Burial Expense Assistance

COVID-19 FEMA Burial Expense Assistance Program:

The incident period for FEMA’s COVID-19 Burial Expense Assistance Program ended on May 11, 2023. However, FEMA will continue to provide funeral assistance until Sept. 30, 2025, to those who have lost loved ones due to the pandemic.

The program covers funeral expenses incurred in the United States, including the US Territories, on or after Jan. 20, 2020.

Eligibility:

The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses deaths that occurred between January, 20 and May 11, 2023.
• There is no requirement for the deceased person to have been a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien
• The deceased person’s death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to or caused by COVID-19. If a death occurred between Jan. 20 and May 11, 2023, and the death certificate doesn’t attribute the death to COVID-19, include a signed statement from the death certificate’s certifying official, local coroner or medical examiner that links the cause of death to COVID-19.

Call FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline or visit the website for additional information:
For fastest service applying, individuals can begin submitting documentation online through Disasterassistance.gov,
by fax 855-261-3452; Documents may also be mailed to: COVID-19 Funeral Assistance, P.O. Box 10001, Hyattsville, MD 20782

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There are government programs that will pay a portion of the funeral expenses of eligible individuals. Those programs include: the Social Security Administration (SSA), the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS), and the Veteran’s Administration (VA).

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/spotlights/spot-burial-funds.htm

Anyone receiving Social Security is entitled to a lump sum death benefit of $255. The benefit is paid only if there is a surviving spouse or surviving children under the age of 18.

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
https://portal.ct.gov/DSS/Economic-Security/Temporary-Family-Assistance—TFA/Related-Resources

DSS will pay up to $1,350, less any assets in the deceased’s estate, toward burial or cremation expenses of any individual with very limited means in Connecticut. There is no restriction; however, assets may offset all or part of the benefit.

To link to a copy of the “Application for Payment of Burial and Funeral Expenses” on the DSS website, link here: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/Departments-and-Agencies/DSS/Common-Applications/w-1053.pdf

VETERANS ADMINISTRATION

For information on who is eligible, how much the VA pays, and how to apply, visit:

https://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/claims-special-burial.asp

TO FIND PROVIDERS IN CONNECTICUT’S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:
Search by service name: Burial/Cremation Expense Assistance

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PREPARED BY: 211/jm
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: June2023