Expanded death and disability benefits for first responders in 49 Iowa cities, including Mason City & Charles City
DES MOINES — Death and disability benefits for first responders in dozens of Iowa cities, including in Mason City and Charles City, will change July 1st.
Under current law, firefighters, police and EMTs in those cities are eligible for disability as well as death benefits if they’re diagnosed with one of 14 types of cancer that could be connected to their work. The governor has approved legislation that lets those first responders be eligible for disability benefits for ANY type of cancer as well as heart or lung diseases. Their spouses or children will be eligible for benefits if any of those illnesses leads to death.
Representative Eric Gjerde of Cedar Rapids is a volunteer Linn County deputy. “This is a great piece of legislation for the folks that serve on the front lines of our communities, our municipal police officers, our fire fighters and our first responders,” Gjerde says. “It’s something that has been worked on for a very long time.”
The law also requires local governments to cover the costs of mental health evaluations as part of the annual physicals for police officers and firefighters. First responders diagnosed with a mental illness connected to their service also could qualify for disability benefits.
