State of Illinois Benefits Guide
Death One-Time:
Survivors are eligible for benefit when death results from injury received in the active performance of duties. Increased to $259,038 for deaths between July 1, 2002, and December 31, 2002. For deaths on or after January 1, 2003, the amount shall be the rate for the previous calendar year plus the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index. Death must occur within one year from the date the injury was received and the injury must result from violence or other accidental cause. Covers firefighters employed by the state or local government and volunteer firefighters, as well as officially designated fire department chaplains. Payments made to designated beneficiary. If no beneficiary is designated, entire sum paid to spouse. If no surviving spouse, payment made to surviving children in equal parts. Parents receive benefit if no surviving spouse or children.
Contact: Court of Claims. 630 South College Street, Springfield, IL 62756. Phone: (217) 782-0111 or Attorney General, Court of Claims Div. Phone: (312) 814-6125.
Workers Compensation:
All first-aid, medical, and hospital expenses connected with fatal injury are paid. Benefit of 2/3 of deceased?s average weekly wage in their regular employment continues until spouse is compensated for 20 years or total compensation reached $250,000, whichever is greater; children attain age 18 and leave school; children attain age 23 if attending an accredited educational institution; dependency ends for any other dependents. Payments to spouse end at remarriage with a 3-year cash settlement
Contact: Illinois Industrial Commission. 701 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62704. Phone: (217) 785-7084.
Funeral:
Maximum of $10,000 provided through Workers? Compensation.
Contact: Illinois Industrial Commission. 701 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62704. Phone: (217) 785-7084.
Pension:
None
Child's Education:
Benefit consists of a waiver of tuition and mandatory fees at any approved public post-secondary institution. Students at private Illinois institutions receive equivalent of tuition and mandatory fees at most expensive comparable program at a public post-secondary institution. Limited to full-time equivalent of eight semesters or 12 quarters for undergraduate and graduate programs. Full-time or part-time students are eligible until age 25. Stepchildren are not eligible.
Contact: Illinois Student Assistance Commission. 1755 Lake Cook Rd., Deerfield, IL 60015. Phone: (800) 899-4722. www.collegezone.com.
Spouse's Education:
Benefit consists of a waiver of tuition and mandatory fees at any approved public post-secondary institution. Students at private Illinois institutions receive equivalent of tuition and mandatory fees at most expensive comparable program at a public post-secondary institution. Limited to full-time equivalent of eight semesters or 12 quarters for undergraduate and graduate programs. Remarriage ends eligibility.
Contact: Illinois Student Assistance Commission. 1755 Lake Cook Rd., Deerfield, IL 60015. Phone: (800) 899-4722. www.collegezone.com.
Support Organizations:
Illinois Fire Chiefs Association
PO Box 7
Skokie, IL 60076
(847) 966-0786 or (800) 662-0732
Education and Research Foundation Scholarships provided through Illinois Fire Chiefs Association and Illinois Firefighters Association.
Backstoppers
PO Box 7717
Chesterfield, MO 63006
(636) 230-9898
Provide aid in Madison and St. Clair Counties.
Illinois has several 100 Clubs that provide benefits in specific local areas. These include:
100 Club of Cook County
Covers all federal, state, county, city or village firefighters in the County and all sworn firefighter personnel and paramedics, fulltime or volunteer. Provides immediate check of $5,000 for immediate needs. After 10 days, conducts complete review of family?s finances. Club will pay debts up to $50,000, including $30,000 against real estate debt or mortgage. Will work to arrange better interest rate on remaining loan. Additional educational assistance to spouse and children. Covers trade or vocational school, college, university, and graduate school for those who are fulltime students and maintain a C average. Covers in- and out- of-state schools --(312) 346-3838
100 Club of DuPage County
Offers death, scholarship and compassion award benefits. Provide immediate $5,000 for family to spend as needed. Fire chief and club liaison will determine further needs such as paying off credit cards, mortgage, etc. Club provides ongoing support as well as counseling and scholarships to spouse and children to any school, contingent upon grade point average. Also offers a compassion award of $5,000 to firefighters and police officers for injuries or long-term illnesses---(630) 420-2300
100 Club of East Central Illinois
(815) 473-4404
100 Club of Jo Daviess County
Provides financial assistance of up to $5,000 to families within Jo Daviess County. Hopes to provide scholarships and other programs --- (815) 777-9356
100 Club of Kankakee County
Provides a one-time benefit of $5,000 for line-of-duty death. Scholarships and medical assistance available as needed. Also provides financial assistance if needed for injured firefighters---(815)933-3263
100 Club of Lake County
Benefits in Lake County only. Provides one-time donation of around $2,000 immediately after death. Offers scholarships for dependents. Families given $500 annually---(708) 681-1700.
100 Club of Will County
Only for families in Will County. Provides immediate cash assistance to families; amount is on case-by-case basis. Offers scholarships and financial assistance---(815)726-4741.
EducationThe Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office provides all training. The Illinois Fire Service Institute of the University of Illinois offers an online library service for educational materials.
Contact: Illinois State Fire Marshal-Springfield. 1035 Stevenson Drive, Springfield, IL 62703. Phone: (217) 785-0969. Fax: (217) 782-1062.Workers CompensationN/AFundingOccasional grants are offered through the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Natural Resources.
Contact: Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. 1021 North Grand Avenue East, Springfield, Illinois 62702. Phone: (217) 782-3397.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources. One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271. Phone: (217) 782-6302.HealthThere is no state benefit, but many local governments have health programs for firefighters.LegalN/AMalpracticeFirefighters are immune from civil liability for damages caused by any acts or omissions, except in cases of willful or wanton misconduct.RetirementNoneTaxN/AAdditionalN/A
Death One-Time:
Survivors are eligible for benefit when death results from injury received in the active performance of duties. Increased to $259,038 for deaths between July 1, 2002, and December 31, 2002. For deaths on or after January 1, 2003, the amount shall be the rate for the previous calendar year plus the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index. Death must occur within one year from the date the injury was received and the injury must result from violence or other accidental cause. Covers firefighters employed by the state or local government and volunteer firefighters, as well as officially designated fire department chaplains. Payments made to designated beneficiary. If no beneficiary is designated, entire sum paid to spouse. If no surviving spouse, payment made to surviving children in equal parts. Parents receive benefit if no surviving spouse or children.
Contact: Court of Claims. 630 South College Street, Springfield, IL 62756. Phone: (217) 782-0111 or Attorney General, Court of Claims Div. Phone: (312) 814-6125.
Workers Compensation:
All first-aid, medical, and hospital expenses connected with fatal injury are paid. Benefit of 2/3 of deceased?s average weekly wage in their regular employment continues until spouse is compensated for 20 years or total compensation reached $250,000, whichever is greater; children attain age 18 and leave school; children attain age 23 if attending an accredited educational institution; dependency ends for any other dependents. Payments to spouse end at remarriage with a 3-year cash settlement
Contact: Illinois Industrial Commission. 701 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62704. Phone: (217) 785-7084.
Funeral:
Maximum of $10,000 provided through Workers? Compensation.
Contact: Illinois Industrial Commission. 701 S. Second St., Springfield, IL 62704. Phone: (217) 785-7084.
Pension:
None
Child's Education:
Benefit consists of a waiver of tuition and mandatory fees at any approved public post-secondary institution. Students at private Illinois institutions receive equivalent of tuition and mandatory fees at most expensive comparable program at a public post-secondary institution. Limited to full-time equivalent of eight semesters or 12 quarters for undergraduate and graduate programs. Full-time or part-time students are eligible until age 25. Stepchildren are not eligible.
Contact: Illinois Student Assistance Commission. 1755 Lake Cook Rd., Deerfield, IL 60015. Phone: (800) 899-4722. www.collegezone.com.
Spouse's Education:
Benefit consists of a waiver of tuition and mandatory fees at any approved public post-secondary institution. Students at private Illinois institutions receive equivalent of tuition and mandatory fees at most expensive comparable program at a public post-secondary institution. Limited to full-time equivalent of eight semesters or 12 quarters for undergraduate and graduate programs. Remarriage ends eligibility.
Contact: Illinois Student Assistance Commission. 1755 Lake Cook Rd., Deerfield, IL 60015. Phone: (800) 899-4722. www.collegezone.com.
Support Organizations:
Illinois Fire Chiefs Association
PO Box 7
Skokie, IL 60076
(847) 966-0786 or (800) 662-0732
Education and Research Foundation Scholarships provided through Illinois Fire Chiefs Association and Illinois Firefighters Association.
Backstoppers
PO Box 7717
Chesterfield, MO 63006
(636) 230-9898
Provide aid in Madison and St. Clair Counties.
Illinois has several 100 Clubs that provide benefits in specific local areas. These include:
100 Club of Cook County
Covers all federal, state, county, city or village firefighters in the County and all sworn firefighter personnel and paramedics, fulltime or volunteer. Provides immediate check of $5,000 for immediate needs. After 10 days, conducts complete review of family?s finances. Club will pay debts up to $50,000, including $30,000 against real estate debt or mortgage. Will work to arrange better interest rate on remaining loan. Additional educational assistance to spouse and children. Covers trade or vocational school, college, university, and graduate school for those who are fulltime students and maintain a C average. Covers in- and out- of-state schools --(312) 346-3838
100 Club of DuPage County
Offers death, scholarship and compassion award benefits. Provide immediate $5,000 for family to spend as needed. Fire chief and club liaison will determine further needs such as paying off credit cards, mortgage, etc. Club provides ongoing support as well as counseling and scholarships to spouse and children to any school, contingent upon grade point average. Also offers a compassion award of $5,000 to firefighters and police officers for injuries or long-term illnesses---(630) 420-2300
100 Club of East Central Illinois
(815) 473-4404
100 Club of Jo Daviess County
Provides financial assistance of up to $5,000 to families within Jo Daviess County. Hopes to provide scholarships and other programs --- (815) 777-9356
100 Club of Kankakee County
Provides a one-time benefit of $5,000 for line-of-duty death. Scholarships and medical assistance available as needed. Also provides financial assistance if needed for injured firefighters---(815)933-3263
100 Club of Lake County
Benefits in Lake County only. Provides one-time donation of around $2,000 immediately after death. Offers scholarships for dependents. Families given $500 annually---(708) 681-1700.
100 Club of Will County
Only for families in Will County. Provides immediate cash assistance to families; amount is on case-by-case basis. Offers scholarships and financial assistance---(815)726-4741.
EducationThe Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office provides all training. The Illinois Fire Service Institute of the University of Illinois offers an online library service for educational materials.
Contact: Illinois State Fire Marshal-Springfield. 1035 Stevenson Drive, Springfield, IL 62703. Phone: (217) 785-0969. Fax: (217) 782-1062.Workers CompensationN/AFundingOccasional grants are offered through the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Natural Resources.
Contact: Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. 1021 North Grand Avenue East, Springfield, Illinois 62702. Phone: (217) 782-3397.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources. One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271. Phone: (217) 782-6302.HealthThere is no state benefit, but many local governments have health programs for firefighters.LegalN/AMalpracticeFirefighters are immune from civil liability for damages caused by any acts or omissions, except in cases of willful or wanton misconduct.RetirementNoneTaxN/AAdditionalN/A