FEMA Funeral Assistance for COVID-19

What does this mean for me and my family?

Congress has passed legislation that can offer assistance of up to $9,000 per funeral to help offset the financial burden incurred due to funeral expenses for those who died as a result of COVID-19.  However, there are many questions you may have, such as ...

• Who can apply for assistance?
• What are the eligible funeral expenses?
• What documents will I need?
• How can I apply for FEMA funeral assistance?

What do I need to know?

Eligibility Information:

• The death must have occurred after January 20, 2020.
• The death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19.  
• The death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.

• The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, legal resident, asylee, or refugee.  There is no requirement for the deceased person to have be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, legal resident, asylee, or refugee.
• There can only be one application per eligible death, therefore FEMA will only award assistance for a deceased individual on a single application.  If multiple individuals contributed towards funeral expenses, they should register under a single application as applicant and co-applicant(s).
• The applying party/parties must have incurred the funeral expenses.  If the applicant has already received reimbursement for certain funeral expenses through government agencies, voluntary agencies, non-profit organizations, burial or funeral insurance, they cannot resubmit those same expenses for reimbursement.  If an applicant received partial assistance from the above mentioned agencies, they must include documentation of the assistance received in their application.  If they received reimbursement through the deceased's life insurance policy, they may still apply for FEMA assistance.

Eligible Expenses for Reimbursement:

• Transportation for up to two individuals to identify the deceased individual
• Transfer of remains
• Casket or urn
• Burial plot or cremation niche
• Monument or marker
• Clergy or officiant services
• Arrangement of the funeral ceremony
• Use of funeral home equipment or staff
• Cremation or interment costs
• Cost associated with producing and certifying death certificate(s)
• Additional expenses as mandated by any applicable local or state government laws or ordinances

Required Documentation:

• Certified copy of death certificate that attributes death to COVID-19
• Proof of funeral expenses that include the decedent's name, date of death, expense amount, date expenses incurred, and applicant's name as the responsible person for the expenses (funeral home contract, cemetery contract, receipts, itemized statement, etc.).  If you are an eligible applicant and have misplaced your necessary documentation relating to Morrison Funeral Homes, please feel free to contact us for assistance. 

• Proof of funds received from others sources as listed in the application information above if such funds were received

Application Process:

• Applications begin APRIL 12, 2021
• Gather the required documentation
• Contact FEMA's COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Call Center at 844-684-6333 (TTY: 800-462-7585).  Their hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Central Time.

• Approved reimbursements will be dispersed by your choice of either a check or direct deposit
• BEWARE OF SCAMS!!  FEMA will only contact an applicant after the applicant has contact FEMA to begin the application process
• For more information, you can visit fema.gov