Public Safety Officers' Educational Assistance (16.615)

 

Program

16.615 Public Safety Officers' Educational Assistance

 

Federal Agency

OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS, BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

 

Authorization

Educational Assistance to Dependents of Civilian Federal Law Enforcement Officers Killed or Disabled in the Line of Duty, 42 U.S.C. 3796d.

 

Program Number

16.615

 

Last Known Status

Active

 

Objectives

The PSOEA Program, an expansion of the Federal Law Enforcement Dependents Assistance (FLEDA) Program, provides financial assistance for higher education to the spouses and children of public safety officers killed in line of duty. The PSOEA Program also makes assistance available to spouses and children of public safety officers permanently and totally disabled by catastrophic injuries sustained in the line of duty. Under the PSOEA program, the families of state and local police, fire, and emergency public safety officers are covered for line-of-duty deaths that occurred on or after January 1, 1978. The families of Federal law enforcement officers and firefighters are covered for line of duty deaths occurring on or after October 12, 1984. The effective date for families of permanently and totally disabled Federal law enforcement officers is October 3, 1996. Families of state and local police, fire, and emergency public safety officers are covered for line-of-duty permanent and totally disabling injuries that occurred on or after October 1, 1997. Families of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) personnel and state, local and tribal emergency management and civil defense agency employees are covered for such injuries sustained on or after October 30, 2000.

 

Types of Assistance

Direct Payments with Unrestricted Use.

 

Uses and Use Restrictions

Program funds are intended solely to defray eligible applicants' educational expenses, which may include tuition, fees, room and board, books, supplies, and other expenditures consistent with the educational, professional or vocational objectives of the applicant. Funds are restricted to defray above costs only.

 

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Dependents who 1) attend a program of education at an eligible institution; or 2) are the spouse and/or surviving children under the age of 27 of Federal, state and local public safety officers, whose deaths or permanent and totally disabling injuries are covered by the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Program (42 U.S.C. 3796 et seq.) are eligible for this program. A public safety officer is a person serving a public agency in an official capacity, with or without compensation, as a law enforcement officer, firefighter or member of a public rescue squad or ambulance crew.

Beneficiary Eligibility

The spouse and surviving children of Federal, state and local public safety officers receive the ultimate benefits from this program. The children may receive benefits for classes taken before their twenty-seventh birthday. There is no age restriction for spouses.

Credentials/Documentation

Documentation needed to apply for assistance includes: the Application for Public Safety Officer's Educational Assistance (42 U.S.C. 3796 d); educational transcripts; acceptance letters to educational/professional institutions; schedule of classes; verification of full or part-time status; and certification of other forms of educational assistance. Contact the PSOB office at 1-888-SIGNL13 (744-6513) for full credential/documentation requirements.

 

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Claimants may initiate a claim by writing or telephoning the PSOEA Program, Benefits Office, Bureau of Justice Assistance, 810 Seventh Street, NW., Washington, DC 20531, 1-888-SIGNL13 (744-6513). This program is excluded from E.O. 12372 "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs."

Application Procedure

The applicant must submit a fully executed application to the PSOEA Program, Benefits Office, Bureau of Justice Assistance, 810 Seventh Street, NW., Washington, DC 20531.

Award Procedure

Upon a finding of eligibility by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, claimants are typically awarded funds in 4-month increments for prospective assistance or more if requesting retroactive reimbursement.

Deadlines

There are no deadlines for applicants to request benefits. Spouses and children of public safety officers (who have been found eligible under the PSOB Program) can, at any time, request retroactive assistance for educational costs. These costs must have been incurred following the officer's death and, for the children, prior to their twenty-seventh birthday. There is no age restriction for officers spouses.

 

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Appeals

Applicants may appeal within 30 days of denial notification. The appeal process consists of a record review by an administration hearing officer.

Renewals

Not applicable.

 

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Not applicable.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Assistance is available for 45 months of full-time education or training, or for a proportional period of time for a part-time program. Assistance is typically awarded in 9-month installments to coincide with the length of a school semester.

 

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Not applicable.

Audits

Not applicable.

Records

Not applicable.

 

Program Accomplishments

In fiscal year 2002, BJA provided 233 dependents with educational assistance under PSOEA.

 

Financial Information

Account Identification

15-0403-0-1-754.

Obligations

(Awards) FY 02 $592,849; FY 03 est $1,739,659; and FY 04 est to be determined.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

For classes taken since October 1, 2002, the rates of assistance are $600 per month for full-time students. $510 for three-quarter-time student. $340 for half-time students and $170 for less-than-half-time students. The amount of assistance is subject to change consistent with the current computation of educational assistance allowance set forth in Title IV of the Higher Education Act, Section 3532 of Title 38, U.S.C.

 

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

The Bureau of Justice Assistance's Public Safety Officers' Educational Assistance Program Fact Sheet (August 1999); Federal Register guidelines are available.

 

Related Programs

16.571, Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program; 16.575, Crime Victim Assistance; 16.576, Crime Victim Compensation.

 

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, Department of Justice, 810 Seventh Street, NW., Washington, DC 20531. Contact: Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program. Telephone: (888) 744-6513 or (202) 307-0635.

Web Site Address

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bja/topics/PSOBProgram.html

 

Examples of Funded Projects

Not applicable.

 

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Applications received by BJA are reviewed for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with all program requirements.