Eligible Claimants and Benefits

Eligible Claimants and Benefits. Eligible first responders who are diagnosed with certain occupational related cancers shall be entitled to receive the following benefits: A. Lump sum benefits: a. First responders with metastatic cancers that require surgery, radiation or chemotherapy or those diagnosed with terminal cancer will receive a payout of Thirty-five Thousand Dollars ($35,000.00), in lieu of pursuing workers compensation coverage, depending on the severity of the cancer and life expectancy, and upon providing proof of diagnosis by a board-certified physician in the medical specialty of the particular cancer. b. First responders with nonmetastasized cancer will receive a payout of Six Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($6,250.00) in lieu of pursuing workers compensation coverage, and upon providing proof of diagnosis by a board- certified physician in the medical specialty of the particular cancer. c. The combined total of benefits received by any first responder under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection during his or her lifetime shall not exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00). d. An eligible first responder who dies as a result of a compensable type of cancer, or circumstances arising out of the treatment of a compensable type of cancer, but does not submit sufficient proof of claim prior to the first responder’s death, is entitled to receive benefits specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection and the benefits may be made available to the deceased first responder’s beneficiary or beneficiaries. B. Disability benefits: a. Nonvolunteer first responders may receive disability benefits beginning six months after the date of disability at 60% of their monthly salary up to Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) per month, the first payment shall be made six (6) months after the total disability and shall continue for thirty-six (36) consecutive monthly payments unless the first responder regains the ability to perform his or her duties as determined by reevaluation under subsection (d) of this section, at which time the payments shall cease the last day of the month of reevaluation; b. Volunteer firefighters may receive disability benefits beginning six months after the date of disability in an amount up to One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00) per month, the first payment shall be made six (6) months after the total disability and shall continue for thirty-six (36) consecutive monthly payments unless the first responder regains the ability to perform his or her duties as determined by reevaluation under subsection (d) of this section, at which time the payments shall cease the last day of the month of reevaluation; c. The monthly benefit shall be subordinate to any other benefit actually paid to the first responder solely for such disability from any other source, not including private insurance purchased solely by the first responder; d. Any first responder receiving the monthly benefits may be required to have his or her condition reevaluated. In the event any such reevaluation reveals that such person has regained the ability to perform duties as a first responder, then his or her monthly benefits shall cease the last day of the month of reevaluation; and e. In the event that there is a subsequent recurrence of a disability caused by a specified cancer, which precludes the first responder from serving as a first responder, he or she shall be entitled to receive any remaining monthly payments. Any first responder who was simultaneously a member of more than one (1) fire or police department at the time of diagnosis shall not be entitled to receive benefits from or on behalf of more than one (1) fire or police department. The first responder’s primary place of employment shall maintain coverage for the eligible first responder. A first responder shall only be eligible for these benefits if the cancer diagnosis occurs on or after the first responder’s effective date of coverage, which shall be ten (10) years after their first date of employment or service. Benefit payments will be paid to the eligible first responder on the first working day of each calendar month. Benefit payments made under the Mississippi First Responders Health and Safety Act are excluded from gross income and thus are not taxable. Furthermore, an otherwise eligible first responder shall be precluded from the benefits listed under this section if he or she has filed for workers’ compensation for the same diagnosis of cancer.