COVID-19 Funeral Assistance from FEMA | Beginning April 1, 2021

Beginning on April 1, 2021 it is possible to receive COVID-19 funeral assistance from FEMA.

Below is a list of possible eligibility requirements;

  1. The Applicant must be a U.S. Citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after January 20, 2020 for a death attributed to COVID-19. 

 2. If multiple people 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 coapplicant who may have incurred funeral expenses as part of the registration for the deceased individual.

 3. An applicant may apply for multiple deceased individuals. 

 4. The COVID-19-related death must have occurred in the United States including the U.S. territories and the district of Columbia. 

 5. This assistance is limited to a maximum financial amount of $9,000 per funeral and a maximum of $35,000 per application. 

 6. Funeral assistance is intended to assist with expenses for funeral services and interment or cremation. In the coming weeks a dedicated 1-800 number will be established to assist individuals who apply. 

Some helpful thingyou can begin to gather in the meantime are as follows. 

 1. An official death certificate that attributes the death to COVID-19 and how the death occurred in the United States.

       1.1. 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. 

 2. Funeral expenses documents (receipts, funeral home contract, etc.). That includes the applicant’s name, the deceased individual’s name, the amount of funeral expenses and dates the funeral expenses were incurred. 

 3. Proof of funds received from other sources, specifically for use toward funeral costs. (Voluntary agencies, federal/state/ local/tribal/territorial government programs or agencies, or other sources.) 

 If you have any further questions feel free to contact a funeral home in your area!

This information came from a funeral home in Garden City Kansas.