FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance
FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many families. At FEMA, our mission is to help people before, during and after disasters. We are dedicated to helping ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the virus.
Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020.
GFDA encourages you to share the information with your families who may be eligible for reimbursement. Note: FEMA has updated their Funeral Assistance Video. If you placed the original video on your website, you will want to replace it with the new version.
Announcements from FEMA
- FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance State-by-State Breakdown - October 4, 2021 - FEMA has provided over $1.158 billion to more than 176,000 people to assist with COVID-19-related funeral costs for deaths occurring on or after Jan. 20, 2020. HERE
How to Apply
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Line Number
844-684-6333 | TTY: 800-462-7585
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time
Call this dedicated toll-free phone number to get a COVID-19 Funeral Assistance application completed with help from FEMA's representatives. Multilingual services will be available.
Get answers to frequently asked questions about the application process below or visit the FEMA Funeral Assistance FAQ page.
If you use a relay service, such as your videophone, Innocaption or CapTel, please provide your specific number assigned to that service. It is important that FEMA is able to contact you, and you should be aware phone calls from FEMA may come from an unidentified number.
Funeral Assistance Policy
On June 29, 2021, FEMA amended the funeral assistance policy to assist with COVID-19 related fatalities that occurred in the early months of the pandemic.
This policy change will allow applicants to submit a statement or letter from the death certificate’s certifying official, medical examiner, or coroner, that attributes the death to COVID-19 fatalities that occurred between Jan. 20 and May 16, 2020.
Read the amended policy HERE
Read the Policy Change Frequently Asked Questions HERE
Who is Eligible?
To be eligible for funeral assistance, you must meet these conditions:
- For deaths that occurred after May 16, 2020, the death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19.
- For deaths that occurred from Jan. 20 to May 16, 2020, any death certificate that does not attribute the cause of death to COVID-19 must be accompanied by a signed statement listing COVID-19 as a cause or contributing cause of death.
- The signed statement must be provided by the original certifier of the death certificate or the local medical examiner or coroner from the jurisdiction in which the death occurred.
- The statement must provide an additional explanation, or causal pathway, linking the cause of death listed on the death certificate with COVID-19.
If you had COVID-19 funeral expenses, we encourage you to keep and gather documentation. Types of information should include:
- Official death certificate that shows the death occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories.
- If the death certificate is from Jan. 20 to May 16, 2020 it must either attribute the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19 or be accompanied by a signed statement provided by the original certifier of the death certificate or the local medical examiner or coroner from the jurisdiction in which the death occurred listing COVID-19 as a cause or contributing cause of death. This statement must provide an additional explanation, or causal pathway, linking the cause of death listed on the death certificate with COVID-19.
- If the death certificate from May 17, 2020 or later the death certificate must attribute the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19.
If you are eligible for funeral assistance you will receive a check by mail, or funds by direct deposit, depending on which option you choose when you apply for assistance.
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NOTE: The FAQ section includes a section for Funeral Directors and Other Deathcare Providers and was updated August 29, 2021.
APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE
Who can apply for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance?
You may qualify if:
- You are a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who paid for funeral expenses after January 20, 2020, and
- The funeral expenses were for an individual whose death in the United States, territories or the District of Columbia, may have been caused by or was likely the result of COVID-19.
Who cannot apply?
- States, tribes, territories, businesses, organizations, and other entities.
- A minor child cannot apply on behalf of an adult who is not a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien.
- However, a minor child who is a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien, can apply if they directly incurred funeral expenses for a COVID-19-related death and the documentation supports that assertion.
- There are several categories of aliens lawfully present in the U.S. who are not eligible for FEMA’s Individual and Households Program assistance, including funeral assistance. These include, but are not limited to:
- Citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands
- Temporary tourist visa holders
- Foreign students
- Temporary work visa holders
Can I apply online?
- No online applications will be accepted.
When you call, it will take about 20 minutes to apply, and you can ask questions and receive the help you need with the application process.
Once you have applied for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance and received your FEMA application number, you may submit required documentation to FEMA in several ways:
- Upload documents to your DisasterAssistance.gov account
- Fax to: 855-261-3452
- Mail to: P.O. BOX 10001, Hyattsville, MD 20782When you call, it will take about 20 minutes to apply, and you can ask questions and receive the help you need with the application process.
Will the money run out?
The President approved funding for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred on or after January 20, 2020, under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. A funding gap has not been identified.
What can I do to avoid delays in processing my COVID-19 Funeral Assistance application?
You are encouraged to provide documentation verifying the death was attributed to COVID-19, along with proof of funeral expenses, as well as proof of other funeral assistance received, as soon as possible. Once FEMA receives all your documentation, we will verify and validate it as part of the application review process.
What funeral expenses are covered?
Eligible COVID-19 Funeral Assistance expenses typically include, but are not limited to:
- Funeral services
- Cremation
- Interment
- 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
- Costs associated with producing and certifying multiple death certificates
- Additional expenses mandated by any applicable local or state government laws or ordinances
Can a funeral home apply on my behalf?
Funeral homes are not eligible to apply on your behalf or to be a co-applicant on your COVID-19 Funeral Assistance application. The person applying must be an individual, not a business or other entity, who incurred COVID-19-related funeral expenses.
I was responsible for funeral expenses for more than one person whose death was attributed to COVID-19. Can I apply for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance for more than one death? Is there a limit?
If you incurred COVID-19-related funeral expenses for more than one individual, you may receive COVID-19 Funeral Assistance at a maximum of $9,000 per deceased individual and a maximum of $35,500 per application, per state, territory, or the District of Columbia, in cases where the applicant incurred funeral expenses for multiple deceased individuals.
If you incurred COVID-19-related funeral expenses for more than one individual, you may receive COVID-19 Funeral Assistance at a maximum of $9,000 per deceased individual and a maximum of $35,500 per application, per state, territory, or the District of Columbia, in cases where the applicant incurred funeral expenses for multiple deceased individuals.
Someone else helped me pay for funeral expenses. Can they apply for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance?
All funeral expenses for a deceased individual must be submitted in a single application. You may include one co-applicant on your application. If multiple people contribute toward an individual’s COVID-19-related funeral expenses, one of them should apply for assistance and submit funeral expense documentation from everyone who contributed in that single application.
Can I apply for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance even though I’ve already applied for a recent disaster event?
Yes. If you recently applied for FEMA disaster assistance for home and/or personal property damage and also incurred funeral expenses for a death attributed to COVID-19 on or after January 20, 2020, you may apply for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance. You will need to call the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline to complete an application for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance.
Are pre-planned and pre-paid funerals eligible for reimbursement if the individual died due to COVID-19?
No.
Any source of payment designated specifically to pay for a funeral prior to death is considered a duplication and is not eligible for reimbursement. COVID-19 Funeral Assistance may not duplicate burial or funeral insurance proceeds, pre-planned or pre-paid funeral contracts, pre-paid trust for funeral expenses, irrevocable trust for Medicaid, financial assistance from voluntary organizations, government programs or agencies, or any other sources specifically designated for funeral expenses. Any eligible COVID-19 Funeral Assistance will be reduced by the amount of other assistance you received for the same expenses.
To be eligible for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance, you must provide documentation showing you incurred COVID-19-related funeral expenses on or after January 20, 2020. FEMA cannot provide financial assistance that duplicates any source of funding designated specifically to pay for a funeral prior to death or for a death not attributed to COVID-19.
Is life insurance considered a duplication of benefit? What if I used life insurance to pay for funeral expenses?
FEMA does not consider life insurance proceeds, death gratuities, or other forms of assistance not specifically intended to defray funeral costs as a duplication of benefit. Therefore, applicants who used life insurance to pay for funeral expenses may be considered for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance.
What happens if I have a funeral or burial insurance policy, but the policy covers only part of the funeral expenses, and I have to pay the rest?
Any funding designated specifically for funeral costs is considered a duplication and is not eligible for reimbursement. This includes burial or funeral insurance, a pre-planned or pre-paid funeral contract, a pre-paid trust for funeral expenses, or an irrevocable trust for Medicaid.
Any funding designated specifically for funeral costs is considered a duplication and is not eligible for reimbursement. This includes burial or funeral insurance, a pre-planned or pre-paid funeral contract, a pre-paid trust for funeral expenses, or an irrevocable trust for Medicaid.
However, if COVID-19-related funeral expenses were incurred on or after January 20, 2020, and exceeded the funding intended to pay these costs, FEMA may evaluate your receipts and other documentation for eligible costs not covered by those funds to ensure there is no duplication of benefits. For example, if you incur expenses for a $10,000 funeral, where the funeral or burial insurance covered only $8,000, you may be eligible for $2,000 in COVID-19 Funeral Assistance.
Can I apply for assistance with funeral expenses for a death that occurred outside the United States?
No. The death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories or the District of Columbia.
Do I need to submit a certified copy of a death certificate to apply for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance?
While FEMA does not require a certified copy of the death certificate, you should follow state law when submitting documentation, as some states do not allow vital records to be copied, scanned, or electronically transmitted.
How does FEMA define non-citizen national and qualified alien?
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance, a type of assistance provided under the Individuals and Households Program (IHP), is available to U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or qualified aliens. The FEMA Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide provides the following definitions:
- U.S. Citizen: A person born in one of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or the Northern Mariana Islands; a person born outside of the U.S. to at least one U.S. parent; or naturalized citizen.
- Non-Citizen National: A person born in an outlying possession of the U.S. (e.g., American Samoa or Swain's Island) on or after the date the U.S. acquired the possession, or a person whose parents are U.S. non-citizen nationals. All U.S. citizens are U.S. nationals; however, not every U.S. national is a U.S. citizen.
- Qualified Alien: Legal permanent resident ("green card" holder); an asylee, refugee, or an alien whose deportation is being withheld; alien paroled into the U.S. for at least one year; alien granted conditional entry (per law in effect prior to April 1, 1980); Cuban/Haitian entrant; aliens in the U.S. who have been abused, subject to battery or extreme cruelty by a spouse or other family/household member, or have been a victim of a severe form of human trafficking; aliens whose children have been abused and alien children whose parent has been abused who fit certain criteria.
There are several categories of aliens lawfully present in the U.S. who are not eligible for assistance under the FEMA Individuals and Households Program, including COVID-19 Funeral Assistance. These include, but are not limited to:
- Citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands
- Temporary tourist visa holders
- Foreign students
- Temporary work visa holders
Many funeral homes have funeral service packages that include reimbursable expenses. Do the services have to be itemized on a funeral bill or can they be listed as a package to receive the reimbursement?
Each cost in a funeral service package must be listed separately (i.e., itemized). Documentation must also include:
- The name of the individual responsible for the cost;
- The deceased individual's name;
- The total amount of the funeral expenses; and
- The date the funeral expenses were incurred.
What happens after I apply?
After you apply for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance by calling the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline, the FEMA representative will provide you a FEMA application number. You will need to include this number on any documentation you submit to FEMA, or if you call the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline at a later time to ask questions about your application.
Within 3 to 5 business days after you apply, FEMA will send you a letter with information about COVID-19 Funeral Assistance and a list of documents you must submit.
If you use a relay service such as a videophone, Innocaption or CapTel, please provide FEMA with the specific number assigned to you for that service so that FEMA can contact you.
Does FEMA consider annual household income when determining how much an applicant is awarded for Funeral Assistance?
No. Your income does not affect your eligibility, although you will be asked to provide your annual gross household income when you apply for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance. FEMA collects this information for demographic purposes only.
If I did not arrange a funeral service at the time of the individual’s death, can I incur costs for a funeral service now and apply for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance?
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance is considered a one-time payment for funeral expenses, and you should apply after you have incurred all expenses. If you incur additional funeral expenses after receiving COVID-19 Funeral Assistance, you will need to submit an appeal and additional supporting documentation (e.g., receipts, funeral home contract, etc.). COVID-19 Funeral Assistance is limited to a maximum of $9,000 per deceased individual.
INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTATION NEEDED
What information do I need to provide when I register?
You will need to provide the following information when you call the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline to apply for assistance:
- 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 individual died
- 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)
What documentation do I need?
You must provide a copy of the death certificate, proof of funeral expenses incurred, and proof of funeral assistance received from any other source.
- The death certificate must indicate the death was caused by, “may have been caused by,” or “was likely a result of” COVID-19 or COVID-19-like symptoms. Similar phrases that indicate a high likelihood of COVID-19 are considered sufficient attribution. If the death certificate was issued from Jan. 20 to May 16, 2020 and does not list COVID-19 as a cause of death, you may submit the death certificate along with a signed statement from the original certifier of the death, or the local medical examiner or coroner, attributing the death to COVID-19.
- The death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories or the District of Columbia. Funeral expenses incurred for a U.S. citizen who died outside the United States are not eligible.
- Documentation for expenses (receipts, funeral home contract, etc.) must include your name as an individual responsible for the expenses, the deceased individual’s name, itemized funeral expenses, and proof funeral expenses were incurred on or after January 20, 2020.
- You must also provide FEMA with proof of funds received from other sources specifically designated for funeral costs. COVID-19 Funeral Assistance may not duplicate burial or funeral insurance proceeds, pre-planned or pre-paid funeral contracts, pre-paid trust for funeral expenses, irrevocable trust for Medicaid, financial assistance from voluntary organizations, government programs or agencies, or any other sources specifically designated for funeral expenses. Any eligible COVID-19 Funeral Assistance will be reduced by the amount of other assistance you received for the same expenses.
- Life insurance proceeds are not considered a duplication of COVID-19 Funeral Assistance benefits.
The death certificate doesn’t attribute the death to COVID-19. How do I get a death certificate amended?
The death certificate amendment process starts by contacting the individual who certified the death. This may be a physician, coroner, or medical examiner. You may provide them with evidence supporting your claim the death was attributable to COVID-19.
In the early days of the pandemic, COVID-19 was rarely if ever noted as a cause of death on a death certificate. What do I do?
FEMA broadened its COVID-19 Funeral Assistance documentation requirements to allow applicants to submit a written statement from the certifying official listed on the death certificate, medical examiner, or coroner attributing the death to COVID-19 for deaths that occurred between January 20 and May 16, 2020.
The signed statement must accompany the death certificate and include a causal pathway, or explanation, linking the cause of death on the death certificate to COVID-19.
Will FEMA accept a written statement for COVID-19 deaths that occurred after May 16, 2020?
No. For deaths occurring after May 16, 2020, COVID-19 Funeral Assistance documentation must include a death certificate that attributes the death to COVID-19 and shows the death occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories or the District of Columbia.
Why won’t FEMA accept a written statement for all COVID-19 Funeral Assistance applications?
Following consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), FEMA believes the largest number of undiagnosed COVID-19 cases most likely occurred early in the pandemic and prior to the CDC’s guidance on death certification.
Can the signed statement be from any certifying official, medical examiner, or coroner?
No. The signed statement must be signed by the certifying official listed on the death certificate, or the local medical examiner or local coroner in the jurisdiction where the individual died.
How do I prove the individual who died did not have life insurance?
You will not be asked to provide proof of life insurance. Life insurance proceeds are not considered a duplication of COVID-19 Funeral Assistance.
I have submitted documents, but I don’t see them in my file. Do I need to resend or upload again?
It may take up to 14 business days for documents to appear in your case file. Please do not resend documents or call to check on the status without allowing enough time for FEMA to upload and process your paperwork.
RECEIVING AND ELIGIBILITY DECISION
How will I receive COVID-19 Funeral Assistance?
If you are approved for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance, you will receive a check by mail or funds by direct deposit, depending on which option you chose when applying for assistance.
I received a decision letter and was not approved. How do I appeal FEMA’s decision?
You have 60 days from the date of the decision letter to upload, fax or mail a signed letter appealing FEMA's decision.
The appeal should include the following:
- Your full name; FEMA application number; FEMA disaster number; and current phone number and address. You must include your application number on each page of your appeal documentation.
- Explanation of why you think FEMA’s decision is not correct.
- Supporting documentation, such as a death certificate, funeral home contract, invoice, written statement, etc.
- Your signature
- Upload through your DisasterAssistance.gov account.
- Fax to 855-261-3452.
- Mail to P.O. BOX 10001, Hyattsville, MD 20782
Your COVID-19 Funeral Assistance decision letter lists the specific documentation you must provide to FEMA if you decided to appeal. A FEMA representative may call you to provide further details, or you may contact the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline for more information on the documentation needed.
MENTAL HEALTH
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many families.
- Call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990 for immediate help and support.
- Visit the American Red Cross Virtual Family Assistance Center website, or call 833-492-0094, for comfort, support, information, and resource referrals if you have suffered loss due to COVID-19. All support is provided virtually and is completely confidential.
BEWARE OF SCAMS
Will FEMA contact me to ask for personal information to apply?
FEMA will not contact you unless you have already called FEMA and applied for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance. Do not disclose information such as the name, birth date, or Social Security Number of any deceased individual during an unsolicited telephone call or e-mail from anyone.
Phone calls from FEMA may come from an unidentified number. If you doubt a caller is legitimate, hang up and report it to the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline at 844-684-6333 or the National Center for Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721.
FUNERAL DIRECTORS AND OTHER DEATHCARE PROVIDERS
Can FEMA give us a copy of the application so we can let our customers know what questions to expect?
The COVID-19 Funeral Assistance application is completed by a FEMA agent over the phone to ensure accuracy, and applicants will need to provide the following information when they call to apply:
- 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 individual died
- 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)
Can a funeral home employee assist individuals with the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance application process?
While a funeral home employee may help an individual gather required documentation, they cannot speak on behalf of the applicant unless the applicant designates them to act on their behalf through a power of attorney.
Will FEMA approve funding for fees associated with the application process?
FEMA will not approve financial assistance for third-party fees charged to assist individuals with the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance application process.
If the applicant does not have internet connectivity, can the funeral home submit documents to a FEMA Disaster Assistance account created by the applicant? Can the funeral home e-mail be used for multiple Disaster Assistance accounts?
The Privacy Act restricts who can access a disasterassistance.gov accounts to the applicant and/or co-applicant.
While a funeral home may provide internet access to the applicant, they cannot submit the documents or receive correspondence on the applicant’s behalft. Learn more about who can help during the application.
Is there a time period after which the $35,500 per household limit resets?
No. The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan of 2021 directed FEMA to provide COVID-19 Funeral Assistance under the Other Needs Assistance provision of the Individuals and Households Program. The Other Needs Assistance provision limits COVID-19 Funeral Assistance to a maximum of $9,000 per deceased individual and $35,500 per application, per state, territory, or the District of Columbia, in cases where the applicant incurred funeral expenses for multiple deceased individuals.
An individual gave a previously purchased burial plot to someone who died of COVID-19. Can they receive COVID-19 Funeral Assistance for the plot they gave away?
No. COVID-19 Funeral Assistance is only available to individuals who incurred funeral expenses for a death attributed to COVID-19 on or after January 20, 2020.
How will FEMA verify that funeral home contracts are legitimate? Will FEMA request verification from the funeral home before approval?
As part of the application review process, FEMA validates documentation, and may call the funeral home to verify receipts or expenses.
What if an individual cannot pay for funeral expenses before applying for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance?
If the applicant has not paid the funeral expenses in full, but incurred the expenses after January 20, 2020, they must provide proof of funeral expenses (e.g., receipts, funeral home contract, etc.). Review a list of required documentation here.
Is there a guarantee the funeral home will be paid once the applicant receives COVID-19 Funeral Assistance? What will happen if the funeral bill has not been paid?
FEMA is authorized to provide COVID-19 Funeral Assistance directly to an eligible applicant. It is the applicant’s responsibility to settle outstanding debts with the funeral home.
What is the legal responsibility of funeral directors for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance?
Funeral directors do not have a legal responsibility to assist with COVID-19 Funeral Assistance. FEMA may call the respective funeral home to verify receipts or expenses submitted by an applicant.
What if someone incurs funeral expenses after applying for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance? Will these additional services be covered?
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance is considered a one-time payment for funeral expenses, and individuals should apply after incurring all applicable costs. If an individual incurs additional funeral expenses after receiving COVID-19 Funeral Assistance, they will need to file an appeal and submit additional documentation (e.g., receipts, funeral home contract, etc.). COVID-19 Funeral Assistance is limited to a maximum of $9,000 per deceased individual and $35,500 per application, per state, territory, or the District of Columbia, in cases where the applicant incurred funeral expenses for multiple deceased individuals.
What is the turnaround time for an applicant to receive COVID-19 Funeral Assistance once all documents are submitted?
FEMA eligibility determinations are generally made in fewer than 30 days from the time all required documentation is received and verified. Once an eligibility determination is made, applicants who request direct deposit may receive the funds in a matter of days. It may take longer if the applicant has chosen to receive COVID-19 Funeral Assistance by check, which is sent by mail.
What if an individual schedules services with the funeral home for a future date, gets COVID-19 Funeral Assistance from FEMA, and then cancels those services and requests a refund?
FEMA regulations require the applicant to use COVID-19 Funeral Assistance for its intended purpose.
Can COVID-19 Funeral Assistance funding be assigned to the funeral home?
No. COVID-19 Funeral Assistance is provided to the individual who incurred the expenses. It is the applicant’s responsibility to pay the funeral home the amount due.
Can the funeral home apply for assistance if they have been appointed by the court as the preferred creditor?
No. Section 408(e)(1) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act) does not recognize funeral homes or other businesses as eligible recipients of federal funds under the Individuals and Households Program. FEMA will not provide COVID-19 Funeral Assistance funds to states, tribes, territories, businesses, organizations, and other entities.
Can a religious order that paid for multiple COVID-19-related deaths on behalf of their members apply for assistance all together, or do they need to apply for assistance for each individually?
Only individuals who incurred COVID-19-related funeral expenses are eligible to apply for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance. FEMA will not provide COVID-19 Funeral Assistance funds to states, tribes, territories, businesses, organizations, and other entities.
How would it work if a burial society handles arrangements for its members?
FEMA will not provide COVID-19 Funeral Assistance funds to states, tribes, territories, businesses, organizations, and other entities. The burial society would need to provide an itemized bill to the society member. The society member would then submit the bill to FEMA as part of their application for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance.
INTERIM POLICY CHANGE
What was the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance policy change?
FEMA expanded the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Interim Policy to assist with COVID-19 related deaths that occurred in the early months of the pandemic, before the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidance on death certification. This policy change allows applicants to submit a signed statement from the certifying official on the death certificate, local medical examiner, or local coroner that links the death to COVID-19 for deaths that occurred between Jan. 20 and May 16, 2020.
FEMA expanded the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Interim Policy to assist with COVID-19 related deaths that occurred in the early months of the pandemic, before the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidance on death certification. This policy change allows applicants to submit a signed statement from the certifying official on the death certificate, local medical examiner, or local coroner that links the death to COVID-19 for deaths that occurred between Jan. 20 and May 16, 2020.
Why didn’t FEMA amend the policy to accept a letter of attribution for all COVID-19 Funeral Assistance applications?
Following consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), FEMA believes the largest number of undiagnosed COVID-19 cases likely happened early in the pandemic and prior to the implementation of CDC’s national guidance on death certification related to COVID-19.
Can the signed statement be from any certifying official, medical examiner, or coroner?
The statement must be signed by the certifying official listed on the death certificate, local medical examiner, or local coroner from the city/county/parish where the individual died.
Can an signed statement be submitted in place of a death certificate?
No. The signed statement must accompany the death certificate. The letter must also include a causal pathway, or explanation, linking the cause of death on the death certificate to COVID-19.
Last updated August 29, 2021
March 24, 2021
WASHINGTON --In early April, FEMA will begin providing financial assistance for funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020 for deaths related to coronavirus (COVID-19) to help ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the pandemic. The policy was finalized today, and FEMA is now moving rapidly to implement this funeral assistance program nationwide.
"At FEMA, our mission is to help people before, during and after disasters," said Acting FEMA Administrator Bob Fenton. “The COVID-19 pandemic has caused immense grief for so many people. Although we cannot change what has happened, we affirm our commitment to help with funeral and burial expenses that many families did not anticipate."
To be eligible for COVID-19 funeral assistance, the policy states:
- The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after Jan. 20, 2020 for a death attributed to COVID-19.
- If multiple individuals contributed toward funeral expenses, they should apply under a single application as applicant and co-applicant. FEMA will also consider documentation from other individuals not listed as the applicant and co-applicant who may have incurred funeral expenses as part of the registration for the deceased individual.
- An applicant may apply for multiple deceased individuals.
- The COVID-19-related death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.
- This assistance is limited to a maximum financial amount of $9,000 per funeral and a maximum of $35,500 per application.
- Funeral assistance is intended to assist with expenses for funeral services and interment or cremation.
In the coming weeks, a dedicated 800 number will be established to help individuals who apply. In the meantime, potential applicants are encouraged to start gathering the following documentation:
- An official death certificate that attributes the death to COVID-19 and shows that the death occurred in the United States. The death certificate must indicate the death “may have been caused by” or “was likely the result of” COVID-19 or COVID-19-like symptoms. Similar phrases that indicate a high likelihood of COVID-19 are considered sufficient attribution.
- Funeral expense documents (receipts, funeral home contract, etc.) that include the applicant’s name, the deceased individual’s name, the amount of funeral expenses and dates the funeral expenses were incurred.
- Proof of funds received from other sources specifically for use toward funeral costs. Funeral assistance may not duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance, financial assistance received from voluntary agencies, federal/state/local/tribal/territorial government programs or agencies, or other sources.
For more information about this assistance, visit COVID-19 Funeral Assistance | FEMA.gov.
June 14, 2021
WASHINGTON -- FEMA has provided more than $278 million to over 41,000 people for COVID-19-related funeral costs reimbursements.
The national average for an award is $6,756, as nearly 2,500 FEMA employees continue working with applicants to manually review every application, determining eligibility each week.
“Applications” in the below chart reflect the number of individuals who called to begin the process for assistance. Once an individual applies, FEMA sends a letter outlining the required documentation needed to process their application. The process to determine eligibility starts after an applicant submits all required documentation. FEMA developed a process to ensure applicants have ample time to collect and submit required documents for assistance. While some jurisdictions provide or amend death certificates in four to six weeks, others may take longer. FEMA will make calls and send additional letters reminding applicants of the required documents.
Please find below state-specific information (including "Applications" information) by visiting HERE.
June 29, 2021
WASHINGTON -- FEMA is amending the agency’s COVID-19 funeral assistance policy to assist with COVID-19 related fatalities that occurred in the early months of the pandemic.
This policy change will allow applicants to submit a statement or letter from the death certificate’s certifying official, medical examiner, or coroner that attributes the death to COVID-19 fatalities that occurred between Jan. 20 and May 16, 2020.
This policy change was made after consulting with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention officials and other health experts. The new policy provides applicants, as well as medical authorities, coroners and jurisdictions, flexibility to attribute a death to COVID-19 without amending the death certificate. The change also provides flexibility with documentation for the period before the CDC-published and implemented COVID-19 death certificate guidance in the spring of 2020.
Since FEMA began taking COVID-19 funeral assistance applications, the agency has awarded more than $447 million in assistance to over 66,800 applicants.
Applicants who incurred COVID-19-related funeral expenses between Jan. 20 and May 16, 2020, will be able to submit a death certificate that does not attribute the death to COVID-19 along with a signed statement from the certifying official listed on the death certificate, coroner, or medical examiner linking the death to COVID-19. The written statement must show causal pathway, or an explanation, linking the cause of death listed on the death certificate to the virus and should be submitted with the death certificate.
Applicants also retain the option of contacting the individual who certified the death to request a death certificate amendment if they can provide justification demonstrating the death should be attributed to COVID-19. The certifying individual’s name and address should be on the death certificate.
For deaths occurring after May 16, 2020, COVID-19 funeral assistance documentation must include a copy of a death certificate that attributes the death to COVID-19.
Individuals who would like to apply for assistance should call the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline tollfree, at 844-684-6333 | TTY: 800-462-7585 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET, Monday - Friday. Applicants who use a relay service, such as a videophone, InnoCaption or CapTel should provide FEMA with the specific number assigned to them for that service so agency representatives are able to contact them. Phone calls from FEMA may come from an unidentified number.
Additional information about COVID-19 funeral assistance, including frequently asked questions can be found on FEMA.gov. This information is available online in 12 different languages and through FEMA-provided language services. .
FEMA Amends COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Policy
You may also visit the links below to be redirected to the FEMA pages.
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