​Last updated 12/6/2022

Funeral Assistance

FEMA will provide financial assistance for funeral costs specifically related to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) for funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020, and at a 100% federal cost share.

FEMA implemented Funeral Assistance nationwide on April 12, 2021.

General Conditions of Eligibility 
  • Applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after January 20, 2020. However, there are no requirements regarding the citizenship of the person who died. 
  • FEMA must verify applicant's identity
  • Funeral expenses must be incurred by the applicant on or after January 20, 2020
  • The death occurred in the United States or U.S. territory 
  • The death must be documented as being attributed to COVID-19
  • Funeral expenses must not be covered by another source (i.e. funeral or burial insurance, financial assistance from voluntary agencies, other applicable government programs/agencies, or other entities).

Documentation Requirements
Applicants must submit all required documentation before FEMA will award Funeral Assistance 
  • Death Certificate: ​
    • Deaths after May 16, 2020: The death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19. 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 considered sufficient attribution.
    • Deaths from Jan. 20 to May 16, 2020: If the death certificate does not indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19, it must be accompanied by a signed statement listing COVID-19 as a cause or contributing cause of death.
  • Proof of funeral expenses: Documentation (receipts, funeral home contract, etc.) must include the applicant's name as the responsible person for the expense, the decedent's name, the amount of funeral expenses, and the funeral expenses were incurred after January 20, 2020.
  • Insurance or other funeral benefits: COVID-19 Funeral Assistance may not duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance, or financial assistance received from voluntary agencies, federal/state/local/tribal/territorial governmental programs or agencies, or other sources.

Funeral Assistance Awards
  • Funeral expenses will be reimbursed up to a maximum amount of $9,000 per decedent
  • FEMA will only award funeral assistance for a decedent on a single registration. If two individuals contribute toward funeral expenses, they should register under a single registration as applicant and co-applicant. If individuals do not apply under the same registration, the assistance will only be provided to the applicant who provided all of the documentation first.
  • The assistance is limited to a maximum financial amount of $9,000 per funeral and a maximum of $35,500 per registration per state or territory. 
  • Funeral assistance is intended to assist with expenses for funeral services and internment or cremation.
  • Any assistance received from another source will be deducted from the funeral assistance award. 
  • An applicant may apply for multiple decedents under a single registration or multiple registrations for deaths that occurred in different states or territories. 
Funeral Assistance Process
​Applications opened on April 12, 2021. Once individuals have all of the information and documentation ready to send to FEMA, they may call FEMA at 1-844-684-6333 (TTY: 800-462-7585) to apply.

Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Hawaii Standard Time)

Documents may be mailed, or faxed to FEMA or uploaded with disasterassistance.gov account the applicant may establish after telephone registration is complete.
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 10001, Hyattsville, MD 20782
FAX: 855-261-3452

Disaster Assistance Account
FEMA will provide you with an application number.  You can create an account with your application number here to check on the status of your application.
​
For more information, visit COVID-19 Funeral Assistance | FEMA.gov