The Federal Emergency Management Agency will provide financial assistance to help cover the cost of funeral expenses for people who have died of COVID-19.

Applications for this assistance won't be available until April. But FEMA is encouraging anyone whose loved one has died of COVID-19 to start collecting documents now, in preparation.

There are some requirements that must be met, in order to be eligible:

  • The death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. Territories and the District of Columbia.
  • COVID-19 must be listed, on the death certificate, as a cause of death.
  • The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or a qualified alien who incurred the expenses after January 20th, 2020.
  • There is no requirement for the deceased to be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or a qualified alien.
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Some of the documentation that will be required include:

  • An official death certificate that lists COVID-19 as a cause of death, and shows that the death occurred in the above-noted regions.
  • Funeral expenses documents (receipts, funeral home contract, etc) that include the deceased's name, the applicant's name, the amount of the expenses, and the date that the expenses were incurred.
  • Proof of funds received from other sources to help pay for the funeral expenses.

Qualifying applicants can receive a check in the mail, once their application is approved, or have them direct deposited into a bank account. FEMA says these funds would be channeled through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

A funeral assistance toll-free number will be set up soon, to help people through the application process. Updates will be posted on the FEMA website.

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