FEMA will reimburse funeral expenses for virus deaths
While nothing will ease the sorrow of family members left behind from those who died due to COVID-19, Congress has passed $2 billion in FEMA funds to help reimburse families for funeral expenses.
FEMA finalized the plan on Wednesday.
In Michigan, 15,935 people have died from COVID. In Oakland County, the current death total is 1,936. The biggest surge was in late March and early April 2020.
“It was a very difficult time. It’s going to be a long time before we know what the long-term effects are on people who have been unable to mourn and grieve in a way that was familiar to them,’’ said Pat Lynch, funeral director at Lynch & Sons Funeral Home in Clawson.
“It’s hard not to cry when you think about it. These poor people who had folks that died in a nursing home that they couldn’t be with and then couldn’t be with them (at a funeral) because they had to be quarantined,’’ he added.
“We had a lot of private burials and private cremations where people were unattended. It was very, very sad. I’m glad FEMA is doing something to help people with their expenses,’’ Lynch said. “At least it demonstrates a federal concern for what people have gone through.’’
He said they still see a few COVID-related deaths, but last spring the numbers were overwhelming.
“Many, many people were unable to have the funerals they would have liked to have had. They were left on their own without being able to be surrounded by the people who care for them and extend the kind of consolation that comes through a funeral where you gather in large numbers and people can support one another,’’ Lynch said
In his location they handled about 25 COVID-related deaths last March and April, although they had them at all of their six locations.
He said the FEMA money will help many of those who were economically in hardship due to the pandemic and then had to find funds for a funeral.
The state of Michigan still has restrictions on crowds for funerals.
“We’re allowed to have 25 people in the room at any given time. It doesn’t mean you’re restricted to a total of 25 people. It just means in the room at that time somebody has to leave then someone comes in,’’ Lynch said.
To accommodate the limitation, in many cases they’ve extended visitation hours.
In his 49th year as a funeral director, Lynch said this has been the busiest year due to COVID.
He was made aware of
FEMA’s policy on Wednesday when he received a bulletin from the National Funeral Directors Association of which he is a past president.
FEMA will start taking applications in April for funeral reimbursements.
“At FEMA, our mission is to help people before, during and after disasters,” said acting FEMA Administrator Bob Fenton. “The COVID-19 pandemic has caused immense grief for so many people. Although we cannot change what has happened, we affirm our commitment to help with funeral and burial expenses that many families did not anticipate.”
To be eligible for funeral assistance, these conditions must be met:
• 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.
In April, FEMA will begin accepting applications. If you had COVID-19 funeral expenses, keep and gather documentation. Types of information should include:
• An official death certificate that attributes the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19 and shows that the death occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.
• Funeral expenses documents (receipts, funeral home contract, etc.) that includes the applicant’s name, the deceased person’s name, the amount of funeral expenses, and the dates the funeral expenses happened.
• Proof of funds received from other sources specifically for use toward funeral costs. We are not able to duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance, financial assistance received from voluntary agencies, government agencies, or other sources.