DETROIT – The Federal Emergency Management Agency is offering financial support for COVID-19 related funeral expenses.
Original Story: FEMA to provide financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses
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Applications for funeral assistance will begin Monday.
As of April 10, the state of Michigan has 16,500 confirmed coronavirus-related deaths and the state believes about 1,000 more are probable.
With FEMA’s assistance program, survivors can apply for up to $9,000 in reimbursement for a plot, burial, headstone, services, cremation and other funeral-related services.
To be eligible for assistance, residents must meet these conditions:
- The death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.
- The death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19.
- The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after January 20, 2020.
- There is no requirement for the deceased person to have been a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien.
More details can be found on FEMA’S COVID-19 Funeral Assistance page here.
How to apply
You can learn more about the program and how to apply on the agency’s website here.
The website has additional information on who is eligible and what documents are needed to apply.
You can reach out to the FEMA call center at 844-684-6333 or 800-462-7585. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Multilingual services will be available.
Potential applicants encouraged to start gathering documentation
Documentation is needed, and requirements can be found here. To find the FAQ and other info on COVID-19 Funeral Assistance, click here.
- An official death certificate that attributes the death to COVID-19 and shows that the death occurred in the U. S. The death certificate must indicate the death “may have been caused by” or “was likely the result of” COVID-19 or COVID-19 like symptoms. Similar phrases that indicate a high likelihood of COVID-19 are considered sufficient attribution.
- Funeral expense documents (receipts, funeral home contract, etc.) that include the applicant’s name, the deceased individual’s name, the amount of funeral expenses, and the dates the funeral expenses were incurred.
- Proof of funds received from other sources specifically for use toward funeral costs. Funeral assistance may not duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance, financial assistance received from voluntary agencies, federal/state/local/tribal/territorial government programs or agencies, or other source.