FEMA COVID-19 Funeral and Burial Reimbursement Program
In March 2021, The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced a new program to provide financial assistance to families for certain COVID-19 related funeral expenses. The FEMA COVID-19 Funeral and Burial Reimbursement Program will pay up to $9,000 in expenses for funeral, cremation, and interment costs. Families that have lost multiple family members may qualify for higher reimbursement amounts. FEMA will begin accepting applications for Funeral Assistance on Monday, April 12, 2021 through a dedicated call center.
Fraud Alert: FEMA has received reports of scammers reaching out to people offering to register them for funeral assistance. FEMA has not sent any such notifications and does not contact people prior to them registering for assistance.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
To be eligible for funeral assistance, you must meet the following conditions:
The death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.
The death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19.
The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after January 20, 2020.
There is no requirement for the deceased person to have been a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien.
WHAT FUNERAL EXPENSES ARE COVERED?
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance will assist with expenses for funeral services and interment or cremation. Any receipts received for expenses that are not related to funeral services will not be determined eligible expenses. Expenses for funeral services and interment or cremation typically include, but are not limited to:
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
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.
More information is available on the FEMA FAQ page here.
HOW TO APPLY?
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Line Number:
Applications begin on April 12, 2021
844-684-6333 | TTY: 800-462-7585
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.
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time
If you incurred COVID-19 funeral expenses, we encourage you to keep and gather documentation. Types of information should include:
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, etc.) that includes the applicant’s name, the deceased person’s name, the amount of funeral expenses, and the dates the funeral expenses happened.
Proof of funds received from other sources specifically for use toward funeral costs. FEMA is not able to duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance, financial assistance received from voluntary agencies, government agencies, or other sources.
If we assisted you with planning funeral arrangements for a COVID-19 victim since January 20, 2020, we would be happy to answer your questions or assist you with the documentation you will need to apply. Just call our office at 718-435-6700 or “Click Here” to schedule an appointment.
For the latest information from FEMA, please click here.
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