By, Erick Fountain
Marketing Support, Benefit Intelligence
To help ease some of the financial burden caused by the pandemic, FEMA will be providing financial assistance for funeral expenses for deaths related to COVID-19 incurred after Jan. 20, 2020.
Assistance is limited to a maximum financial amount of $9,000 per funeral and a maximum of $35,500 per application. There is currently no deadline to apply for this assistance and FEMA will communicate a specific deadline when one is established.
Who is Eligible?
- Died in the United States, including the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.
- Death certificate indicates the death was attributed to COVID-19.
- Funeral expenses were incurred after January 20, 2020.
- Must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or a qualified alien.
Which Funeral Expenses are Covered?
- Transportation for up to two individuals to identify the deceased individual
- Transfer of remains
- Casket or urn
- Burial plot or cremation niche
- Marker or headstone
- Clergy or officiant services
- Arrangement of the funeral ceremony
- Use of funeral home equipment or staff
- Cremation or interment costs
- Costs associated with producing and certifying multiple death certificates
- Additional expenses mandated by any applicable local or state government laws or ordinances
How to Apply?
The first step in applying is to gather information and documents related to your COVID-19 funeral expenses.
Information you need to know when submitting your application:
- Social Security number for the applicant and the deceased individual
- Date of birth for the applicant and the deceased individual
- Current mailing address for the applicant
- Current telephone number for the applicant
- Location or address where the deceased individual passed away
- Information about burial or funeral insurance policies
- Information about other funeral assistance received, such as donations
- CARES Act grants and assistance from voluntary organizations
- Routing and account number of the applicant’s checking or savings account (for direct deposit, if requested)
Documents you need to submit after you finish your application:
- An official death certificate that attributes the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19 and shows that the death occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.
- Funeral expenses documents (receipts, funeral home contract, invoice, etc.) that includes the applicant’s name, the deceased person’s name, the amount of the funeral expenses, and the dates the funeral happened.
- Proof of funds received from other sources specifically for use toward funeral costs.
The death certificate must indicate that the death was “caused by”, “may have been caused by”, “was likely a result of COVID-19”, or “COVID-19-like symptoms.”
If the death certificate does not include anything related to COVID-19, you may be able to change or amend it. This process starts with contacting the person who certified the death – such as the doctor, coroner, or medical examiner – that person’s name and address will be on the death certificate.
It is important to gather all necessary information and documentation before applying for assistance. Having these documents on hand will help the application process move along smoothly and quicker.
The next step is to begin your application and call the toll-free COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Line Number: 844-684-6333 | TTY: 800-462-7585, to complete your COVID-19 Funeral Assistance application with help from a FEMA representative. Multilingual services are available. The purpose of this phone call is to start and complete your application, which should take about 20 minutes to complete. You must call, no online applications will be accepted.
After Submitting Your Application
Once you have applied, you will be given an application number, you must then submit your supporting documents in one of three ways:
- Upload to your DisasterAssistance.gov account
- Fax documents: 855-261-3452
- Mail documents: P.O. Box 10001, Hyattsville, MD 20782
Again, the documents you will need to submit are:
- An official death certificate that attributes the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19 and shows that the death occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.
- Funeral expenses documents (receipts, funeral home contract, invoice, etc.) that includes the applicant’s name, the deceased person’s name, the amount of the funeral expenses, and the dates the funeral happened.
- Proof of funds received from other sources specifically for use toward funeral costs.
How are Funds Received?
Funds will be sent via direct deposit or a check in the mail, depending on which option you choose when you completed your application.
Beware of Scams
FEMA will not contact you until you initiate contact first or submit an application. Do not disclose information such as the name, birth date or social security number of any deceased family member to any unsolicited telephone calls or e-mails from anyone claiming to be a federal employee or from FEMA.
If you doubt a FEMA representative is legitimate, hang up and report it to the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 or the National Center for Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721. Complaints also may be made by contacting local law enforcement agencies.
Checkout FEMA’s FAQ page here for additional resources and information.