Under the Ohio Revised Code 3333.26, children and the spouse of an officer who dies in the line of duty, and who is admitted to any State university or college as defined in Division (A) (1) of Ohio Revised Code 3345.12, community college, state community college, university branch or technical college, shall not be required to pay any tuition or any student fee for up to four years of education, which shall be at an undergraduate level. Benefits are available to those under age 26 or age 30 with military service who have been a resident of Ohio for at least one year. A former spouse who was divorced or legally separated from the deceased person is eligible if he or she is the court-ordered custodial parent of a minor child of the marriage.

How to apply for Benefits:

1. The student must have a letter stating that he/she is eligible for the benefits. (Student can be child or spouse - see above). This letter can be obtained from the Death Benefit Fund coordinator at the Ohio Police and Fireman's Disability and Pension Fund (telephone: 800.860.9599), or it can also be obtained from the head of the Police Department of the deceased officer.

2. Student then takes the letter to the school he/she will be attending, usually the Financial Aid Office, but some schools have a different office that handles the program. You can contact the Ohio Board of Regents (number listed below) to see what office needs the letter.

3. Student can attend on a part-time basis, but it counts as a term of benefits. This program covers a total of 10 semesters or 15 quarters.

4. Once the letter is at the school, the school will contact the Ohio Board of Regents to get the student started in the program.

Ohio Board of Regents, Ohio Student Aid Commission, State Grants and Scholarships Department, 309 S. 4th Street, P.O. Box 182452, Columbus, OH 43218-2452, telephone: 614.752.9535.

Beginning March 2, 2001, the tuition and fee waiver applies to survivors of persons who held an equivalent law enforcement position in another state and were killed in the line of duty. The child or spouse must meet the existing program's requirements regarding age and residency in Ohio.

In addition to the State of Ohio's educational program, the National Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc., also has a scholarship program for survivors of line of duty death. These deaths must meet government federal criteria for line of duty death. This scholarship is usually only available to states that do not have tuition-free education; however, there may be extenuating circumstances that will allow your survivor to be approved for this scholarship. You will need to explain these circumstances when applying. An example would be if a child was enrolled in an out-of-state college before the death occurred. Attached is a sample copy of this application.

Public Safety Officers' Educational Assistance Program provides an educational assistance allowance to eligible survivors of public safety officers whose deaths or permanent and total disabilities are the direct and proximate result of a traumatic injury sustained in the line of duty. Spouses and children (until they reach 27 years of age) are eligible for this benefit. As of October 2003, the allowance is $695 per month for full-time students, $521.25 for 3/4 time students, $347.50 for 1/2 time students, and $173.25 for less than half-time students. This figure is adjusted with college tuition rates. For more information on this program, contact: PSOEAP, Bureau of Justice Assistance, 810 Seventh St. NW, Washington, DC 20531, telephone: 1.888.744.6513, or www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA

 Concerns of Police Survivors Scholarship Application Winter/Spring 2003-2004

 Bureau of Justice Assistance Fact Sheet