How to Apply for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance

Families who lost a loved one to COVID-19 may now be eligible to receive funeral assistance funds through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In the past, FEMA has provided similar financial assistance to families who lost a loved one in natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy.

Over 550,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 since January 2020. The COVID-19 Funeral Assistance program hopes to ease some of the financial burden placed on already grieving families during the pandemic.

Who is eligible for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance?

Applicants for assistance must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after January 20, 2020, the date of the first documented case of COVID-19 in the United States. The death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories, and the death certificate must indicate that the death was attributed to COVID-19. There is no requirement that the person who died have any specific citizenship status.

If an individual was responsible for funeral expenses for more than one person who died due to COVID-19, they are eligible to receive up to $9,000 per funeral and a maximum of $35,500 per application per state, territory, or the District of Columbia.

What information is required for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance? 

FEMA asks that you gather together documentation about the funeral before applying for assistance. The types of documentation required includes:

An official death certificate. The death certificate should attribute the death either directly or indirectly to COVID-19. It should also show that the death occurred in the United States, including U.S. territories and the District of Columbia. You may need to acquire an amended death certificate if your loved one passed away early in the pandemic when testing was limited.

Funeral expense documents including receipts and funeral home contracts. These documents should include the applicant’s name, the name of the deceased, the amount spent on funeral expenses, and the date the funeral expenses were incurred.

Proof of funds received from other sources for funeral costs. FEMA will not duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance or financial assistance already received from voluntary agencies, government agencies, or other sources.

You will also need the following information in making your application:

• Social Security number for both the applicant and the deceased individual
• Date of birth for both the applicant and the deceased individual
• Current mailing address for the applicant
• Current telephone number for the applicant
• Address or location where the death took place
• Information about burial or funeral insurance policies
• Information about other funeral assistance received, such as donations
• CARES Act grants and assistance from voluntary organizations
• Routing and account number for the applicant’s checking or savings account if they prefer direct deposit instead of a check

How do I apply for COVID-19 funeral assistance? 

Anyone applying for COVID-19 funeral assistance must do so by calling the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Line directly at 844-684-6333 (TTY: 800-462-7585). The hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central Time. Multilingual services are available if needed.

It is very important that families stay vigilant against scam artists offering to register them for funeral assistance. FEMA will never contact you prior to receiving your application and no online applications for assistance will be accepted. Once you are provided with an application number, FEMA will direct you to submit your supporting documentation through the distasterassistance.gov account. You may also submit documentation by fax or mail.

Seniors are especially vulnerable to online and phone scams. Never provide sensitive personal or financial information over the phone unless you have placed the call yourself to the official phone number of the business or organization.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a difficult time for all Americans, but especially those who lost a loved one. Please visit the FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance website if you need more information about this program and how to apply.

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