Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB)
On December 18, 2025, the President signed into law provisions of the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, enacted as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. This legislation expands eligibility for federal benefits under the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Program by establishing a presumption for certain exposure-related cancers affecting firefighters and other first responders. Under the law, deaths and disabilities resulting from specified types of cancer may qualify for PSOB benefits when defined criteria are met. These provisions apply retroactively to eligible deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2020.
While we do not know all of the rules and regulations yet, what is known at this time is that, to be eligible under the presumption, a public safety officer must have completed five or more years of service prior to diagnosis and must not have been separated from active service for more than fifteen years prior to diagnosis. Importantly, the statute makes no distinction between paid and volunteer service.
For purposes of this law, the term “public safety officer” means a first responder who serves a governmental entity or a qualifying not-for-profit organization that functions as an extension of government. Most first responder agencies that do not have owners, stockholders, or others who profit financially from their operations meet this definition. If you have any uncertainty, please contact us.
The following primary cancers (not metastatic) are covered under the new law:
- Bladder
- Brain
- Breast
- Cervical
- Colon
- Colorectal
- Esophageal
- Kidney
- Leukemia
- Lung
- Malignant Melanoma
- Mesothelioma
- Multiple Myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Ovarian
- Prostate
- Skin
- Stomach
- Testicular
- Thyroid
In addition, any form of cancer considered a WTC-related health condition under section 3312(a) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. § 300mm–22(a)) is also covered.
Supporting Heroes has extensive experience assisting agencies and families with PSOB claims, and we provide this assistance at no cost.
If you are a public safety leader or a family member who believes a death or disability may qualify under these new provisions and would like our assistance, please submit the requested information online at: golamacinc.formstack.com/forms/supporting_heroes_cancer_presumption_registry. We anticipate filing a significant number of claims and would like to begin gathering information as soon as possible.
If you do not wish to request assistance at this time but would like to stay informed as additional guidance becomes available, we encourage you to visit www.SupportingHeroes.org/Federal-Benefits/ for updates.
Questions? Please contact us at HonorAndBenefits@SupportingHeroes.org.
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