Funeral expense relief program coming
People who have suffered the loss of a loved one to the novel coronavirus will soon be able to apply for funeral expense relief of up to $9,000 per funeral, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Program.
The program was announced during the Monterey County COVID-19 media briefing on Wednesday by Justin Lin and Gerry Malais of the Monterey County Office of Emergency Services.
Though the program has not yet launched, FEMA announced the plan at this time because it has already received reports of scammers reaching out to people offering to register them for funeral assistance.
“I have not heard of any (scammers) directly in Monterey County,” said Malais, manager of the Monterey County Office of Emergency Services.
But Malais said that the Department of Homeland Security has reported that nationwide there have been people calling to try to get money to help people register.
“That’s not the way FEMA works,” he said.
FEMA has not yet launched the program and is setting up a dedicated toll-free phone number to be used to apply for funeral assistance, but with reports of scammers already trying to take advantage of unsuspecting individ
uals, the county Office of Emergency Services wanted to make people aware.
Malais said that FEMA will not contact people, but folks need to call the FEMA number once it has been established, to apply for the assistance. Applications will be taken through the toll-free number and assistance will be available in multiple languages as well as a TTY line for the hearing impaired.
“FEMA will not reach out in any other way or ask for any money,” said Malais. “This is a no-cost program.”
The Monterey County Office of Emergency Services has the information on its website but the FEMA website is the best source of information.
FEMA is able to provide financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Program is to start in early April though no specific date has been released. The Monterey County Office of Emergency Services will help those who are applying with resources and support through the process.
At least 342 Monterey County residents have died of COVID-19 so far.
The Funeral Assistance Program will offer financial assistance for related funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020. The amount of relief is limited to a maximum of $9,00 per funeral and $35,500 per application “so that it
may cover multiple funerals,” said Lin, a Monterey County Office of Emergency Services planner.
To be eligible for funeral assistance, the death must have occurred in the U.S., the death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19 and the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after Jan. 20, 2020, but there is no requirement for the deceased person to be U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien.
FEMA will begin accepting applications soon and encourages survivors to keep and gather documentation including an official death certificate, funeral expense documents including the applicant’s name and the deceased person’s name and proof of funds received from other
sources for use toward funeral costs.
If the applicant is eligible for funeral assistance, funds will be received by mailed check or by direct deposit, whichever option is chosen by the applicant.
A dedicated webpage for information about the program has been established by the Monterey County Office of Emergency Services.
The county is also partnering with 211 to direct residents to FEMA resources and its application hotline.
The Office of Emergency Services encourages those who may be eligible to apply for relief. If people are not sure whether to apply and have questions about the program, contact the county office at info.oes@ co.monterey.ca.us.