In a joint press conference earlier this week, Senator Chuck Schumer and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced that the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) will now reimburse low-income families for COVID-related funeral and burial costs.
FEMA will administer a $2 billion fund that will help families cover up to $7,000 in funeral expenses, retroactively covering the time period between Jan. 20 to Dec. 31, 2020. There’s also a plan to extend this funding into 2021 through the $1.9 trillion relief package Democrats are hoping to pass by mid-March. This subsidy will go a long way towards covering the funeral costs, but not all of it—the average burial costs between $8,000 - $10,000, per Policygenius.
FEMA has covered funeral costs for victims of natural disasters before, as in the case of Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy. However, when COVID hit last spring, President Trump denied additional assistance to 30 states and territories that requested additional funds last April, per ProPublica.
For funeral expenses, FEMA will cover:
How to qualify
Details on how to apply are still being worked out, but according to a statement from FEMA, applications should be open within the next couple of months. In addition, a call center will be established by FEMA to handle reimbursement requests. Per FEMA:
“FEMA is working quickly to finalize an implementation plan and interim policy to support the delivery of funeral assistance to eligible citizens. To help administer the program, FEMA is hiring contract support through the federal acquisitions process to help administer the program. The contract is open for proposals until Feb. 8. After a contract is awarded, FEMA will make an announcement later this year when applications are being accepted.”
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Based on previous funeral coverage programs through FEMA, expect to provide the following:
ID and documentation that proves your relation to the deceased.The death certificate (it might need to specify COVID as the cause of death).Documents outlining the costs incurred, like invoices or receipts from the mortuary or cemetery.Contact information for general inquiries about FEMA’s disaster assistance can be found here.
