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FEMA POLICY:

COVID-19 Funeral Assistance

Individuals and Households Program

Policy (Interim)

FEMA Policy FD 104-21-0001

POLICY STATEMENT

FEMA provides financial assistance under the Other Needs Assistance (ONA) provision

of the Individuals and Households Program (IHP) to individuals and households with

implement this Interim Policy to streamline the delivery of Funeral Assistance. When

implemented, this Interim Policy:

• Establishes eligibility criteria for funeral assistance specific to COVID-19 related

deaths;

• Minimizes the documentation review typically required to award Funeral

Assistance; and

• Establishes a standard Funeral Assistance maximum award amount for COVID-

19 related deaths.

A. This Interim Policy may only be implemented in conjunction with major disasters

this Interim Policy remain unchanged.

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1. To ensure consistent and timely implementation, all Funeral Assistance for COVID-

19 related fatalities will be administered under the ONA FEMA Option where FEMA

administers the program.

occurred.

a. Tribal members may apply and receive assistance under the applicable state

or territory declaration. No agreement between the tribal government and

state or territory is required by FEMA in order for tribal members to receive

assistance.

4. All registrations for Funeral Assistance will be completed via FEMA’s telephone or

teletypewriter call center capabilities. No online registrations will be accepted.

B. FUNERAL ASSISTANCE CONDITIONS OF ELIGIBILITY

Outcome: FEMA will verify applicant eligibility prior to awarding Funeral Assistance.

funeral or burial insurance or financial assistance from voluntary agencies,

applicable government programs/agencies, or other entities.

5. A medical examiner, coroner, or other certifier indicated that COVID-19 played a role

in the decedent’s death on the death certificate.

a. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (Vital Statistics

Reference Guidance Number 03, April, 2020) established guidance regarding

death certifications for COVID-19, which states: If COVID–19 played a role in

the death, this condition should be specified on the death certificate. In many

cases, it is likely that it will be the underlying cause of death, as it can lead to

various life-threatening conditions, such as pneumonia and acute respiratory

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of Columbia.

7. No other applicant received Funeral Assistance funds for the same decedent.

C. FUNERAL ASSISTANCE DOCUMENTATION

Outcome: Applicants must submit all required documentation before FEMA will award

Funeral Assistance.

The following documentation is required to confirm eligibility for Funeral Assistance:

1. Death certificate: Applicants must provide an official death certificate that meets the

criteria in B.5 above.

2. Proof of funeral expenses: Applicants must provide documentation demonstrating

they incurred funeral expenses for the decedent. The documentation, such as

costs and/or any form of Funeral Assistance was received from voluntary agencies,

government agencies (state, tribal or other federal programs that pay for funeral or

burial assistance, etc.), or other sources, the applicant must provide this

documentation to FEMA.

a. Applicants who indicate the decedent had insurance or received other forms

of assistance covering funeral costs must provide documentation of the

insurance proceeds, an insurance denial, or documentation of the other forms

of assistance before receiving further consideration for Funeral Assistance.

b. FEMA is required to recover funds awarded for Funeral Assistance that

duplicate insurance proceeds and/or any form of Funeral Assistance received

Assistance award amounts across all COVID-19 declarations.

1. An applicant may receive Funeral Assistance for actual funeral costs up to $9,000

for each COVID-19 related funeral for which they are responsible, that occurred in

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Assistance. This assistance may be provided for multiple decedents under one

registration up to the financial ONA maximum award for the fiscal year in which the

disaster was declared. For the COVID-19 disasters, the financial ONA maximum

award is $35,500.

a. Any funds received by the applicant for Lost Wages Supplemental Payment

Assistance (LWA) up to $1,800, authorized by the President to supplement

the payment of lost wages as a result of COVID-19, also count toward an

2. Funeral Assistance is intended to assist with expenses for funeral services and

interment or cremation.

a. Eligible funeral service expenses include, but are not limited to:,

transportation for up to two individuals to identify the decedent; 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; interment; costs associated with producing

and certifying multiple death certificates; and additional expenses mandated

by any applicable local or state government laws or ordinances.

3. The total amount of burial or funeral insurance proceeds and/or any other forms of

with FEMA under the same registration as the applicant and co-applicant, or

the first applicant that submits all required documentation will be awarded the

Funeral Assistance for the decedent.

5. Applicants responsible for funeral expenses for multiple decedents may receive

assistance under multiple registrations if the deaths occurred in different States and

for the State or Territory in which the death occurred.

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