage certificate;
B. Certified copy of death certificate;
C. Certified copy of minor child's birth certificate; and
D. For other dependents, copies of tax returns showing claimed dependency.
Contact the State Industrial Commission, 100 W. Randolph Street, Room 8-200,
Chicago, IL 60601, telephone (312) 814-6500.
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PERSONAL LIFE INSURANCE BENEFITS
The existence of personal life insurance policies must be ascertained and claims filed by the
family or named beneficiaries. The policies themselves, the agents who sold them, or the
insurance companies involved should provide information on the claims procedure.
FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS
The Fraternal Order of Police, Illinois State Lodge provides a life insurance benefit to its
members that has an increased payout in the event the member suffers a line-of-duty death.
The policy premium must be paid each year (currently $7.25), the officer must be a member in
good standing, and members are encouraged to keep the beneficiary information updates. The
Illinois State Lodge can be contacted at: 7326 West Harrison Street, Forest Park, IL
60130 (708) 366-2125.
The Illinois Police Association provides a $600 death benefit for anyone who was an active
member at the time of his or her death. The Association can be contacted at 7508 North
Avenue, Elmwood Park, IL 60635 (708) 452-8332.
There are other fraternal or professional organizations serving law enforcement and public
safety officers in different areas of the State and the nation. Any such organization of which
the deceased officer was a member should be contacted and advised of the death, and inquiry
should be made regarding any benefits which are available.
PERSONAL INSURANCE POLICY - INTESTATE
Descent and Distribution - Entire estate, both real and personal, of deceased resident, and
real estate of deceased nonresident, where there is no surviving spouse (See subhead surviving
spouse below), descends and is distributed as follows, each class of which a member is living
taking to exclusion of subsequent classes: (1) descendants per stirpes; (2) parents, brothers
and sisters equally, descendants of deceased brothers and sisters taking by representation and,
if one parent be dead, surviving parent taking a double portion; (3) one-half to paternal
grandparents or to survivor of them or to their descendants; (4) one-half to paternal great
grandparents or to survivor of them or to their descendants per stirpes and one-half to
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Rev. 04/05
maternal great grandparents in like fashion or, if only one set of great grandparents or
descendants survive, entire estate to those great grandparents or descendants; and (5) nearest
kindred of equal degree according to civil law rules, without representation. (110 1/2-2-1).
Surviving Spouse - For surviving spouse to renounce will, see 110 1/2-2-8; topic Wills,
subhead Renunciation of Will. Surviving spouse takes one-half of entire estate if decedent
left descendent and entire estate if no descendent. (110 1/2 -2-1).
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
professionals, 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. Illinois COPS is an organization serving Illinois to provide counseling
and emotional support to the survivors of fallen officers anywhere within the two states.
Contact: Illinois COPS, Mrs. Jennifer Morales, Contact, PO Box 304, Tampico, IL
61283, 815-438-5342, jenisbored@aol.com.
OTHER BENEFITS
Hundred Clubs (100 Clubs) - The business communities in the counties of Cook, Will,
Kankakee, Lake and Dupage have organized Hundred Clubs to provide financial support to
the survivors of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty within their respective
counties. Each organization is separately organized and operated pursuant to its own by-laws
with respect to the level of benefits available. They can be contacted as follows:
The Hundred Club of Cook County
Mr. Ralph G. Scheu, President
20 Clark Street, Suite 2300
Chicago, IL 60602 (312) 346-3838
The Hundred Club of Will County, Inc.
Mr. Robert D. Shutts, President
58 North Chicago Street
Joliet, IL 60431 (815) 726-4741
The Hundred Club of Kankakee County
Mr. Donald Turner,President
970 E. Court Street
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Kankakee, IL 60901 (815) 933-5529
The Hundred Club of Lake County
Mr. Dennis Mudd, Sr., President
P.O. Box 163
Libertyville, IL (708) 681-1700
The Hundred Club of Dupage County Inc.
Mr. Leonard P. Ponte, President
c/o LaSalle Bank of Lisle
4733 Main Street
Lisle, IL 60532 (708) 969-8100
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION CONTACT:
In the event that the deceased officer was a veteran of the United States armed forces contact:
The Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, P.O. Box 19432, 833 South Spring Street,
Springfield, IL 62794.
STATE POLICE MEMORIAL
The Illinois State Police Memorial is located on the southwest corner of the State Capitol
lawn in Springfield, Illinois.
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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