Spoiler alert:  This is an educational post.  Second spoiler alert:  The possibility of up to a $9,000 reimbursement for funeral expenses is the subject.  Third spoiler alert:  This is long (for which I deeply apologize), but there’s a great deal you need to know about qualifying for this program.  Believe it or not, this is the Reader’s Digest Condensed version.

The recently passed Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 set aside money for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to use for the purpose of reimbursing individuals or families who lost someone to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The maximum amount of the reimbursement per death (which will be determined by the total funeral bill) is $9,000 and the maximum amount for which any one individual may apply (in case they have suffered multiple losses for which they were financially responsible) is $35,500.

Of course, there are guidelines that dictate who may apply and under what circumstances.  FEMA will accept applications only from United States citizens, a non-citizen national, or a qualified alien.  Those applying must prove they were the financially responsible party and must have documentation to back that up.  I’ll get to the documentation part in a few paragraphs.  The person who died does not have to be a citizen, but they must have died in the United States or one of its territories.  Only one application may be filed for someone who died as a result of COVID and only one person may file that application as the applicant.  If others signed as the responsible parties and helped with the funeral expenses, one other person may join with the applicant as a co-applicant . . . but only one other person. If there are others who bore some responsibility, they will have to give their receipts to the applicant or co-applicant . . . and then trust those people to share the reimbursement with them when it is received.

Now, what’s covered by this reimbursement?  Well, most funeral expenses, whether burial or cremation, as well as a monument and a cemetery lot or cremation niche.  What isn’t covered?  Transportation to the funeral, no matter the mode (unless you are going strictly for purposes of identifying the deceased), and room and board while you’re there, just to mention a few.

Are there other criteria for applying?  Of course.  The deceased in question must have died after January 20, 2020, and their death certificate must state that COVID either directly or indirectly contributed to their death. It may also state there were COVID-like symptoms, but the more specific the wording, the greater the chance you will qualify for reimbursement.  Suppose your loved one died of an underlying condition made lethal by COVID, but COVID isn’t specifically mentioned as a contributing cause.  Death certificates can be amended, including causes of death, but you’ll have to plead your case with the doctor who signed it, since they are also the ones who certify that the listed conditions brought about the death.  The funeral home cannot amend the cause of death.

Now, about that documentation thing.  Those who plan to apply for reimbursement will need a copy of the death certificate giving credit to COVID as a contributing factor, copies of their receipts for the payment of the funeral expenses or a copy of the funeral contract, and (pay close attention here), a list of any funding assistance they may have received toward payment of the bill.  This is where it gets a bit sticky since the intent of this program is not to duplicate benefits but to reimburse people for expenses they paid themselves.

If your loved one had a burial or funeral insurance policy that paid some or all of the funeral expenses, you will not be reimbursed for the amount covered by that insurance.  In simple terms, if your loved one had a prearranged and prepaid funeral through a funeral home, the amount paid by that policy will not be reimbursed.  However, if your loved one had life insurance that was not written as part of a prearranged funeral, and you assigned part or all of that insurance to the funeral home in satisfaction of the funeral bill, then you can be reimbursed for that amount.  Also, for those of you who may be members of the burial associations through our firms, that amount will not be eligible for reimbursement.  If your friends and neighbors helped pay that bill, or your church took up an offering on your behalf, or you used a GoFundMe account or collected money through Facebook—none of the funds raised by these methods will be eligible for reimbursement.  In other words, these funds are meant to pay you back for anything you spent out-of-pocket.

In the next few days . . . or weeks . . . FEMA is going to establish a dedicated toll-free number just for this program.  People who wish to apply for the funds must call this number to register.  There will be no on-line or paper applications—everyone calls the toll-free number and gives FEMA the following information:

After giving FEMA this information, you will be given a registration number.  Using that number you can fax or mail the required documents to them or set up your own account at DisasterAssistance.gov and upload the documents there.

NOW . . .

Pay very close attention to this next part.

NO ONE FROM FEMA IS GOING TO CALL YOU FIRST.  NO ONE FROM FEMA IS GOING TO ASK YOU FOR YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION UNLESS YOU CALLED THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER FOR THE PURPOSE OF APPLYING FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF FUNERAL EXPENSES.

As with every good thing, there are people attempting to scam those who have already suffered so much.  DO NOT give your personal information to anyone claiming to be with FEMA unless you called them at the dedicated toll-free number.

If you have any questions, we’ll gladly try to help, but we can’t apply on your behalf; funeral homes can’t apply at all, even if they were never paid for their services.  We can provide you with copies of the death certificate (FEMA does not want or need a certified one) and copies of your receipts or a copy of the original contract.  And once the toll-free number is in working order, we’ll put that on our Facebook page.  In the meantime, start gathering your information.  Two billion dollars has been allotted for this program but sadly, given the number of COVID-related deaths, that may not go very far.

About the author:  Lisa Shackelford Thomas is a fourth generation member of a family that’s been in funeral service since 1926.  She has been employed at Shackelford Funeral Directors in Savannah, Tennessee for over 40 years and currently serves as the manager there.  Any opinions expressed here are hers and hers alone, and may or may not reflect the opinions of other Shackelford family members or staff.

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