COVID-19 Funeral Assistance

[VISUAL DESCRIPTION: A black woman has the hoop earrings with turban headwrap and a crew mustard long sleeves shirt in the blue background.]

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[Slide shows content: FEMA LOGO]

Disclaimer: This vlog has a lot of detailed information

FEMA from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is offering to help to cover the expenses of individuals that lost their loved ones due to COVID-19.

[Slide shows text: Who can apply]

Applications for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance will become available in April 2021.

It will be done through a toll-free phone number which hasn’t been announced yet.

Who can apply?

Any U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who paid for funeral expenses after January 20, 2020

The funeral expenses were for an individual whose death may have been caused by or was likely the result of COVID-19 in the United States, territories or the District of Columbia.

A minor child cannot apply on behalf of an adult who is not a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien.

The COVID-19 Funeral Assistance is not available for U.S. citizens who died outside the United States.

[Slide shows text: How much & what FEMA will cover:]

The COVID-19 Funeral Assistance has a maximum limit of $9,000 per funeral and $35,500 per application per state, territory, or the District of Columbia.

Please note that people can apply for multiple deceased individuals.

Expenses covered by the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance:

Transportation for up to two individuals to identify the deceased individual
Transfer of personal belongings
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

[Slide shows text: Application Deadline]

At this time, there is no deadline to apply for the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance.

FEMA will communicate a specific deadline once established.

[Slide shows text: Documentation Needed for Application]

The applicant responsible for COVID-19 funeral expenses will need to provide the following information below when they apply:

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)

[Slide shows text: Documentation of Deceased Individual]

The applicant must provide:

a copy of the death certificate
proof of funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020
proof of assistance received from any other source

[Slide shows text: Death Certificate]

The death certificate must indicate the death was caused by COVID-19 symptoms.

The death must have occurred in the United States, U.S. territories or the District of Columbia.

[Slide shows text: Proof of Funeral Expenses]

Documentation for all funeral expenses after January 20, 2020 must include the followings:
applicant’s name as the person responsible for the expense
the deceased individual’s name
the cost of funeral expenses

[Slide shows text: Proof of Other Source Assistance]

If the applicant already received another assistance from any other sources specifically used for funeral costs, they must provide this information to the FEMA to prevent duplicates of benefits and it may reduce the amount of the funeral assistance from FEMA.

Life insurance proceeds are not considered a duplication of Funeral Assistance benefits.

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Source:

https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance