Households of law enforcement misplaced to COVID-19 can now obtain compensation

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Texas families who lost a law enforcement officer to Covid-19 are now eligible for thousands of compensations.

Until recently, Covid-19 was not considered an occupational risk and families were not granted relief.

Around this time last year, Covid-19 cases increased, especially in prisons.

“They were in a small space, they had no way of getting out,” said Rachel Vega.

Abraham Vega was sick, his staff were sick, and within a week he would be dying from a ventilator.

The last time we spoke, Rachel had been frustrated the last year because she had to prove he caught the virus while working in a prison.

“I didn’t even have a chance to grieve because I was going through this,” Vega said.

But she got it to testify before the legislature

“I know what I’m fighting for. And I think we’re right, ”said Vega.

Texas has lost over 100 officials to Covid 19, according to CLEAT, an organization working to improve law enforcement.

Abraham is not included in this number, so it is unclear how many other employees died from Covid complications.

“Look at what happened to all the other people across the state who didn’t have this, you just really put everyone first,” Vega said.

Grieving families will face an obstacle to compensation for state and national workers for longer.

In order to receive government benefits, you must first be approved for government benefits, and this has been an obstacle for Rachel.

“Even if this happened a year ago, it’s not that you get a check the next day, you don’t get any automatic benefits,” Vega said.

With the new law, Vegas families and dozens across the state felt relieved.

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