FEMA to Help Pay Funeral Costs for COVID-19-Related Deaths - National Association of American Veterans

COVID-19 FUNERAL ASSISTANCE

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

For more information about this assistance, visit COVID-19 Funeral
Assistance | FEMA.gov [1].

Related Links

Funeral Assistance FAQ [2] Tags:

All [3] Headquarters [4] Coronavirus [5] Pandemic [6]

COVID-19 FUNERAL ASSISTANCE

How to Apply

Funeral Assistance Policy

Who is Eligible?

Additional Resources

Find Funeral Assistance information in your language:

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many families.
At FEMA, our mission is to help people before, during and after
disasters. We are dedicated to helping ease some of the financial stress
and burden caused by the virus.

Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations
Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA is providing
financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred
after January 20, 2020.

HOW TO APPLY

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COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline
844-684-6333 | TTY: 800-462-7585

Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time

Call this dedicated toll-free phone number to get a COVID-19 Funeral
Assistance application completed with help from FEMA’s representatives.
Multilingual services will be available.

Get answers to frequently asked questions about the application process
on our Funeral Assistance FAQ page [2].

If you use a relay service, such as your videophone, Innocaption or
CapTel, please provide your specific number assigned to that service. It
is important that FEMA is able to contact you, and you should be aware
phone calls from FEMA may come from an unidentified number.

FUNERAL ASSISTANCE POLICY

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On June 29, 2021, we amended the funeral assistance policy to assist
with COVID-19 related fatalities that occurred in the early months of
the pandemic.

This policy change will allow applicants to submit a statement or letter
from the death certificate’s certifying official, medical examiner, or
coroner, that attributes the death to COVID-19 fatalities that occurred
between Jan. 20 and May 16, 2020.

Read the amended policy [20]

Policy change FAQ

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

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To be eligible for funeral assistance, you must meet these conditions:

* For deaths that occurred after May 16, 2020, the death certificate
must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19.

* For deaths that occurred from Jan. 20 to May 16, 2020, any death
certificate that does not attribute the cause of death to COVID-19 must
be accompanied by a signed statement listing COVID-19 as a cause or
contributing cause of death.

* The signed statement must be provided by the original certifier of
the death certificate or the local medical examiner or coroner from the
jurisdiction in which the death occurred.

* The statement must provide an additional explanation, or causal
pathway, linking the cause of death listed on the death certificate with
COVID-19.

If you had COVID-19 funeral expenses, we encourage you to keep and
gather documentation. Types of information should include:

* Official death certificate that shows the death occurred in the
United States, including the U.S. territories.

* If the death certificate is from Jan. 20 to May 16, 2020 it must
either attribute the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19 or be
accompanied by a signed statement provided by the original certifier of
the death certificate or the local medical examiner or coroner from the
jurisdiction in which the death occurred listing COVID-19 as a cause or
contributing cause of death. This statement must provide an additional
explanation, or causal pathway, linking the cause of death listed on the
death certificate with COVID-19.
* If the death certificate from May 16, 2020 or later the death
certificate must attribute the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19.

If you are eligible for funeral assistance you will receive a check by
mail, or funds by direct deposit, depending on which option you choose
when you apply for assistance.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Website FENA Policy
https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_policy_covid-19_funeral_assistance-updated.pdf

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VIDEO: Providing Financial Assistance for COVID-19 Related Funeral
Expenses (ASL Video) [21]

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VIDEO: Providing Financial Assistance for COVID-19-Related Funeral
Expenses [22]

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COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Individuals and Households Program Policy
(Interim) (Version 2) [20]

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Funeral Assistance FAQ [2]

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FEMA to Help Pay Funeral Costs for COVID-19-Related Deaths Press Release
[23] | March 24, 2021

Last updated July 6, 2021

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