Survivor & Family Support
When a firefighter makes the ultimate sacrifice, we stand with their family.
Our Promise to Families
Losing a loved one who served as a volunteer firefighter is a tragedy no family should face alone. The relief association provides:
- Immediate death benefits to help with expenses
- Funeral and burial assistance
- Ongoing financial support for surviving spouses and dependents
- Educational assistance for children
- Continued connection to the fire service family
- Memorial and recognition of service
What the Relief Association Provides
Death Benefits
Immediate financial support for families: a lump-sum benefit for line-of-duty deaths, expedited processing to help with urgent needs, and additional case-by-case assistance beyond the standard benefit.
Funeral Assistance
Help with final expenses: assistance with funeral and burial costs, support for firefighter memorial service arrangements, and coordination of fire service ceremonial honors.
Ongoing Family Support
Support that continues after the initial loss: ongoing assistance for household expenses, educational scholarships for dependent children, healthcare assistance, and emergency support during financial hardships.
What Deaths Are Covered?
Survivor benefits typically apply when death occurs:
- During emergency response — While responding to, operating at, or returning from emergency calls
- During training — At drills, exercises, or certification courses
- At the fire station — During station duties, maintenance, or meetings
- Heart attack or stroke — Within 24 hours of firefighting activity (presumptive coverage under PA law)
- Occupational illness — Cancer or other conditions directly caused by firefighting exposure
- During official department activities — Parades, public education, official fire service events
Pennsylvania law provides presumptive coverage for certain heart and lung conditions, as well as specific cancers, when they occur in firefighters meeting minimum service requirements.
Federal and State Resources
In addition to relief association benefits, families of fallen firefighters may be eligible for significant federal and state support.
- Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) — A federal benefit of $407,920 (2024) for families of public safety officers killed in the line of duty. Administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance.
- Social Security Survivor Benefits — Monthly payments to eligible surviving spouses and children
- Workers' Compensation Death Benefits — State workers' compensation survivor benefits
- National Fallen Firefighters Foundation — Support, resources, counseling, and the annual national memorial
- Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner — State-level support programs and recognition
The relief association will help families identify and apply for all benefits they are entitled to receive.
What to Do After a Loss
- Contact the relief association — Reach out to any officer, or the fire company will connect you. We will come to you.
- We will help you with: immediate financial needs, funeral arrangements and fire service honors, paperwork and benefit applications, and connecting you with federal and state resources.
- Documentation we'll help you gather — Death certificate, incident report, marriage certificate (for spouse benefits), birth certificates (for dependent benefits), and any relevant medical records.
Don't worry about paperwork right now. Contact us first, and we'll guide you through everything step by step.
Confidentiality and Respect
All survivor support matters are handled with complete discretion. Personal information remains confidential, and only officers directly involved in processing benefits see details. We approach every situation with sensitivity, respect, and compassion — honoring both the service of the fallen firefighter and the grief of their family.