Providence, R.I. Firefighters with Cancer to Get Disability Pensions

Providence, Rhode Island firefighters diagnosed with cancer will receive accidental disability pensions under a measure passed by the City Council.

Firefighters with cancer will be presumed to have developed the disease on the job, but in order to receive the pensions, they’ll be required to show that they don’t smoke, use drugs or abuse alcohol.

Fire Chief George Farrell and six other firefighters have cancer.

All 13 council members who attended last Thursday night’s meeting supported the measure.

Retirees on accidental disability pensions receive annual sums equal to two-thirds of the average of their three highest years’ salaries.

To be eligible, firefighters would have to show that they developed cancer while working for the city or within three years of retirement.

___

Information from: The Providence Journal, http://www.projo.com/

Latest Comments

• April 22, 2008 at 3:11 am

  Curious says:

  Ok....I saw a claim once where a school teacher was claiming that their colo-rectal cancer was 'job related' and they were attempting to get this covered by their WC also, as ... read more
• April 22, 2008 at 2:46 am

  Dread says:

  Obviously some firefighters on the city council. Residents should be outraged over this gratuitous coverage that they'll be paying for somehow. But hey, why limit it to canc... read more
• April 22, 2008 at 2:12 am

  Moonlight says:

  What if they live in a house with another smoker... Secondhand Smoke? How about if they moonlight at the local floresent light bulb factory... or weld on the weekends as a hob... read more