COVID-Related Funeral Expenses

Multilingual services are available.

If you use a relay service, please provide FEMA with the specific number assigned to you for the service so we can follow up with you about your application.

• you are a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified non-citizen.
• the death occurred in the United States, including U.S. territories and the District of Columbia;
• the death was attributed to COVID-19; and
• you are responsible for the eligible funeral expenses incurred on or after January 20, 2020

WHAT IS COVERED?

• funeral services
• cremation
• interment
• costs associated with producing death certificates
• costs due to local or state government laws or ordinances
• transportation for up to two people to identify the person who died
• transfer of remains
• casket or urn
• burial plot
• marker or headstone
• clergy
• funeral ceremony
• funeral home equipment or staff

You must provide FEMA a copy of an official death certificate that shows the death occurred in the United States, including U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, occurred after January 20, 2020, and was attributed to COVID-19.

If the death certificate was issued between January 20 and May 16, 2020, it must either 1) attribute the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19 or 2) be accompanied by a signed statement from the original certifier of the death certificate, or the local medical examiner or coroner from the jurisdiction in which the death occurred, listing COVID-19 as a cause or contributing cause of death. This signed statement must provide an additional explanation or causal pathway, linking the cause of death listed on the death certificate to COVID-19.

You must provide FEMA with a signed funeral home contract, invoice, receipts, or other documentation that includes:

• your name, showing you are responsible for some or all of the expense
• the name of the person who died
• itemized expenses 
• proof that the expenses were incurred on or after January 20, 2020