By Forum Staff
The State Legislature has passed a bill to provide a crucial cost of living (COLA) increase for the family members of governmental employees who were killed in the line of duty.
The bill, known as “The Widows COLA Bill,” will increase the special accidental death benefit (SADB) for dependents and family members by 3 percent. In NYC, this impacts the families of fallen members of the City Police and Fire departments, along with the Department of Sanitation, NYC Housing Authority, Metropolitan Transit Authority, Department of Correction, Health + Hospitals Corporation, or Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority will see their SADB increase effective early July. Should the bill be signed into law, it is expected to help over 1,300 families who have lost a loved one in the line of duty, according to Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach), the proposed legislation’s prime sponsor.
Photo Courtesy of Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato
“We can never repay the debt of gratitude,” Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato said, but “I hope it will provide some financial relief.”
Additionally, Pheffer Amato noted, SADB will continue to be paid to the child of a fallen hero if they are the beneficiary until they are 18 years old, or 23 years old if a student.
“We can never repay the debt of gratitude our state and city have for the incredible sacrifice these men and women made. To their families, this increase is a token of our continued appreciation and I hope it will provide some financial relief. They embodied the best of the New York spirit and their memory is alive forever in our hearts, and in the hearts of every New Yorker,” Pheffer Amato said.
The bill has passed the Assembly and State Senate; it remains to be seen if Gov. Kathey Hochul will sign it into law.
