Funeral Expense Help Available for Families Who Lose a Loved One to COVID-19

(KNSI) — Families who have lost a loved one to COVID-19 can apply for funeral benefits through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

FEMA’s COVID Funeral Assistance website will pay up to $9000 for funeral expenses. To qualify, the person must have died on American soil; applicants must prove the loved one died after January 20th, 2020, with COVID-19 as the likely cause of death. So far, Minnesota applicants have received more than $13 million in aid.

FEMA’s Veronica Verde says families must provide a copy of the death certificate, proof of funeral expenses incurred, and funeral assistance received from any other source. A Social Security number and date of birth for the applicant and the person who died.

Verde says while they’re trying to help grieving families, they’re also trying to keep scammers from cheating applicants out of their benefits. Verde says to get them; families must contact FEMA first. “FEMA will not contact you until you call or apply for assistance. FEMA is not going to ask you to pay anything to get this benefit. So please do not give out any information about yourself or your loved ones or anyone who might contact you.”

Families must apply over the phone, not online. The telephone number is 1-844-684-6333. TTY users can call 1-800-462-7585. Learn more by clicking here. If someone sends you an email or calls you, and you have not contacted FEMA first, Verde says to delete the email or hang up the phone and report it either to FEMA by clicking here or the Federal Trade Commission by clicking here.

There is no deadline for the reimbursement program.
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MNC Reporter Mike Moen contributed to this story.

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