Workers comp may pay part of your pay for a while, and work plans are small and end when you leave. Most families get far less than they need. A policy you own pays no matter where or how you die.
What your family may get
| Source | What it pays for police officers |
|---|---|
| Workers comp | Usually yes, if you die from a work injury. It pays some funeral costs and part of your pay to your family, with limits set by your state. |
| PSOB (federal) | If you die in the line of duty as a public safety officer, your family may get $461,656 for deaths from Oct 1, 2025 to Sept 30, 2026. Strict rules apply. |
| Work life insurance | Many employers give a small plan, often 1 or 2 times your pay. It usually ends when you leave the job. |
| Social Security | A one time $255 payment, plus monthly checks for kids and some spouses if you worked long enough. |
Workers comp death benefits differ by state. Texas, for example, pays death benefits to help replace some lost pay and burial benefits for some funeral costs. Source: Texas Department of Insurance
The gap, in real numbers
The median police officer earns $77,310 a year (BLS, 2025). Ten years of that pay is $773,100.
A work plan that pays 1 times your pay covers $77,310. That leaves about $695,790 your family would have to make up, before the mortgage.
How to close the gap
- Buy a term policy you own. It stays with you if you change jobs.
- Pick an amount close to 10 years of pay plus your mortgage.
- Tell the insurer your real job. Hiding it can lead to a denied claim.
- Ask an agent which companies treat police officers fairly.
Common questions
What happens if a police officer dies on the job?
Usually yes, if you die from a work injury. It pays some funeral costs and part of your pay to your family, with limits set by your state. Many employers give a small plan, often 1 or 2 times your pay. It usually ends when you leave the job.
Does workers comp pay life insurance?
No. Workers comp is not life insurance. It may pay part of your lost pay and some funeral costs if a work injury kills you. It does not pay for deaths off the job.
Does my own life insurance pay if I die at work?
Yes. A regular life policy pays whether you die at work, at home or on vacation, as long as you told the truth on the application and the policy is in force.
Will my job make life insurance cost more?
It might. Some insurers add a charge for risky jobs. Others don't. A licensed agent can compare companies that are fair to police officers.
Sources
- BLS: Police and detectives
- BLS CFOI: Civilian occupations with high fatal work injury rates, 2023
- 59 percent of private industry workers had access to life insurance through work (March 2026)
- Social Security pays a one time $255 death payment to a surviving spouse or child who qualifies
- Social Security: Survivors benefits
- Texas Department of Insurance: Workers comp income and death benefits
- PSOB death benefit is $461,656 for deaths from Oct 1, 2025 to Sept 30, 2026
