by Sherri Lund
Things are hard enough when you're grieving the loss of a loved one, but losing someone to COVID-19 and having to deal with all the funeral arrangements and expenses… it's too much. Fortunately, Americans can apply for relief through FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and get reimbursed for funeral expenses.
In this post, you'll find answers to questions such as:
What types of funeral expenses are covered?
How much of the funeral costs will FEMA cover?
Who qualifies for the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance program?
How do I get reimbursed for COVID-19 funeral expenses?
What is the deadline to apply for the FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance program?
If your loved one recently passed away due to COVID-19-related symptoms, keep reading. You may find that you qualify to receive reimbursement for funeral expenses.
Living in Texas, I'm familiar with how FEMA brings relief to individuals and families after hurricanes and tornadoes. I recently learned that FEMA also brings aid to families through the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance program.
What is FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Program?
In April 2021, Congress authorized the FEMA Funeral Assistance program. Since it started, almost 400,000 people who died of COVID have received funeral assistance, more than 36,000 of those were Texans.
Later in this post, I'll answer some frequently asked questions but before we get to those, here are some details that I found interesting:
The COVID-19 Funeral Assistance program is available in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. Territories.
This program is available to anyone (regardless of income level) who meets the eligibility requirements.
Interpreters are available in over 75 languages.
FEMA is taking extra steps to inform underserved and vulnerable populations about the program.
FEMA is trying to get the word out to people, providing trained representatives to take these calls, so they can accommodate as many people as possible.
““Our goal is to help families apply for assistance, as well as submit all required documents for existing applications.”
”
Now, for those frequently asked questions…
FAQs About the FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Program
What types of services are covered?
When you provide proper documentation, FEMA will reimburse the cost of many funeral services, including memorial services, interment, cremation, and cemetery expenses. Here are some examples of eligible costs. (Note that this is NOT a complete list.)
Arrangement of the funeral ceremony
An urn or casket
A marker or headstone
Fees charged by clergy or funeral officiant
Fees charged by a funeral home for facilities, staff, and equipment
Costs of obtaining certified death certificates, and more
You can find a complete list of reimbursable expenses on the FEMA website.
How much will FEMA reimburse for funeral expenses?
The FEMA Funeral Assistance program will provide up to $9,000 and a maximum of $35,500 per application, which may include multiple funerals.
FEMA encourages one application per household. So, suppose one home has multiple deaths. In that case, applicants should make all of their plans and submit all documentation at one time.
According to FEMA, obtaining funds from another source, such as an insurance policy, a GoFundMe account, or donations from another agency, could influence the amount of your claim.
How do we receive the funds from FEMA?
During the application process, applicants can decide how they want to receive their funds, either by check or direct deposit.
Does the deceased need to be a U.S. citizen?
No. The decedent does not have to be a U.S. citizen. However, FEMA does require the applicant to be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien.
What other requirements are necessary to apply?
In addition to what's required for the applicant, these stipulations must be met:
The funeral expenses must have been incurred after January 20, 2020.
The death must have occurred in the U.S., including the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.
The death certificate must indicate that COVID-19 was the cause of death.
If you feel the person died of COVID and the facility made an error, you should contact the facility and ask them to correct the cause of death. This is something that must be done by a family member.
All claims for FEMA relief must be filed by families. Funeral directors are unable to help.
Is there an application deadline?
As I write this post, the program is still open, but that can change. FEMA could announce a deadline in the future.
What documentation do you need?
Later in this post, I will share a list of everything you need to apply.
For now, know that you'll need an official death certificate, and it must attribute the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19. It must also show that the death occurred in the United States, the U.S. territories, or the District of Columbia.
Applicants must show receipts for funeral expenses, contracts, cemetery contracts, etc. These documents should include the applicant's name, the deceased person's name, the total costs, and the dates the funeral expenses happened.
Finally, documentation is also required if funds come from other sources, such as insurance or another agency.
What is the best way to apply?
Right now, the only way to apply for funeral assistance is to call FEMA's hotline. That number is 844-684-6333.
When you call, a qualified representative will walk you through the application process. These calls typically take about 20 minutes.
What else do I need to know?
Generally, only one person per decedent is allowed to apply for assistance. And this is something that the family must do.
You need to know that some scams have been reported. You might see fraudulent emails, phone calls, and other communications that look like they are from FEMA – they are not. FEMA will never contact families before they receive assistance. And families should never share any personal information unless it's through an established FEMA channel, such as the FEMA hotline.
If your family is eligible and you want to apply for FEMA's COVID-19 Funeral Assistance program…
Review the Pre-Call Checklist below so you know what to expect and how to prepare for the call.
Gather all of the necessary documentation and information before you contact FEMA.
PRE-CALL Checklist for FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Program
Review the list below and gather everything you need for your claim. Having it handy when contacting FEMA will shorten your time on the phone and streamline the process.
When you're ready, contact FEMA's funeral assistance hotline:
844-684-6333
As you can imagine, FEMA gets called a lot for this assistance. And each call takes a while. If you get a busy signal, hang up and try again in a few minutes.
You can download a copy of the Pre-Call Checklist here.
Documentation You Need Before You Contact FEMA:
Death certificate that indicates the death was COVID-19 related. (If the death certificate does not specify COVID causes, you may get help anyway. Visit FEMA’s website for details.)
Funeral home contracts or receipts that show liability and payment
Alternate sources of funding received
Information about the applicant:
Applicant's social security number
Applicant's name
Applicant's date of birth
Applicant's email (optional)
Applicant's phone numbers
Applicant's address
Co-applicant's information (There can be no more than 2 applicants. Provide name, social security number, and date of birth.)
Current gross annual income (This information is not used for qualification purposes. Refer to your latest tax return or provide an estimate.)
Information about the deceased:
Zip code of the place of death
Street address of place of death
County of death/county of applicant's residence
Deceased's name, social security number, and date of birth (For each deceased individual, if applicable.)
Documentation about the funeral:
Date the funeral expenses were incurred (refer to your invoice or funeral bill)
Other funding sources (assistance from public or private organizations, donations, funeral or burial insurance, etc.)
Other things to consider:
Decide if you want to receive funds by check or direct deposit. (If direct deposit is preferred, have your bank information ready.)
Choose whether you want correspondence in English or Spanish.
Determine whether you want to correspond by email or mail. (If you choose to email, you can set up an account at www.disasterassistance.gov. You'll be able to upload PDF and/or JPG files directly to this account.)
Would you like to speak to a mental health provider? FEMA can provide contact information for that if you like.
““While the assistance we provide (through the Funeral Assistance program) can never replace the loss of a loved one, FEMA is working tirelessly with applicants to ease some of the burden of this devastating pandemic.””
If you know someone needing assistance with funeral expenses incurred due to a COVID-related death, please share this article.
Visit the FEMA website for the most current information on the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance program.
Sources for this article:
https://www.fema.gov/disaster/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance (accessed 6/17/22)
Willow Wood Solutions provides a range of services for families going through probate. We do things outside the courtroom that the Personal Representative may not know how to do or doesn't want to do. If you need help with a probate issue, let us know on our Contact page. If you need immediate assistance, call us today at 832-823-9635. We'll do our best to lighten your load.
You might find additional these resources helpful:
Our Resource Center has additional tools to help you with probate.
The Mourner’s Bill of Rights is a gentle reminder for people that are grieving.
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Sherri Lund is a Certified Probate Expert, Life Coach, and mental health advocate. She uses her extensive training to provide thoughtful and compassionate guidance to individuals and families working through the probate process.
Disclaimer: Please note that Willow Wood Solutions does not offer legal advice or legal services. We recommend that you seek the advice of an attorney, CPA, and tax attorney regarding any decisions pertaining to your probate in Texas. Any information in this article should not be misconstrued as legal advice.