Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program
U.S. Department of Justice
What is Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program?
The Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program (PSOB) provides a death benefit to the eligible survivors of Federal, state or local public safety officers whose death was the direct and proximate result of a personal (traumatic) injury sustained in the line of duty (certain fatal, line of duty heart attacks and strokes are also covered). The act also provides a disability benefit to eligible public safety officers who have been permanently and totally disabled as the direct result of a catastrophic personal injury sustained in the line of duty. The injury must permanently prevent the officer from performing any gainful work.
Administration
Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program is administered by U.S. Department of Justice.
Program Requirements
Eligible beneficiaries for PSOB purposes, in this order, are as follows:
- Spouses; children; designated PSOB beneficiaries on file with the agency at the time of the officer's death; or surviving parents.
Eligible children include any of the following:
- Biological natural
- Out-of-wedlock
- Adopted or posthumous child
- Stepchild who is 18 years old or younger.
Children between the ages of 19 and 22 may be eligible if a full-time student at the time of the officer's death, and children over 18 who are incapable of self-support at the time of the officer's death due to a disability.
Application Details
What is the application process for Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program?
For information on applying for disability or death benefits, visit the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Public Safety Officers' Benefits Programs homepage.