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McAlister-Smith Funeral & Cremation wants families that have experienced a COVID-19 related death of a loved one since January 20, 2020 to know about this FEMA reimbursement opportunity. Please see details below and feel free to reach out to any of our locations for any needed assistance.
Immediate Release: FEMA Funeral Assistance Hotline to Open April 12, 2021
Late-Thursday, FEMA announced that individuals will be able to begin applying for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance on April 12. The FEMA Funeral Assistance website has been updated with the phone numbers that families can call to begin the application process.
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Line Number
(844)684-6333 | TTY: (800) 462-7585
Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET
FEMA announced in March that they would provide financial assistance for funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020 related to COVID-19 to help ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the pandemic.
A message from Mark Smith:
"The death of a loved one under any circumstance can oftentimes be hard in many ways, including both emotionally and financially. An unexpected death of a loved one can almost always make a very difficult time for surviving family members and friends even more difficult and complicated. Recent deaths that were the direct result of COVID- 19 during the Pandemic are equally difficult for surviving family members and friends. When I learned of the opportunity for those grieving family members that experienced the death of loved one that was a COVID 19 related death being able to be financially reimbursed, I immediately met with my funeral home and cremation society funeral directors and staff and we unanimously agreed that we must get involved and help ease the burden for those that were financially responsible for paying those expenses through this FEMA program in any way possible. We want to make sure that all the families we served during this pandemic, and all of those served by other funeral homes as well, are aware of the reimbursement opportunity. There are very specific guidelines, criteria and a defined process to help those grieving family members quickly understand and know if they are eligible for up to $9,000 of paid in full funeral or cremation arrangements for their deceased family member made during the pandemic for COVID 19 related deaths."
To be eligible for COVID-19 funeral assistance, FEMA policy states:
- The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after Jan. 20, 2020 for a death attributed to COVID-19.
- If multiple individuals contributed toward funeral expenses, they should apply under a single application as applicant and co-applicant. FEMA will also consider documentation from other individuals not listed as the applicant and co-applicant who may have incurred funeral expenses as part of the registration for the deceased individual.
- An applicant may apply for multiple deceased individuals.
- The COVID-19-related death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.
This assistance is limited to a maximum financial amount of $9,000 per funeral and a maximum of $35,500 per application.
Funeral assistance is intended to assist with expenses for funeral services and interment or cremation.
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 and/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.
Required Documentation:
- An official death certificate that attributes the death to COVID-19 and shows that the death
occurred in the United States. The death certificate must indicate the death “may have been
caused by” or “was likely the result of” COVID-19 or COVID-19-like symptoms. Similar phrases
that indicate a high likelihood of COVID-19 are considered sufficient attribution.
- Funeral expense documents (receipts, funeral home contract, etc.) that include the applicant's
name, the deceased individual's name, the amount of funeral expenses and dates the funeral
expenses were incurred.
- Proof of funds received from other sources specifically for use toward funeral costs. Funeral
assistance may not duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance, financial
assistance received from voluntary agencies, federal/state/local/tribal/territorial government
programs or agencies, or other sources.
Additional Resources
FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Individuals and Households Program Policy
FEMA to Help Pay Funeral Costs for COVID-19-Related Deaths