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All of the benefit information below has been complied by COPS, a support group for police survivors.
STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA
DEATH BENEFITS
To obtain certified copies of registered personal documents, contact Vital Records, State Capitol Building,
600 E Boulevard, Bismarck, ND 58505, phone (701) 238-2360.
STATE DEATH BENEFITS
Survivors of state law enforcement officers receive the same benefits as the survivors of others state
employees. Individual governmental units, such as cities and counties, may have additional benefit plans
for their peace officers and survivors.
STATE PENSION BENEFITS
Many cities and counties have their own benefits programs for law enforcement officers employed by
those political subdivisions. Individual pension and retirement programs, including disability programs,
may also be provided by these governmental units. Check with your police department for pension
benefits that may be available to you and your family.
Law enforcement officers employed by the State of North Dakota may be under either the North Dakota
Highway Patrolmen’s Retirement System or the general state retirement system.
You may wish to contact the North Dakota Employees Retirement System for any details concerning
benefits available to state peace officers under either the North Dakota Highway Patrolmen’s Retirement
System or the general state employee retirement system. The Public Employees Retirement System
may be contacted at P.O. Box 1214, Bismarck, North Dakota, 58502-1214.
EDUCATION BENEFITS
15-10-18.5
Free tuition is available in North Dakota institutions of higher education for surviving children of peace
officers and fire fighters. To be eligible, the child must be age 21 or younger at the time of the death.
Should a peace officer or fire fighter die as a direct result of injuries received in performance of official
duties, the survivor, upon being duly accepted for enrollment into any North Dakota state-supported
university, college, or technical or vocational school, must be allowed to obtain a bachelors degree, or
certificate of completion, for so long as the survivor is eligible, free of any tuition and fee charges, except
those charged to retire outstanding bonds; provided, however, that the bachelors degree or certificate of
completion is earned within a thirty-six month or eight semester period or its equivalent; and further provided
that tuition and fee charges may not include costs for aviation flight charges or expenses.
Contact the North Dakota Board of Higher Education, 600 East Boulevard, 10th Floor, Bismarck,
ND 58505, telephone (701) 328-2960.
Legislation was recently passed which will allow the Workers’ Compensation Bureau to establish a scholarship
fund for surviving dependent children and spouses. The total fund shall not exceed $50,000 per
year, with a maximum scholarship amount per individual of $1,500 per year for no more than five years.
Contact the Workers’ Compensation Bureau, 500 E. Front Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58504-5685, telephone
(701) 328-3800.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Health plans vary. Check with your local department to determine benefit packages available.
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
Workers’ Compensation coverage is compulsory for employers in North Dakota.
Benefits are 66 2/3% of the employee’s wage for a spouse only or a spouse with child(ren) with a minimum
weekly benefit of $115 and a maximum weekly benefit of $210 plus an additional $10 per week
for each dependent child. Widows receive a $300 lump sum and a $100 sum for each dependent
child. Total maximum payable is $197,000. Maximum burial allowance is $2,500.
Spouse receives benefits until remarriage. Children receive benefits until age 18 or beyond age 18 if
disabled, or until age 23 if full-time students.
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 Workers’ Compensation Bureau, 500 E. Front Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58504-5685, telephone
(701) 328-3800.
PERSONAL LIFE POLICIES
44-08-17. Political subdivisions authorized to purchase insurance on the life of law officer - Benefits
payable to dependent survivor.
Any political subdivision may purchase insurance on the life of a law enforcement officer employed by
that political subdivision. Such insurance policy shall be purchased from an insurance company licensed
to do business in this state. If the insurance is purchased, the officer insured thereunder may designate his
dependent survivor or survivors to whom the death benefit provided under the policy shall be paid. The
word “dependent” shall mean that the deceased officer provided some financial support within one year
before his/her death to the survivor and shall be liberally construed for the purposes of this section. In the
event the officer has not designated a dependent survivor or survivors, the death benefit payable shall be
paid to the closest survivor in the following order:
1. Spouse
2. Children
3. Parent
4. Brother or sister
However, if there is more than one qualifying survivor in subsection 2, 3, or 4, the death benefit shall be
paid in equal shares to the survivors in that category. The death benefit provided by an insurance policy
purchased pursuant to this section shall not exceed the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) on the
life of one law enforcement officer. Any death benefit paid due to purchase of an insurance policy under
the provisions of this section shall be in addition to any benefit paid due to the death of that officer under
any other provisions of this section shall be in addition to any benefits paid due to the death of that officer
under any other provisions of law.
Life insurance purchased by that political subdivision of which the law enforcement officer was
employed: Benefit shall not exceed the amount of $10,000 on the life of one officer. Benefit paid
through insurance company is in addition to any benefits paid under any other provision of law.
Descent and Distribution: Exempt personal property - Entitlement to surviving spouse of $5,000.
Property collectible by affidavit - Value of entire estate, less liens or encumbrances, does not exceed
$15,000.
Escheat - Property held by fiduciaries for five years is considered abandoned unless some concern has
been expressed by owner within period.
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
North Dakota dedicated their new law enforcement memorial in May 1994. It is located on the State
Capitol Grounds in Bismarck, North Dakota.
Membership in the North Dakota Peace Officers Association entitles a member to receive a $500 death
benefit insurance coverage.
LOCAL BENEFITS ASSISTANCE
For assistance or information about North Dakota benefits, you may contact Mr. Bill Broer, Director,
North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, at (701) 328-5500.
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