FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance


The COVID-19 pandemic brought overwhelming grief to many. To help ease the financial stress caused by the virus, FEMA may provide up to $9,000 in financial assistance per deceased individual for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred on or after January 20, 2020.

Applying for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance starts with a simple phone call. It only takes about 20 minutes to complete an application with a FEMA representative who will explain the process and answer any questions.


WHO IS ELIGIBLE

  • You are a U.S. citizen, noncitizen national, or qualified noncitizen

  • You incurred funeral expenses on or after January 20, 2020, for a person whose death was caused by COVID-19


HOW TO APPLY

Individuals who incurred funeral expenses for a death attributed to COVID-19 may apply by calling the toll-free COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline at 844-684-6333. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time. Service is available in multiple languages.

When the application is complete, the applicant will receive a FEMA application number and a letter explaining how to submit documents to FEMA. They can send their documents via web, fax, or mail:

  • Upload to: DisasterAssistance.gov, which is available to the applicant after the application process is completed

  • Fax to: 855-261-3452

  • Mail to: P.O. BOX 10001, Hyattsville, MD 20782


REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

  • Official death certificate that shows the death happened in the United States, including U.S. territories and District of Columbia, and attributes the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19

  • If the death certificate was issued between January 20 and May 16, 2020, and does not attribute the death to COVID-19, you may also provide a statement signed by the certifying official who signed the death certificate, medical examiner, or coroner linking the cause of death on the death certificate to COVID-19

  • A signed funeral home contract, invoice, receipts, or other documentation


WHAT IS COVERED

Eligible COVID-19 Funeral Assistance expenses include, but are not limited to:

  • Funeral services
  • Cremation
  • Burial
  • Transportation for up to two people to identify the deceased individual
  • Transfer of remains
  • Casket or urn
  • Clergy or officiant services
  • Funeral ceremony arrangements
  • Use of funeral home equipment or staff
  • Costs for producing multiple death certificates
  • Burial plot or cremation niche
  • Marker or headstone
  • Additional expenses required by local or state government laws


Twiford Funeral Homes, LLC encourages you to apply for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance if you had funeral expenses as a result of a death caused by COVID-19.

For more information, please call FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline at 844-684-6333 or visit FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance website.