Assistance provided for COVID-19 related funeral expenses

(Editor’s note: Thanks to Konantz Warden Funeral Home for bringing the following to our attention).

FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many families. At FEMA, their mission is to help people before, during and after disasters. They are dedicated to helping ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the virus.

Expenses that can qualify for reimbursement include the following list of eligible expenses for financial services and interment or creation that may include, but not limited to, transportation for up to two people to identify the deceased individual; the transfer of remains, a casket or urn; a burial plot or cremation niche; a marker or headstone; clergy or officiant services; the arrangement of a funeral ceremony; the use of funeral home equipment or staff, cremation or interment costs and costs associated with producing multiple death certificates.

To be eligible for funeral assistance, these conditions must be met:

* 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 or caused by 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.

Information that will need to be provided to FEMA include name, social security number, date of birth, mailing address and contact phone numbers; the name, social security number and date of birth for each deceased individual; the location or address where the deceased individual passed away; documentation and receipts for any assistance already received from other sources, including burial or funeral insurance, donations, voluntary agencies, other government programs or non-profit organizations. If more than one person incurs funeral expenses for the same deceased individual(s), that person can also be provided as a co-applicant – include their name, social security number and date of birth on the application.

To apply for assistance call FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline at 1-844-684-6333 (TTY: 800-462-7585), from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday and begin the application process.

For fastest service following an application, one can begin submitting documentation online through Disasterassistance.gov or by fax at 855-261-3452. Documents may also be mailed to COVID-19 Funeral Assistance, P.O. Box 10001, Hyattsville, MD 20782. Frequently asked questions can also be addressed online at FEMA.gov/funeral-assistance/faq.

Information is provided in several languages, both by telephone and the website.