Losing a loved one in the line of duty is every family’s worst nightmare. First responders put their lives at risk every day to protect others, and when a tragedy happens, their families are left to pick up the pieces.
Reach out to the Heart Bill attorneys at Bichler & Longo, PLLC to discuss surviving family benefits for Florida first responders, as understanding what is available to you can help ease the burden and provide some financial stability during an incredibly painful time.
If a first responder dies as a result of an injury on the job, the Florida workers’ compensation system provides specific benefits to the surviving family. These include:
These benefits apply if the injury directly caused the death or if the death occurs within five years of the original accident. However, the claims process is rarely simple. Having an attorney who understands death benefits for the surviving family members of first responders will ensure the family receives the full amount available to them without delays or denials.
If your first responder spouse loses their life while serving, contact an attorney experienced in these cases as soon as possible. There are often additional benefits beyond workers’ comp that may be available to surviving family of first responders, including federal programs, state pensions, and other survivor benefits tied to the specific job. Many of these programs are time sensitive, so you must act quickly.
Each source of compensation has its own rules. Workers’ comp might cover one area, while pension benefits or federal programs cover another. A skilled lawyer will help identify every possible benefit, coordinate them, and make sure deadlines are met.
Under the federal Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Program, certain deaths by suicide are covered. A survivor or injured officer may be eligible for death or disability benefits if the suicide (or attempted suicide) was intended to bring about the officer’s death and occurred on or after January 1, 2019.
This rule recognizes the mental and emotional toll that serving as a first responder can take. Families of first responders may be able to make PSOB claims, even in cases involving suicide. These claims can be complicated and emotional, and family members should not try to handle them alone.
For surviving families of first responders in Florida, there may be benefits beyond workers’ compensation and the Heart Bill:
Each of these systems operates differently, but can frequently overlap, and sometimes collecting one type of benefit affects another. That is why having a lawyer who focuses on first responder cases matters so much.
The loss of a first responder is a personal tragedy that changes a family forever. Surviving family benefits for Florida first responders are designed to provide some stability, but the process can be confusing and difficult to manage when you are grieving.
Our firm is dedicated to protecting those who protect and serve, and that commitment extends to their families. If you have lost a loved one in the line of duty, we are here to guide you through the benefits process and fight for every dollar you are entitled to.