Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
$96 million in benefits claims finalized for eligible surviving families of fallen public safety officers
Over the last four weeks, the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) has finalized more than three times the number of Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Program death claim determinations in comparison to the previous nine-month period providing over $96 million in benefits to eligible surviving families of fallen public safety officers.
“Law enforcement officers, firefighters, other public safety officers, and their families devote their lives to keeping us safe and serving their communities. When they experience a tragedy in the line of duty, it is our duty to provide timely support in any way that we can,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
The PSOB Program provides death and education benefits to survivors of fallen law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first responders, and disability benefits to officers catastrophically injured in the line of duty and education benefits to their families. OJP receives more than 1,200 applications each year, working closely with survivors, injured officers, and employing agencies to process applications and adjudicate eligible claims. The PSOB Office also collaborates with national law enforcement, firefighter, and first responder organizations to assist with preparation of PSOB applications and offer survivor peer support, counseling services, and other resources to survivors of fallen law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first responders nationwide.
“From day one as the Associate Attorney General, I have made it my mission to cut through red tape, get to the bottom of bureaucratic federal processes, and ensure our actions speak louder than our words,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward, Jr. “Four weeks ago, I directed OJP to surge additional resources to the PSOB team to support outreach to applicants, evidence gathering, and claim review and determination. This Department of Justice is unwavering in our commitment to promptly and fairly recognize the sacrifice their loved ones made in service to our Nation.”
The Department of Justice is committed to doing our part to support officers and their families and keeping up this momentum for current and future PSOB applicants.
Additional information about the PSOB Program and how to file or access a claim is available at https://bja.ojp.gov/program/psob. If you have questions about the PSOB Program, please call 1–888–744–6513 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time or email AskPSOB@usdoj.gov.