Senators Introduce Expansion of PSOB Program

Recently, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators introduced the Public Safety Officer Support Act, a bill that aims to expand the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program. Currently, the PSOB provides financial support to the families of firefighters, police officers, chaplains, and emergency medical technicians who die or have been permanently disabled in the line of duty. The Public Safety Officer Support Act intends to broaden these benefits to support the families of officers who struggle with their mental health or who are lost to trauma-linked suicides.

If enacted, the Public Safety Officer Support Act will direct the PSOB to designate work-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and acute stress disorder as a line of duty injury for eligible officers. Additionally, officers who are permanently disabled as a result of attempted suicide would be eligible for disability benefits. The Public Safety Officer Support Act would also direct the PSOB to presume that officer suicides are a result of job duties in certain traumatic circumstances where there is evidence that PTSD or acute stress disorder would be the cause of the injury, allowing families of officers who die by trauma-linked suicide to apply for death benefits.

As a longtime supporter of the law enforcement community, FEDS Protection applauds the increased emphasis on officers’ mental health in the federal government. The Public Safety Officer Support Act is endorsed by major law enforcement associations, including the Fraternal Order of Police, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, National Association of Police Organizations, and Blue H.E.L.P., as well as the American Psychological Association,

For more information about the importance of employees’ mental health in the federal government, watch the following FEDS Protection webinars: Navigating the Emotional Roller Coaster: Leveraging Emotional Intelligence to Effectively Lead in and Manage During Challenging Times, Wanted: Federal Employees With High EQ, and Unlocking The Power Of Emotion at Work: The Importance of Understanding Emotion Skills to Make Better Decisions and Improve Relationships.

 *This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.