Reimbursement Expenses for COVID-19 Related Funerals

Many have suffered unexpected losses of loved ones in the past year due to a coronavirus named COVID-19, which stands for COrona VIrus Disease 2019. No family could have ever been emotionally prepared for the devastated losses they suffered. On top of their emotional suffering these families were not financially prepared to lay their loved ones to rest. Some families may have had emergency savings accounts and were able to fund their loved ones final resting place. Others may have used credit cards and are now stuck with a monthly bill that adds yet another debt to their household finances. For some, they lost the bread winner of their family and now they are left not only with trying to raise children on their own with only their income but an added debt. Then there are those who had absolutely nothing, no savings, no credit cards, no extended family members. Their friends or community formed a charity fund, the funeral home discounted as much as they could, yet there may have still been a balance to pay in which they could have arranged the payout over time with the funeral home. This would still leave them in debt trying to pay a monthly bill.

There is hope and there is help for those who need it and who meet the qualifications to apply!

Prepared Love for Families Foundation (PL4F) offers education on other resources that may be helpful and can offer support on qualifying for other programs. One such program for the current COVID-19 pandemic is Disaster Funeral Assistance through FEMA.

In their Disaster Funeral Relief Fact Sheet dated 2011, FEMA says, “Under the Individuals and Households Program’s (IHP) Other Needs Assistance (ONA) provision, an applicant may qualify for certain eligible funeral expenses.” You can view it here: https://www.fema.gov/pdf/media/factsheets/2011/dad_funeral.pdf

You may also visit CNET to see other information on the COVID-19 funeral relief here: https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/7000-reimbursement-for-covid-19-funerals-who-its-for-how-to-apply-and-other-details/

In a nutshell, until more information and streamlined steps are published, you can start qualifying now by collecting documentation of your relationship with the deceased and providing your identification. You should have the death certificate that mentions the death was related to COVID-19 and gather all expenses incurred for the funeral. Only one family member can qualify so be sure to coordinate with others. Each family could get UP TO $7,000.

Until further information is gathered, Prepared Love for Families suggest you get started with the following:

• Speak with your family and decide who will be the person qualifying.
• Review FEMA’s Disaster Funeral Assistance Fact Sheet (link provided above)
• Gather documentation: Qualifier’s identification, Proof of relation to the deceased, Death Certificate, and Receipts of all expenses incurred for the funeral.

Our hearts go out to all who have been affected by COVID-19. If we can be of service in some way, please reach out to us here: https://preparedlove.org/contact/

Prepared Love for Families Foundation is a charitable nonprofit 501c3 organization with a mission to provide families in crisis with emergency funeral funding, grief counseling services, loss preparedness educational services, and other supportive services during times of loss and transition, such as bereavement.