The ORPHAN FRATERNAL BENEFIT, which is described below, shall be available,
• If the father is a member in good standing with his subordinate council,
• If he or his wife have at least one Knights of Columbus individual life insurance certificate in force on his or her life, and
• If such certificate requires an annual premium of at least $150 or provides at least $5,000 permanent life insurance coverage. (This life insurance certificate is referred to as the "Qualifying Certificate".)
For purposes of eligibility for the Orphan Fraternal Benefit, a member in good standing is a member who has paid his current dues to his subordinate council, and whose membership is not suspended, forfeited or otherwise terminated for any reason and who is not an inactive insurance member.The references below to "he" and "his" apply to both males and females.
If a member’s natural child, adopted child or stepchild (who resides with the member and/or his wife), who is the primary insured under a Knights of Columbus life insurance certificate, or has been declined for such coverage, becomes an orphan (i.e. has no living parent, stepparent or adoptive parent) at any time prior to his 19th birthday, he shall receive a payment of $80 per month, with the initial $80 payment being made on the first day of the month following the date on which the child becomes an orphan and subsequent payments being made on the first day of each month thereafter. Prior to his 18th birthday, payments shall be made to the orphan’s legally appointed guardian for the orphan’s benefit. If a child becomes an orphan prior to attaining the age of 61 days, the requirement that he be the primary insured under a Knights of Columbus life insurance certificate shall be waived.The claim for this $80 monthly benefit must be received at the Supreme Office of the Knights of Columbus within three years of the date the child becomes an orphan. This monthly benefit shall cease when the status of the Knights of Columbus certificate insuring his life is no longer either premium paying or fully paid up, when he enters military service, when he graduates from high school, when he marries, or when he attains the age of 19; provided, however, that a single full time student who is receiving the monthly benefit prior to his 19th birthday can continue to receive such monthly benefit (while he remains in college or vocation/technical school) until his 23rd birthday.Benefits paid to a full time student cease when he is no longer attending school, unless the reason for leaving school is a disabling disease. In such event, benefits will continue until the orphan’s 23rd birthday.
Based on need, as determined by the financial aid office of his educational institution, an orphan is also eligible for a Knights of Columbus scholarship of up to $1,750 per year, not to exceed $7,000 over a four year period.
The Orphan Fraternal Benefit is made available by the Order to those children who become orphans on or after August 1, 1994. The Orphan Fraternal Benefit may be amended or discontinued at any time by action of the Order’s Board of Directors. The Order has the sole right to define and determine the eligible orphan. Any interpretation of the definition made by the Order is final.
