The Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) is providing funeral assistance for costs associated with COVID-19 related deaths as part of the 2021 Coronavirus Response and 2021 Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act and the American Rescue Plan Act. If approved, applicants may receive up to $9,000. According to FEMA Policy FD 104-21-001, the conditions for eligibility are as follows:
- Must be a United States (U.S.) citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien. The decedent did not have to be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien;
- The applicant’s identity must be verified by FEMA;
- Expenses must be incurred by the applicant after January 20, 2020;
- Expenses cannot be covered by other sources such as burial or funeral insurance or from applicable government programs or agencies, other entities, or from voluntary agencies;
- A medical examiner, coroner, or other certifier must have noted on the death certificate that the death may have been caused or was likely a result of COVID-19 or COVID-19-like symptoms;
- The death occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia; and
- No other applicant received funeral assistance funds for the same decedent.
To begin the application process, call 844-684-6333 for service, weekdays from 9 am to 9 pm eastern time. Online applications are not acceptable, but once a FEMA application number has been established, required documents may be submitted online, faxed or mailed.
Click here to see the complete listing of required documents necessary for application, or for additional information related to COVID-19 funeral assistance.
Source: Federal Emergency Management Association