FEMA Funeral Assistance for COVID-19 Related Deaths

If you are covering the cost of a COVID-19 funeral, FEMA may be able to help.
You may qualify for up to $9,000 per funeral for expenses.

GFDA is providing this information as a service to our communities.
For more information visit the FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance website HERE.

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.

At this time, there is no deadline to apply for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance.

Applications incomplete after 1 year, will be moved to a suspended status. The application can be reactivated without appeal by submitting the required documents.

How to Apply

Call 844-684-6333

Monday-Friday - 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time

Multilingual services are available

If you use a relay service, please provide FEMA with the specific number assigned to you for the service so we can follow up with you about your application.

Who is Eligible?

FEMA may provide COVID-19 Funeral Assistance to you if:

you are a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified non-citizen.
the death occurred in the United States, including U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, on or after January 20, 2020;
the death was attributed to COVID-19; and
you are responsible for the eligible funeral expenses

What is Covered?

FEMA may approve COVID-19 Funeral Assistance for expenses such as:

funeral services
cremation
interment
costs associated with producing death certificates
costs due to local or state government laws or ordinances
transportation for up to two people to identify the person who died
transfer of remains
casket or urn
burial plot
marker or headstone
clergy
funeral ceremony
funeral home equipment or staff

To learn more and start an application, call 844-684-6333.

What is Required?

You must provide FEMA a copy of an official death certificate that shows the death occurred in the United States, including U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, occurred after January 20, 2020, and was attributed to COVID-19.

If the death certificate was issued between January 20 and May 16, 2020, it must either 1) attribute the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19 or 2) be accompanied by a signed statement from 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 signed statement must provide an additional explanation or causal pathway, linking the cause of death listed on the death certificate to COVID-19.

You must provide FEMA with a signed funeral home contract, invoice, receipts, or other documentation that includes:

your name, showing you are responsible for some or all of the expense
the name of the person who died
itemized expenses
proof that the expenses were incurred on or after January 20, 2020

To learn more or start an application, call 844-684-6333.

How Does it Work?

To apply, call 844-684-6333 toll-free between 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday-Friday. FEMA representatives will take your application, and multilingual services are available. COVID-19 Funeral Assistance applications must be completed with a FEMA representative; you cannot apply online. It will take about 20 minutes to apply, and you must provide:

Your Social Security number and date of birth
The Social Security number and date of birth of the person who died
Your current mailing address and telephone number
The address where the individual died
If the person who died had burial or funeral insurance policies
If you received other funeral assistance (such as donations, CARES Act grants, state/territory assistance, or assistance from voluntary organizations)
If you want eligible funds delivered by direct deposit, the routing and account number of your checking or savings account.

After you apply, FEMA will provide you an application number, and you may create an account on DisasterAssistance.gov.
You must submit supporting documents (e.g., funeral home contracts, receipts, invoices, death certificate) by:

Upload to your DisasterAssistance.gov account
Fax to 855-261-3452
Mail to: P.O. Box 10001, Hyattsville, MD 20782.

Once FEMA receives all required documents, it takes approximately 45 days to make an eligibility decision.
If FEMA approves your application for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance, funds will be deposited to your bank account or sent by mail in the form of a Department of the Treasury check, depending on which option you choose during your application. Funds usually arrive within a few days of approval, and you will receive a notification letter.

Questions

You can get answers to many additional questions on the Funeral Assistance FAQ pages.

Call 844-684-6333
Monday-Friday
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time

Multilingual services available

If you use a relay service, please provide FEMA with the specific number assigned to you for the service so we can follow up with you about your application.

Printable Flyer

Click on the graphic on the left to download the file.