In early April, FEMA will begin providing financial assistance for funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020, for deaths related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) to help ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the pandemic. A FEMA advisory was issued today, and FEMA now is moving rapidly to implement this funeral assistance program nationwide. The full advisory is below and also available as a pdf for download.
IAEM encourages emergency managers to become aware of and plan for impacts from this policy. Of major importance to emergency managers is that among the requirements to be eligible for relief, the death certificate must clearly indicate that COVID-19 was a contributor to the cause of death. This means that local medical examiners and coroners, as well as state agencies involved in the declarations and certificates of death, will receive many requests to change, amend or clarify death certificates. State, territory and tribal emergency management agencies may be asked to coordinate finding single points of contact for many aspects of the policy. Conceivably, this could filter down to local EMAs as well to identify local sources of information. Also of importance is the fact that this program is strictly individual assistance direct to the families/loved ones of the deceased person. Public assistance is not available to the medical examiners or coroners’ offices for costs of indigent burials or temporary holding of remains.
FEMA to Help Pay Funeral Costs for COVID-19-related Deaths
In early April, FEMA will begin providing financial assistance for funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020 for deaths related to coronavirus (COVID-19) to help ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the pandemic. The policy was finalized today, and FEMA is now moving rapidly to implement this funeral assistance program nationwide.To be eligible for COVID-19 funeral assistance, the policy states:
- The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after Jan. 20, 2020 for a death attributed to COVID-19.
- If multiple individuals 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 co-applicant who may have incurred funeral expenses as part of the registration for the deceased individual.
- An applicant may apply for multiple deceased individuals.
- The COVID-19-related death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.
- This assistance is limited to a maximum financial amount of $9,000 per funeral and a maximum of $35,500 per application.
- Funeral assistance is intended to assist with expenses for funeral services and interment or cremation.
- An official death certificate that attributes the death to COVID-19 and shows that the death occurred in the U. S. 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.
- Funeral expense documents(receipts, funeral home contract, etc.) that include the applicant’s name, the deceased individual’s name, the amount of funeral expenses, and the dates the funeral expenses were incurred.
- Proof of funds received from other sources specifically for use toward funeral costs. Funeral assistance may not duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance, financial assistance received from voluntary agencies, federal/state/local/tribal/territorial government programs or agencies, or other sources.
