FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Summary

Eligibility Requirements:

• The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after January 20, 2020.  These categories are defined on the FAQ page.
• The funeral expenses must have been on behalf of an individual whose death occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.
• The death certificate must indicate the individual’s death was attributed, directly or indirectly, to COVID-19.
• The deceased person need not have been a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien.
• Only individuals may apply for assistance.  A business (e.g., a funeral home) may not apply on behalf of an individual or serve as a co-applicant.
• An applicant may receive assistance for the funeral expenses of multiple deceased individuals.  Only one application may be submitted per deceased individual.
• Assistance is not income dependent and an applicant’s household income will not impact eligibility.

Application Process:

• FEMA began accepting applications on April 12, 2021.  There is currently no deadline to apply for funding.
• No online applications will be accepted.  Individuals must call FEMA’s toll free COVID-19 funeral assistance line and apply over the phone.  The phone number and hours of operation are as follows:
• Once the process is started, an individual will receive a unique application number.  They must provide required documentation to FEMA via upload to DisasterAssistance.gov, fax, or mail.
• Required documentation includes an official death certificate attributing the death to COVID-19, funeral expense documents, and proof of funds received from other sources to cover costs.  FEMA cannot duplicate benefits received from other sources.  More details on required information and other funding sources can be found on the FAQ page.
• After a decision is reached, approved funding will be disbursed by check or direct deposit.  If funding is denied, an applicant must appeal within 60 days of the date of the decision.

Allowable Expenses and Limitations:

• The program is intended to cover expenses for funeral services and interment or cremation.  A list of covered expenses can be found on FEMA’s FAQ page, though the list is not exhaustive.
• Assistance is limited to a maximum of $9,000 per funeral and a maximum of $35,500 per application per state, territory, or the District of Columbia.