State-Paid or State-Mandated Benefits – N.C. Public Safety Workers
In October 2025, the Boards directed staff of the Retirement Systems Division (RSD) to conduct an inventory of State benefits provided to public safety workers in North Carolina. Below is a brief summary of the inventory for state, local and other employees, with each row representing a different employment benefit and each column representing a type of public safety worker. There are three tables highlighting benefits. Links to the inventory introduction and the detailed summary are located at the bottom of the page under the tables and key below.
This inventory is a research effort to compile information about benefits provided to different types of public safety workers in North Carolina. It is not a promise or a guarantee of any benefit. The information on this page and in the detailed summary cannot alter, modify, or otherwise change the controlling laws or other governing legal documents in any way, nor can any right accrue to any person by reason of any information provided or omitted.
Tab/Accordion Items
| Category | Benefit | General Employees | Sworn Law Enforcement (LEOs) | Non-Sworn Corrections & Juvenile Justice Officers | Probation/Parole Officers (PPOs) | N.C. Forest Service Firefighters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pension (Defined Benefit Retirement) | Lifetime monthly pension | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pension (Defined Benefit Retirement) | Required contributions: 6% of compensation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pension (Defined Benefit Retirement) | Can retire earlier with a reduced or unreduced benefit | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Pension (Defined Benefit Retirement) | Early retirement with reduced benefit | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Pension (Defined Benefit Retirement) | FRSWPF lifetime monthly pension benefit (if voluntary contributions are made) | ✓ | ||||
| Pension (Defined Benefit Retirement) | Special Separation Allowance | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| NC 401(k) / NC 457 Plans | Voluntary tax-advantaged savings | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| NC 401(k) / NC 457 Plans | Transfer benefit | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| NC 401(k) / NC 457 Plans | Special calculation for transfer benefit if 5-years of service by June 30, 2010 | ✓ | ||||
| NC 401(k) / NC 457 Plans | 5% required employer contribution | ✓ | ||||
| State-Paid Health Insurance | Active employees eligible for SHP | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| State-Paid Health Insurance | Retirees eligible for SHP (service prior to 1/1/21 and no withdrawal) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Leave Benefits | Holidays: 12/year | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Leave Benefits | Annual leave: 14-26 days (240 hr max) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Leave Benefits | Sick leave: 12 days | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Leave Benefits | Other: Community Service, Parental | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Worker's Compensation | Disability: Up to 66% pay (work-related injury) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Worker's Compensation | Death: 66% weekly pay + burial (up to $10K) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Disability (DIPNC) | Short-term: 50% pay (up to 12 months; max $3K/mo) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Disability (DIPNC) | Extended: Up to +12 months if temporary | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Disability (DIPNC) | Long-term: 65% pay (max $3.9K/mo; up to 3 years*) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Death | Active Death: 1× salary ($25K–$50K) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Death | Separate Insurance Benefit Plan: $5K (in service) / $4K (out of service) | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Line-of-Duty Death | LODD: $100K or $200K | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Line-of-Duty Death | Separate Insurance Benefit Plan: $2,100 | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Line-of-Duty Death | FRSWPF benefit continues to spouse | ✓ | ||||
| State Salary Continuation | Up to 2 years salary continuation (duty-related injury/hazard) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| State Salary Continuation | Up to 2 years salary continuation for qualifying employees (on-duty injury) | ✓ | ||||
| Behavioral Health | Employee Assistance Program | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Behavioral Health | DAC SHIELD Program | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Behavioral Health | Responder Assistance Initiative | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Supplemental / Other | NC FLEX | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Supplemental / Other | Firefighters' Cancer Ins. Program | ✓ | ||||
| Supplemental / Other | Firefighters' Relief Fund | ✓ |
| Category | Benefit | General Employees | Sworn Law Enforcement (LEOs) | 911 Telecomm. | Non-Sworn Detention Officers | Firefighters | Rescue and EMS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pension (Defined Benefit Retirement) | Lifetime monthly pension | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pension (Defined Benefit Retirement) | Required contributions: 6% of compensation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pension (Defined Benefit Retirement) | Can retire earlier with a reduced or unreduced benefit | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Pension (Defined Benefit Retirement) | Early retirement with reduced benefit | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Pension (Defined Benefit Retirement) | FRSWPF lifetime monthly pension benefit (if voluntary contributions are made) | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Pension (Defined Benefit Retirement) | Special Separation Allowance | ✓ | |||||
| NC 401(k) / NC 457 Plans | Voluntary tax-advantaged savings | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| NC 401(k) / NC 457 Plans | Transfer benefit | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| NC 401(k) / NC 457 Plans | Special calculation for transfer benefit if 5-years of service by June 30, 2010 | ✓ | |||||
| NC 401(k) / NC 457 Plans | Employer Contributions according to employer policy | ◯ | ◯ | ◯ | ◯ | ◯ | ◯ |
| NC 401(k) / NC 457 Plans | 5% required employer contribution | ✓ | |||||
| Employer-Paid Health Insurance | Active employees eligible for SHP with 125 local governments | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Employer-Paid Health Insurance | Retirees eligible for SHP (service prior to 1/1/21 and no withdrawal) with 11 entities | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Employer-Paid Health Insurance | Employer offering | ◯ | ◯ | ◯ | ◯ | ◯ | ◯ |
| Leave Benefits | According to employer policy | ◯ | ◯ | ◯ | ◯ | ◯ | ◯ |
| Worker's Compensation | Disability: Up to 66% of pay (work-related injury) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Worker's Compensation | Death: 66% weekly pay (min. 500 weeks) + up to $10K burial | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Disability | Disability: Lifetime benefit after 5 years of service with qualifying disability | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Disability | No 5-year requirement for line-of-duty | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Death | Active Death: 1× salary ($25K–$50K) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Death | Separate Insurance Benefit Plan: $5K (in service) / $4K (out of service) | ✓ | |||||
| Line-of-Duty Death | LODD: $100K or $200K | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Line-of-Duty Death | Separate Insurance Benefit Plan: $2,100 | ✓ | |||||
| Line-of-Duty Death | FRSWPF benefit continues to spouse | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Behavioral Health | Employer offering | ◯ | ◯ | ◯ | ◯ | ◯ | ✓ |
| Behavioral Health | Responder Assistance Initiative | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Supplemental / Other | Employer offering | ◯ | ◯ | ◯ | ◯ | ◯ | ◯ |
| Supplemental / Other | Firefighters' Cancer Ins. Program | ✓ | |||||
| Supplemental / Other | Firefighters' Relief Fund | ✓ | |||||
| Supplemental / Other | Rescue Relief Fund | ✓ | |||||
| Supplemental / Other | Special Separation Allowance | ✓ | ◯ | ◯ | |||
| Supplemental / Other | Worker's Compensation Fund | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Supplemental / Other | Fraternal Insurance Fund | ✓ |
| Category | Benefit | Firefighters (Volunteer / 501(c)(3) Departments) | Rescue and EMS (Volunteer / 501(c)(3) Departments) | Members of N.C. National Guard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pension (Defined Benefit Retirement) | FRSWPF lifetime benefit (if voluntary contributions are made) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Pension (Defined Benefit Retirement) | NCNGPF lifetime monthly pension | ✓ | ||
| Supplemental Retirement Savings (ie 401(k) | According to employer policy | ◯ | ◯ | ◯ |
| Employer-Paid Health Insurance | According to employer policy | ◯ | ◯ | |
| Leave Benefits | According to employer policy | ◯ | ◯ | |
| Worker's Compensation | Disability: Up to 66% of pay (work-related injury) | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Worker's Compensation | Death: 66% weekly pay (min. 500 weeks) + up to $10K burial | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Worker's Compensation | Disability: Up to 66% of pay (work-related injury) only while on State-approved missions | ✓ | ||
| Worker's Compensation | Death: 66% weekly pay (min. 500 weeks) + up to $10K burial only while on State-approved missions | ✓ | ||
| Disability | According to employer policy | ◯ | ◯ | |
| Death | According to employer policy | ◯ | ◯ | |
| Line-of-Duty Death | LODD: $100K or $200K | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Line-of-Duty Death | FRSWPF benefit continues to spouse | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Behavioral Health | Employer offering | ◯ | ◯ | ◯ |
| Behavioral Health | Responder Assistance Initiative | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Supplemental / Other | Employer offering | ◯ | ◯ | |
| Supplemental / Other | Firefighters' Cancer Ins. Program | ✓ | ||
| Supplemental / Other | Firefighters' Relief Fund | ✓ | ||
| Supplemental / Other | Rescue Relief Fund | ✓ | ||
| Supplemental / Other | Workers' Compensation Fund | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Supplemental / Other | Fraternal Insurance Fund | ✓ | ||
| Supplemental / Other | National Guard Tuition Assistance | ✓ | ||
| Supplemental / Other | National Guard Disability/Death | ✓ |