FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Guidelines
At Calahan Funeral Home, Our Commitment To Families Extends Well After The Funeral.
This Includes Providing Vital Information.
If you lost a loved one due to COVID-19 and paid for that loved one's funeral, interment or cremation after January 20, 2020, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has stepped up to provide reimbursement for those expenses.
You may qualify for up to $9,000 for funeral costs related to a single loved one and up to $35,500 for funeral costs related to multiple COVID-19 deaths.
Applications for assistance open Monday, April 12, 2021, through a dedicated FEMA call center at 844-684-6333 (or 800-462-7585 for TTY).
FEMA does not permit us to submit documentation on your family's behalf.
In fact, no one can register you for FEMA Funeral Assistance but you. FEMA has received reports of scammers reaching out to people offering to register them for funeral benefits. FEMA has not sent any such notifications and will not contact you before you register for the program.
Learn more and find out if you qualify for reimbursement HERE.
We are happy to provide you with any documentation that we have to simplify the application process for you.
Give us a call at (773) 723-4400, Monday – Friday 10am – 6pm. We’re here to help!
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for FEMA Funeral Assistance funds?
FEMA will review your application and make the ultimate determination. You must meet the following conditions to qualify for FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance:
- Your loved one's death was attributed to COVID-19.
- Your loved one's death occurred in the United States, the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory.
- You are a U.S. citizen, noncitizen national or qualified alien. (Your loved one need not have been a U.S. citizen, noncitizen national or qualified alien.)
- You paid for your loved one's funeral expenses after January 20, 2020.
- No one else has received FEMA Funeral Assistance funds for your loved one's expenses.
If family members shared funeral expenses, FEMA is allowing one co-applicant per application.
What documents do I need to apply for FEMA Funeral Assistance?
To apply for FEMA Funeral Assistance, you must submit all of the following documents:
- An official death certificate indicating your loved one's death "may have been caused by" or "was likely a result of" COVID-19 or "COVID-19-like symptoms" or a similar phrase that indicates a high likelihood of COVID-19.
- Proof of funeral expenses, such as receipts or your funeral home contract. It must include everything on the list below:
- Name of the person who paid the funeral expenses.
- The total amount of the funeral expenses.
- Name of the loved one.
- Date of the funeral expenses.
- Proof of funds received from other sources for funeral costs, such as funeral or burial insurance or money from voluntary agencies or government agencies (state, tribal or federal). *FEMA won't pay if these sources did. Still, you don't need to worry about documenting life insurance proceeds, death gratuities or other forms of assistance not specifically intended to defray funeral costs. FEMA does not count those as funeral benefits.
Contact your insurance provider if you need help documenting funeral expenses that were already covered.
Is life insurance considered a duplication of benefit? What if I used life insurance to pay for funeral expenses?
Life insurance proceeds are not considered a duplication of Funeral Assistance benefits. If the funeral bill was paid by burial or funeral insurance, then FEMA cannot duplicate that benefit and FEMA would not be able to reimburse the applicant for the expenses incurred. However, FEMA does not consider life insurance proceeds, death gratuities, or other forms of assistance not specifically intended to defray funeral costs as a duplication of benefit. Therefore, applicants who used life insurance to pay for funeral expenses can be considered for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance.