S. 1511 would increase the benefit paid to families of public safety officers who die in the line of duty when claims take longer than one year to settle.
The bill also would expand eligibility for death benefits from the Public Safety Officer’s Benefit (PSOB) program to include, among others, fire police and officer candidates. Death benefits under the PSOB program are classified in the budget as direct spending; CBO estimates that enacting the bill would increase direct spending by $26 million over the 2021-2031 period.
The bill would make similar changes to disability benefits available through the PSOB program by increasing the amount of the benefit to some claimants and expanding eligibility to some disabled officers who are working. Disability payments under the PSOB program are subject to the availability of appropriated amounts. CBO estimates that implementing S. 1511 would cost $28 million over the 2021-2026 period.
