South Carolina Fire Service Membership Benefits
State Income Tax Credit, Insurance Benefits, Training Resources, Retirement Program, Great Experience ... and So Many More
Being a volunteer with a South Carolina Volunteer fire and rescue department brings with it many benefits including a $3,000 state income tax deduction, health, life and disability insurance, LOSAP (Length of Service Award Program), education discounts, housing discounts, various merchandise and service discounts, and specialty license plate. But the real benefit? Having an amazing, unmatched positive impact on your community and making a difference every day.
Check out an overview of the many benefits below to learn more. Please note that some benefits vary by county and department so please ask for specific information when you speak with someone from the department you apply with.
You may be a volunteer but that doesn’t mean there are not financial incentives. South Carolina residents receive up to $3,000 tax credit per individual as of 2018 tax year (up to $6,000 with qualifying spouse) through the Volunteer Incentive Tax Program (V.I.P.).
Minimum participation levels and qualifying documents are required. Participation point triggers include training, meetings, call volume/volunteer response, other service to the department and bonus points.
Discounted memberships to the National Volunteer Fire Council are available for SCSFA members.
Benefits include a $10,000 AD&D insurance policy, access to resources and online training, educational discounts, product discounts and much more.
When you walk in the door of a volunteer fire department in South Carolina, you’ll be home. You are not just a volunteer with a great organization with an important mission serving the community. You’ll find a second family waiting for you. Give back to your community in the process — neighbors helping neighbors.
Whether you have tons of fire/ems experience or a rookie fresh to public safety, we offer numerous basic to advanced fire, rescue, EMS & leadership courses through county, state and federal programs — plus individual departments typically offer even more. Training schedules are available to meet just about anyone’s needs.
Members have full access to SCSFA training and education events throughout the state. These events include Fire-Rescue Conference, Fire Service Improvement Conference, Quarterly Training, Leadership Institute and SC Fire Training. Working with partners such as the S.C. Fire Academy and State Fire, we host several additional events.
SCSFA members, via dues paid by your department, receive an array of life and disability insurance programs, as well as discounted offerings to individual coverage and much more.
The LOSAP provides a retirement benefit to volunteer firefighters between age 55 and 62 (as chosen by the individual department) and 20 years of service, whichever is earlier.
Many volunteer fire/EMS departments across South Carolina offer a variety of unique benefits ranging from in-station bunkroom programs, which allow trained Firefighter/EMTs to live at the firehouse full-time in exchange for providing service to the community to more tuition reimbursement options, flexible shifts, members events and more. Ask your department’s recruiter about what they offer!