| Timelines for Eligibility of Benefits |
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In the event of a qualifying death/disability to an eligible public safety officer, beneficiaries may be eligible for benefits from the Public Safety Memorial Fund Board. In order to be eligible for those benefits, certain timelines must be kept according to the administrative rules and laws that govern the Memorial Fund and its Board.
- Form M-1 - (Application for Benefits) to be completed by those applying for benefits. The original Form M-1 must be submitted to the Memorial Fund Board/DPSST in order to be considered for any benefit award.
- Form M-2 - (Designation of Beneficiary) is no longer required.
- Form M-3 - (Notice of Death or Permanent Total Disability) to be completed by the employing agency notifying the Memorial Fund Board/DPSST of the death or permanent total disability of an affected public safety officer. The employing agency must provide this form to the Memorial Fund Board/DPSST within three (3) days from the date of the officer’s death or notice of permanent, total disability.
- Documentation of any kind can be requested by the Memorial Fund Board/DPSST in order to substantiate the facts stated in the application form. The applicant has 180 days from the date DPSST mails the notice to furnish the requested materials.
- Higher Education for Minors - A Form M-1 requesting higher education benefits must be submitted to the Memorial Fund Board/DPSST any time up to five (5) years after the applicant graduates from high school (if the applicant was a minor at the time of the officer’s death/disability and an original Form M-1 was submitted for consideration within six months from the date of the death or notice of a permanent, total disability).
- Higher Education for Adults - A Form M-1 requesting higher education benefits must be submitted to the Memorial Fund Board/DPSST any time up to the date the surviving spouse remarries (if the applicant was the surviving spouse of a public safety officer who died) or the date the spouse divorces the public safety officer (if the applicant was the spouse of a public safety officer who suffered a permanent, total disability). This guideline is valid if an original Form M-1 was submitted for consideration within six (6) months from the date of the death or notice of a permanent, total disability).
- Health/Dental Insurance - Beneficiaries may be eligible for award of monies to allow the purchase of health/dental insurance comparable to that provided by the public safety officer for up to five (5) years from the date of death/disability, or until the surviving spouse remarries and the child attains 18 years of age (or age 23 if the child is attending school).
- Mortgage Payments - If there is no mortgage insurance to cover the costs, spouses may be eligible for an award of monies in an amount up to the equivalent of 12 monthly mortgage payments on the residence of the spouse.
If you are eligible to receive an award, the Memorial Fund Board may consider any other monetary awards for which family members applied (or may be eligible for) when considering the amount of award to be granted. Scholarship awards cannot exceed the amount of the highest tuition charged by an Oregon institution for an undergraduate program. The Memorial Fund Board may consider financial need as well as the amount of funds available and anticipated amounts needed to meet all other anticipated claims to the fund. The Memorial Fund Board has the right to prioritize claims or pro-rate the amounts awarded based upon the anticipated available funds. Payments may be made in a lump sum or in periodic payments to the beneficiaries.
If you have any questions or would like additional information about the Public Safety Memorial Fund, please contact Bonnie Salle at (503) 378-2431.
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