Editor: Shannon Cottongame
August 25, 2021
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to offer assistance to families with COVID-19 related funeral expenses during the pandemic.
Apply for FEMA Funeral Assistance by calling 844-684-6333 or TTY 800-462-7585. Phone lines are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday with multilingual services available.
Applicants requiring relay services, such as a videophone, Innocaption or CapTel, must provide FEMA a specific number assigned to that service. It is important that FEMA is able to contact applicants.
There is currently no deadline to apply for aid.
The criteria to qualify for assistance includes: the person died of COVID-19; the death occurred in the U.S.; the applicant paid for funeral, burial or cremation costs after January 20, 2020; the applicant is a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident or qualified refugee (the deceased does not need to meet these qualifications).
When applicants call for assistance, they need to provide the following information: Social Security number; date of birth; current mailing address and phone number; the deceased individual’s date of birth; location of death; information about any funeral or burial insurance policies; information about other funeral assistance received, such as donations or CARES Act grants.
Eligibility determinations are based on the submission of all required documents.
Additional information and answers to frequently asked questions about the process can be found on FEMA’s Funeral Assistance Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) page on the FEMA website: http://www.fema.gov.
The Lakelander 