On April 12, 2021, FEMA began accepting applications for burial assistance to survivors of family members who died of Covid-19.
Call the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Line Number 844-684- 6333 | TTY 800-462-7585 Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
NO ONLINE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED
Call this dedicated toll-free phone number to get a COVID-19 Funeral Assistance application completed with help from FEMA’s representatives. Multi-lingual services will be available.
FEMA is currently experiencing high call volume, so applicants are encouraged to try again if they receive a busy signal. Currently, there is no deadline to apply. The application call averages about 20 minutes.
All applications must be made with FEMA directly. Funeral homes are not eligible to apply on behalf of a family or to be a coapplicant on the Funeral Assistance application. The person applying must be an individual, not a business, who incurred the funeral expenses.
To qualify the applicant must be: 1. A U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who paid for funeral expenses after Jan. 20, 2020, and
2. The funeral expenses were for an individual whose death in the United States, territories, or the District of Columbia, may have been caused by or was likely the result of COVID-19.
Persons who are not eligible to apply include: A minor child on behalf of an adult who is not a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien. Temporary tourist visa holders, foreign students, and temporary work visa holders are also ineligible.
Coverage is limited to expenses directly incurred for a funeral service, interment, or cremation. These expenses include:
• 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.
Applicants may receive assistance for the funeral expenses of multiple deceased individuals. Assistance is limited to a maximum of $9,000 per funeral and a maximum of $35,500 per application per state, territory, or the District of Columbia.
The applicant responsible for COVID-19 funeral expenses will need to provide the following information below when they call FEMA to register for assistance. · Social Security number for the applicant and the deceased individual
• Date of birth for the applicant and the deceased individual
• Current mailing address for the applicant
• Current telephone number for the applicant
• Location or address where the deceased individual passed away
• Information about burial or funeral insurance policies
• Information about other funeral assistance received, such as donations
• CARES Act grants and assistance from voluntary organizations
• Routing and account number of the applicant’s checking or savings account (for direct deposit, if requested.)
Applicants must provide a copy of the death certificate, proof of funeral expenses incurred, and proof of assistance received from any other source.
FEMA will generally only provide COVID-19 Funeral Assistance to one applicant per deceased individual. To be approved for reimbursement of funeral expenses due to a COVID-19 fatality, you must have incurred funeral expenses for the deceased individual and have documentation (receipts, funeral home contracts, etc.) showing your name as the responsible party.
FEMA recognizes that multiple individuals may have contributed to funeral expenses for one deceased individual. FEMA will work with applicants in these situations and those who submit multiple receipts for funeral expenses when their name does not appear on the receipt.
If more than one individual contributed toward funeral expenses, they must register with FEMA under the same application as the applicant and co-applicant, or the first applicant that submits all required documentation will be awarded COVID-19 Funeral Assistance for the deceased individual. No more than one co-applicant can be included on an application.
If a minor child directly incurred funeral expenses for a COVID-19- related death and the documentation supports that payment, the minor child’s application could be reviewed for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance.
The death certificate must indicate the death was caused by, “may have been caused by” or “was likely a result of” COVID-19 or COVID-19-like symptoms. Similar phrases that indicate a high likelihood of COVID-19 are considered sufficient attribution.
If the death certificate does not indicate the death was Covid-19 related in error, the death certificate may be amended. The process starts with contacting the person who certified the death. This may be a treating doctor, a coroner or a medical examiner, and their name and address is on the death certificate. Applicants may present evidence to them to support the claim the death was attributable to COVID-19.
The death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories, or the District of Columbia.
Documentation for expenses (receipts, funeral home contract, etc.) must include the applicant’s name as the person responsible for the expense, the deceased individual’s name, the amount of funeral expenses, and that funeral expenses were incurred after Jan. 20, 2020.
The applicant must also provide FEMA with proof of funds received from other sources specifically used for funeral costs. COVID-19 Funeral Assistance may not duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance or financial assistance received from voluntary agencies, government programs or agencies, or other sources. COVID-19 Funeral Assistance will be reduced by the amount of other assistance the applicant received for the same expenses.
However, expenses paid for with burial/funeral insurance, or a prepaid funeral, are considered a duplication of benefits and therefore, are not eligible for reimbursement under this program.
Life insurance proceeds are not considered a duplication of Funeral Assistance benefits.
If an application is approved, the applicant will receive a check through the mail or by direct deposit according to the option selected.
If an application is not approved, you have 60 days from the date of the decision letter to upload, fax or mail a signed letter appealing FEMA’s decision. The appeal should include the following:
• Why you think the decision is not correct.
• Supporting documentation (i.e., death certificate, funeral expenses, or other supporting documentation).
• The application number must be included on each page of the appeal submitted. Appeals may be submitted by:
• Upload through your DisasterAssistance.gov account.
• Fax to 855-261-3452.
• Mail to P.O. BOX 10001, Hyattsville, MD 20782
• Please refer to the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance letter received. For more information: https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance/faq#