FEMA Issues Policy for COVID Funeral Reimbursement

On June 29, 2021, FEMA amended the agency’s COVID-19 funeral assistance policy to assist with COVID-19 related deaths that occurred between January 20 and May 16, 2020.

Applicants who incurred COVID-19-related funeral expenses between January 20 and May 16, 2020, will be able to submit a death certificate that does not attribute the death to COVID-19 along with a signed statement from the certifying official listed on the death certificate, coroner, or medical examiner linking the death to COVID-19. The written statement must show causal pathway, or an explanation, linking the cause of death listed on the death certificate to the virus and should be submitted with the death certificate.

Read the amended policy

Read the FAQs

COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Line Number

Applications began on April 12, 2021

No Deadline to Apply

844-684-6333 / TTY: 800-462-7585

Hours of Operation:

Monday-Friday

8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central Time

FEMA has posted an educational video you can share with families. Click here to view. The video is about 10 minutes in length. It provides an overview of the COVID-19 Funeral Reimbursement program and how the application process is handled; including the initial application phone call and the document upload process.

Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Congress authorized FEMA to provide financial assistance to individuals who incurred COVID-19-related funeral expenses after January 20, 2020.

FEMA shared that the maximum financial assistance will now be $9,000 per funeral and a Maximum of $35,500 per applicant per state, territory, or the District of Columbia. Funds will be received either by check via mail or direct deposit, applicants will choose with option when applying.

On April 12, 2021, FEMA began accepting applications. A dedicated toll-free phone number (844-684-6333) will be available to complete an application. No online applications will be accepted. Once an applicant has applied for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance they will be provided an application number and then supporting documentation will be submitted by uploading, faxing or mailing requested documents.

Additionally, FEMA will only award COVID-19 Funeral Assistance for a deceased individual on a single application. If multiple individuals contributed toward funeral expenses, they should register under a single application as applicant and co-applicant. The applicant or co-applicant must have incurred the funeral expenses. The deceased individual’s documentation status is not considered as part of the reimbursement process, but the applicant(s) must be U.S. citizens, legal residents, asylees, refugees, or non-citizen nationals.

Now is the time for families to decide who the applicant and any co-applicants will be and to gather the documents they need to be reimbursed for expenses.

Specifically, the applicant must provide the following documents:

  1. An official death certificate. The death certificate must indicate the death "may have been caused by" or "was likely a result of" COVID-19 or COVID-19-like symptoms. Similar phrases that indicate a high likelihood of COVID-19 are also considered sufficient. The death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.

  2. Proof of funeral expenses incurred. Documentation (receipts, funeral home contract, etc.) must include the applicant's name as the responsible person for the expense, the deceased individual's name, the amount of funeral expenses, and that funeral expenses were incurred after January 20, 2020.

  3. Proof of funds received from other sources specifically for use toward funeral costs. FEMA is not able to duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance, financial assistance received from voluntary agencies, government agencies, or other sources. If they received financial assistance through the deceased’s life insurance policy, they may still apply for reimbursement.

Eligible funeral expenses include but are not limited to:

  • Transportation for up to two individuals to identify the deceased individual

  • Transfer of remains

  • Casket or urn

  • Burial plot or cremation niche

  • Marker or headstone

  • Clergy or officiant services

  • Arrangement of the funeral ceremony

  • Use of funeral home equipment or staff

  • Cremation or interment costs

  • Costs associated with producing and certifying multiple death certificates

  • Additional expenses mandated by any applicable local or state government laws or ordinances.

If applicants already received reimbursement for certain funeral expenses through government agencies, voluntary agencies, non-profits, burial or funeral insurance, they cannot resubmit those same expenses for reimbursement through this FEMA-administered program. If they received any outside assistance, they must include documentation of this assistance in their application. If they received financial assistance through the deceased’s life insurance policy, they may still apply for reimbursement.

Please review this information carefully so you can be prepared to provide information and technical assistance to families and friends of the deceased who may be eligible.

Click here to access the FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance webpage (resources on this page are available in multiple languages)

Click here to access the FEMA Funeral Assistance FAQ

FEMA will not contact anyone until they have called FEMA or have applied for assistance. Tell families not to disclose information such as the name, birth date or social security number of any deceased family member to any unsolicited telephone calls or e-mails from anyone claiming to be a federal employee or from FEMA. If there is a doubt about a FEMA representative being legitimate, hang up the phone and report it to the FEMA Hotline at 800-621-3362 or the National Center for Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721. Complaints also may be made by contacting local law enforcement.