Families who lost loved ones to COVID-19 are eligible for $9,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help cover funeral expenses.
FEMA launched the new federal program this week and has already received several applications. The program website warns that call volume may be high due to high demand.
More than half million American families stand to benefit from the program, as 562,000 have died from complications caused by the virus. That includes more than 12,700 Indiana residents and 370 Johnson County residents.
Locally, word is trickling out. Despite how many people could benefit from the program, several local funeral homes say they haven’t received many inquiries about it.
A few people have reached out at Wilson St. Pierre’s Greenwood Chapel, said Lori Sheeler, general manager. The program could benefit at least 150 families that St. Pierre Funeral and Cremation Services served at the company’s 11 locations, she said.
Sheele hopes more people find out about the program, as families could get up to $9,000 per funeral, or up to $35,500 for multiple coronavirus-related deaths.
“This is something that I don’t think the general public really knows about yet,” Sheeler said. “I’m hoping that we can get the information out to people who really need it.”
The program is new and many people lost family members to COVID-19 months ago — some more than a year ago. The Indiana Funeral Directors Association is fielding a lot of calls from its members about the program, said Andy Clayton, executive director.
The association is advising funeral homes help everyone who reaches out and proactively call their clients who experienced a COVID-19 death to spread the word, he said.
To help spread the word, funeral homes can be a conduit of information and a connection point in their community, Clayton said. Funeral homes have two pieces of information on file that families are required to furnish for their application: proof of payment and proof of services.
Local funeral homes won’t benefit from the FEMA funds directly, but could if families use the reimbursement to pay off outstanding expenses.
Even those who are not experiencing financial hardships due to the funeral expenses could still be eligible. The program allows for reimbursement for funerals that were paid for by way of life insurance.
However, the program does not allow for reimbursement if a funeral was pre-arranged, pre-paid or paid for by another federal program such as Medicaid.
To qualify for the FEMA program, the death had to have occurred on or after January 20, 2020, and the decedent has to have COVID-19 listed as a cause of death.
An applicant must be an adult U.S. citizen who was solely or partially responsible for the funeral costs. Citizens may apply for reimbursement even if the decedent is not a U.S. citizen if the individual died in the U.S., a U.S. territory or the District of Columbia, FEMA says.
Families will need a copy of their loved one’s death certificate that shows COVID-19 contributed to their death, which can be obtained from the Johnson County Health Department.
If COVID-19 is not listed on the death certificate, families will need to appeal that with their doctor if there is proof of a COVID-19 diagnosis, Clayton said.
Families will also need funeral expense documents that show the applicant’s name, decedent’s name and the amount and dates the expenses were incurred, FEMA says.
Applicants must also show proof of funds received from other sources to ensure that funding is not duplicated, FEMA says.
FEMA has not said when the program would end.
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To apply call the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Line at 844-684-6333. Calls will be answered from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday.
The application is not available online, but applicants will be asked to upload required documents to an online portal after their application is opened over the phone.
Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency
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