FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Program

FEMA Tops $2 Billion of COVID-19 Funeral Assistance, Announces New Campaign to Increase Program Awareness

FEMA announced today it has provided over $2 billion in COVID-19 funeral assistance to support more than 300,000 applicants grappling with the financial stress and burden caused by the pandemic. FEMA is also launching a new outreach campaign and continuing to process applications to ensure that this program -- already the largest offering of funeral assistance in FEMA’s history -- reaches additional eligible families in need. “FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance program has helped provide over 300,000 people with critical financial relief during a time of such unexpected, unimaginable and widespread loss,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Funeral Assistance Criswell. “Our new outreach FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred on or after January 20, 2020. To be eligible for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance, you must meet these conditions: • The death must have occurred in the United States. campaign is designed to

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many. At FEMA, our mission is to help people before, during and • The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses on or after January 20, 2020. • There is no requirement for the deceased person reach families, especially after disasters. We are dedicated to helping to have been a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the virus. • qualified alien. The death certificate must attribute the death to COVID-19. If the death occurred between Jan. 20 and May 16, 2020, and the death certificate doesn’t across underserved attribute the death to COVID-19, you may submit a signed statement from the medical official who certified the death certificate, or the local coroner or medical examiner, linking the cause of death to COVID-19. communities, where the Which expenses will qualify for reimbursement? Examples of eligible expenses may include, but are not limited to: cost of a funeral can be a financial burden to a loved What information do I need to provide to FEMA? Please have the following information before contacting FEMA to apply: one. Our goal is to help families apply for assistance, Call FEMA’s COVID-19 as well as submit all required Funeral Assistance Helpline at 1-844-684-6333 (TTY: 800-462-7585) from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET, Monday – Friday and begin the documents for existing application process. Multilingual services are available. applications.” Committed to reaching all affected communities, the agency will begin a targeted paid media campaign this month. FEMA recently hired a media contractor to tailor media efforts to reach the most impactful population-specific outlets. These new paid advertisements will be directed to localities identified with high rates of COVID-related deaths, low funeral assistance application rates and high Social Vulnerability Index data. The advertisements will help ensure information about FEMA’s funeral assistance reaches underserved communities that have experienced a high COVID-19 death rate but have low registrations for assistance. The four selected areas will be in California, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas. FEMA is also hosting media roundtables with several community outlets in African American, Hispanic and Latino and Asian American Pacific Islander communities to encourage local press to help spread the word about the Funeral Assistance program. Additionally, FEMA’s multilingual services, available through the Funeral Assistance Helpline, has provided assistance in 76 different languages when requested by the caller. Eligible applicants may qualify for up to $9,000 for each deceased individual per application, with a maximum of

• Transportation to identify the deceased individual • The transfer of remains • A burial plot or cremation niche HOW DO I APPLY FOR THIS ASSISTANCE? For the fastest service after You can also visit us online at you apply, submit documents FEMA.gov/funeral-assistance/faq. online through Information is provided in DisasterAssistance.gov multiple languages. Or, fax or mail documents to: Fax: 855-261-3452 Mail: COVID-19 Funeral Assistance P.O. Box 10001 Hyattsville, MD 20782

• A marker or headstone • Clergy or officiant services • The use of funeral home equipment or staff • Cremation or interment costs • Your name, Social Security number, date of birth, mailing address and contact phone numbers. • Name, Social Security number and date of birth for each deceased individual. • Location or address where the individual died. • Documentation and receipts for funeral assistance received from other sources, including burial or funeral insurance, donations, other government programs or non-profit organizations. • The name and information of up to one co-applicant, if anyone besides you incurred funeral expenses for the deceased individual(s). $35,000 for families who may have multiple funeral expenses due to COVID-19. Since the assistance began on April 12, 2021, the average amount of assistance awarded is $6,500. The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the President’s American Rescue Plan gave FEMA the authority to provide COVID-19 funeral assistance and provided the funds for this program.

Additional information, including eligibility requirements, can be found by scanning the QR code at left or by visiting www.fema.gov/disaster/coronavirus/ economic/funeral-assistance.

People who incurred funeral expenses related to a COVID-19related death in the United States or its territories on or after Jan. 20, 2020, can also apply by calling 888-684-6333, Monday- Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. EDT