Volunteer Firefighters

What benefits are available for Volunteer Firefighters?

To recognize the unselfish service of the work that volunteer firefighters do, laws designed to protect volunteers were enacted in 1957. Volunteer Firefighters' Benefits Law provides medical care and/or lost time wages for volunteer members who are injured, become ill, or die in the line of duty. The volunteer is eligible for benefits when the volunteer company responds as a unit, whether the injury occurred while serving the home district or providing aid to another area. Weekly cash benefits and medical care are paid by your insurer, in accordance with the applicable law. The New York State Workers’ Compensation Board administers these laws; if a dispute arises, the Board adjudicates them through a quasi-judicial proceeding.

Volunteer Firefighters' Benefits Law Q&A

Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program

In addition to the state benefits under the Volunteer Firefighters' Benefit Law, the federal government now 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.

These federal benefits come within the scope of the Public Safety Officers’ Benefit Act‐1976, administered by the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration.

Please Note: If a volunteer firefighter from another fire district volunteers his or her services during an emergency and such services (other than mutual aid) are accepted by the officer in charge, then such firefighter, if he/she is injured in the line of duty, is covered under your district's Volunteer Firefighters' Benefit Law policy. Volunteer firefighters of the municipalities or assureds responding under mutual aid are covered under their own jurisdiction and are not the responsibility of the department requesting mutual aid. If a non-reportable accident later develops into one which requires medical treatment or causes loss of time from employment, then the C-2F form should be filed immediately. A copy of your internal report (VF-1) should also be sent to us, FDM. VF-1 forms should not be sent to the Worker's Compensation Board. If a fire district learns of any new developments regarding a case after the C-2F has been filed, please notify the Fire District of New York Mutual Insurance Company, Inc. (FDM) If you are doubtful as to whether the case falls under the provisions of the Volunteer Firefighters' Benefit Law or if you are suspicious as to the validity of the claim, immediately notify FDM in writing.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the preparation of claim forms, please contact:

Claim Department
1 Blue Hill Plaza
PO Box 1609
Pearl River, NY 10965
Phone: 888-314-3004 | Fax: 845-352-2022