With the U.S. seeing over 800,000 deaths from COVID-19, many have not only lost their loved ones but have also been stuck with funeral costs at a time when money is not easy to come by. However, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is helping with those costs.
Through its program, FEMA is offering reimbursements of up to $9,000 to families to help cover funeral costs for loved ones who died of COVID-19.
As of Dec. 6, the program had helped about 226,000 people, totaling almost $1.5 billion spent by FEMA on funeral costs that occurred after Jan. 20, 2020, the date of the first confirmed COVID-19 case in the U.S.
Even with many taking advantage of the program, there are still thousands who have not—those who have shared that they were surprised at how easy it was.
Wanda Olson lost her son-in-law to COVID-19, and while she did not have a funeral, opting to cremate him, she was still stuck with a $2,000 bill, she told the LA Times.
“Had this not been available, we would have been paying the money ourselves,” Olson, 80, of Villa Rica, Georgia, told the Times. “There wasn’t any red tape. This was a very easy, well-handled process.”
She received a credit of $1,974 after her daughter filed an application with FEMA to receive reimbursement.
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Those taking advantage of the program vary from state to state, with close to 40% in North Carolina and Maryland to fewer than 15% in Idaho and Oregon, according to FEMA.
Those who can receive reimbursement must have a death certificate indicating the death was due to COVID-19 for those who died after May 16, 2020.
For those who died from Jan. 20 to May 16, 2020, death certificates must be accompanied by a signed statement from a medical examiner, coroner, or the certifying official listed on the certificate saying COVID-19 was the reason for the death.
The program’s funds come from federal stimulus dollars, and money is still available.
To apply, call 844-684-6333 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. EST to 9 p.m. EST. Unfortunately, there is no option to apply online, but those who want to learn more can do so at FEMA’s website here.
