Financial Assistance
The U.S. Marshals Survivors Benefit Fund was formed exclusively for charitable and educational disbursements of its funds to the surviving family members of active United States Marshals, Deputy U.S. Marshals, Marshals Service employees, and Special Deputy U.S. Marshals who are killed in the line of duty. In the immediate aftermath of a line of duty death, money is given to the surviving family to help with funeral costs and other expenses.
Education Benefits
In addition to the immediate death assistance payments made by the U.S. Marshals Survivors Benefit Fund, surviving spouses and dependent children are eligible for education benefit grants from the Fund. Government scholarships and similar private programs are an excellent way for family members to gain access to higher education after a line of duty death. The Fund stands ready to provide financial assistance to help with costs not covered by other sources.
Government/Agency Death Benefits
Payable To Survivors
In addition to the immediate death benefit assistance the U.S. Marshals Survivors Benefit Fund provides the families of our fallen heroes, certain death benefits are payable to the surviving spouse, or next of kin, under the federal order of precedence: stated beneficiary, widow/widower, child, parent, and executor; in that order.
Public Safety Officers' Benefit (PSOB):
The PSOB is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance and pays a benefit when a law enforcement officer loses their life in the line of duty and is survived by a spouse, child or parent. The benefit is adjusted annually for inflation. To learn more about the PSOB, visit www.psob.gov
Public Safety Officers' Educational Assistance Program (PSOEA):
The PSOEA is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance and provides educational assistance to eligible survivors of public safety officers who die or are totally disabled as a result of an adversarial action or traumatic injury in the line of duty. This benefit includes allowances for room, board, tuition, books and supplies. To learn more about the PSOEA, visit PSOEA website at www.psob.gov/file_education_claim.html
Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) Benefits:
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will pay death benefits to the surviving spouse and children of employees covered by FERS. Information on these benefits can be found at www.opm.gov/retirement-services/fers-information/survivors.
Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) Benefits:
Like FERS, OPM offers death benefits to employees covered by CSRS. Information on these benefits can be found at www.opm.gov/retirement-services/csrs-information/survivors
Thrift Savings Plan
Should death occur before the account balance has been distributed, the account balance will be paid out according to the Designation of Beneficiary Form TSP-3 on file with the TSP. If no beneficiary form is on-file, the federal order of precedence will be followed. To report a participant's death, go to www.tsp.gov/LifeEvents/personal/death/index.html
Your Support is Needed
The U.S. Marshals Survivors Benefit Fund relies heavily on people like you to help support the families of our fallen heroes. Your financial support ensures that we can assist and support these survivors in their greatest time of need.