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All of the benefit information below has been complied by COPS, a support group for police survivors.
STATE OF VERMONT
DEATH BENEFITS
To obtain certified copies of registered personal documents of records before 1955, write to the Public
Records Division, State Administration Building, Montpelier, VT 05602.
For records after January, 1955, contact Public Health Statistics, Vital Records Section, 60 Main Street,
P. O. Box 70, Burlington, VT 05402, phone (802) 863-7300.
The information that follows pertains to Vermont State Trooper benefits only. Data for local police
officers must be provided by the local police or sheriff’s agency.
STATE DEATH BENEFITS
A one-time line-of-duty death benefit is payable to the beneficiaries of all sworn personnel from the Vermont
Department of Public Safety. Reserve officers and auxiliary troopers are eligible for Workers’
Compensation death benefits only.
The beneficiaries of a sworn law enforcement officer are eligible to receive $50,000.
For additional information or to find out about specific eligibility requirements, contact the State of
Vermont, Department of Public Safety, 103 South Main Street, Waterbury, Vermont 05676- 0850;
(802) 244-8763.
STATE PENSION BENEFITS
Death Refund: If a trooper dies before retirement, the beneficiary is entitled to a refund of the retirement
contributions deducted from the salary plus interest accrued to date of death.
If at death the designated beneficiary is also deceased, any payment due would be made to the member’s
estate.
Automatic Survivor Benefit: Members who have attained normal retirement age or have completed 20
years of creditable service and who are in service at the time of death are covered by a provision for an
automatic survivor’s benefit. This means that a surviving spouse or dependent beneficiary may receive the
Option 3 (100% survivorship) benefit as though the member had retired on the date of his death and elected
Option 3. The beneficiary may, in lieu of the Option 3 benefit, elect to receive a lump sum cash refund of
the member’s contributions.
If a member is not survived by a spouse or other dependent beneficiary, the member’s estate will
receive a cash lump sum refund of the member’s contributions. No previous election of benefit is required
of the member for the above benefits. The choice is available for the above benefits. It is important that
members designate beneficiaries with their wishes in the event of their death.
ACCIDENTAL AND OCCUPATIONALLY RELATED DEATH BENEFIT
If a trooper dies before retirement as the result of an accident occurring at a definite time and place during
the course of performance of duty, a lifetime retirement allowance shall be paid to the beneficiary. The
benefit payable shall be equal to 25% of average final compensation at the time of death or Automatic
Survivor’s Benefit, whichever is greater.
EDUCATION BENEFITS
No educational benefits currently exist.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Health and Dental coverage normally terminates, but can be continued under COBRA with the beneficiary
paying the full premium.
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
Workers’ Compensation coverage is compulsory for employers in Vermont; however, waivers are allowed.
Benefit is 66 2/3% of employee’s wage for a spouse only and 76 2/3% for a spouse with child(ren) with a
minimum weekly benefit of $215 and a maximum weekly benefit of $644. Maximum burial allowance
is $2,000.
Spouse receives benefits until age 62 or remarriage. Children receive benefits until age 18 or beyond
age 18 if disabled or if full-time students.
File the “First Report of Injury” form within the required 72 hours. Departments with an outside insurance
carrier must, of course, also file a claim with the carrier.
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 Division of the State Department of Labor and Industry, National
Life Drive, Montpelier, VT 05602, telephone (802) 828-2286.
PERSONAL LIFE POLICIES
The amount of life insurance for an insured employee shall be an amount equal to two times current
salary, but not less than $20,000. The word salary as used herein shall be constructed to mean a employee’s
base salary exclusive of any and all other compensation. Automatic adjustments in coverage amounts and
premium costs charged shall be made to coincide with salary increases or decreases.
Descent and Distribution: Subject to dower, curtesy, and other rights of surviving spouse, real estate
descends and personalty is distributed as follows; each class of which a member is living taking to exclusion
of subsequent classes:
(1) children and/or issue of deceased children, per capita if all of same
degree of kindred to decedent, otherwise per stripes;
(2) parents equally or all to surviving parent;
(3) brothers and sisters and/or issue of deceased brothers and sisters, per
capita if all of same degree of kindred to decedent, otherwise per
stripes;
(4) next of kin of equal degree, with no right of representation in issue of
deceased next of kin.
Heir who intentionally kills decedent forfeits all rights to inherit.
Surviving Spouse - With respect to personalty, the surviving spouse is entitled to all the decedent’s articles
of wearing apparel and ornament and such other part of the decedent’s personal estate as probate
court assigns, which may not be less than one-third after payment of debts, funeral charges and expenses of
administration.
As to real estate, one-third of same; provided, if decedent left only one heir surviving and such heir is the
issue of surviving spouse or heir by adoption of decedent and surviving spouse, latter takes one-half; this
being statutory share in lieu of dower or curtesy.
As to real and personal estate, where decedent leaves no issue and surviving spouse is not barred by
accepting testamentary provision in lieu of dower or curtesy or where surviving spouse does not elect to
take statutory interest in lieu of dower or curtesy (as to real estate), surviving spouse is entitled to whole of
estate not otherwise distributed in accordance with law, up to $25,000, and one-half remainder.
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
Check with all local member organizations to determine if there are any life insurance or death benefits
available within the organization.
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