FEMA can help cover funeral costs for people who have lost loved ones to COVID
If your loved one has died during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible to have up to $9,000 of funeral costs, and more for multiple funerals, covered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Matthew Redding, deputy director of individual assistance at FEMA, said more than 120,000 applications have been submitted so far.
FEMA has always provided funeral assistance under its “Other Needs Assistance (ONA) provision of the Individuals and Households Program (IHP) to individuals and households with disaster-related funeral expenses,” according to its website. A FEMA spokesperson said this program is one of the agency’s lesser-known benefits.
“It’s the largest program in our nation’s history,” Redding said. Because the pandemic was declared a national emergency by President Trump on March 13, 2020, funds were made available then. With a new allocation, costs will be covered for an undetermined amount of time. Because “there is no way to predict how many COVID-related deaths may occur between now and 2025, an exact funding cap has not been established,” FEMA’s website says.
More than 60,000 Californians have died of COVID19 as of April 21. Antoinette Lou, director of community relations and communications at Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary in Whittier, said this program will help many families. Here’s who qualifies and how to get assistance from FEMA.
Who is eligible? Under the American Rescue Plan Act, FEMA will provide assistance for funeral costs for deaths from COVID-19 incurred after Jan. 20, 2020.
To apply, you must be a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national or a green card holder, but the deceased does not have to have had any type of documentation. The death must have occurred in the U.S. or a U.S. territory, and the deceased’s death certificate must state that they died of COVID-19 or that it was a contributing factor. If the death certificate of your loved one does not meet those criteria but you feel it should, Redding said to follow your state’s procedures for amendments before applying. Minors can apply if the documentation shows that they paid for funeral costs. Some people and circumstances are not eligible, and each application will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
You must apply over the phone, by calling 844-6846333 between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Monday through Friday. There is no option for applying online. Redding said FEMA offers real-time translation in 42 languages.
Have these documents ready: The individual’s death certificate that reflects that they died directly or indirectly of COVID-19. Documentation of the funeral expenses incurred. Documentation of funds received from any other source, such as donations or funeral insurance. Lou said that many families have reported long wait times. She encouraged patience for anyone having trouble getting through on the phone. She recommended reaching out to the funeral home you used for assistance with gathering the needed documents — but know that the funeral home cannot apply on your behalf. Over 1 million calls were received on the first day of the program, Redding said.
The centers now average 20,000 to 25,000 calls a day. FEMA will not contact you directly — you must call to apply for assistance. If you believe you are being scammed, Redding said to call the FEMA helpline at (800) 621-3362 or the National Center for Disaster Fraud hotline at 866-720-5721.