FEMA launches fund to aid families facing COVID-related funeral costs

By Fritz Esker
Contributing Writer

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced the launch of a COVID-19 funeral assistance fund to provide financial aid to families who paid for funerals of loved ones who died of COVID-19.

The assistance will be funded under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

As of last week, 10,037 people have died of COVID-19 in Louisiana out of over 442,000 known cases. Jefferson and Orleans parishes are 1st and 3rd in the state in confirmed cases at 44,822 and 29,091 respectively (875 and 779 deaths, respectively). The United States has totaled over 30 million confirmed cases and over 543,000 confirmed deaths.

According to FEMA’s website, a person needs to meet the following criteria to qualify for funeral assistance: the death must have occurred in the United States (or its territories); the death certificate must show the death was attributed to COVID-19 and the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after January 20, 2020. There is no requirement for the deceased to have been a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien.

FEMA will begin accepting applications in April. They encourage applicants to supply an official death certificate, documentation for funeral expenses, and proof of funds received from other sources to help pay for funeral costs (FEMA will not duplicate benefits received from other sources such as insurance or other volunteer or government agencies).

Eligible applicants will receive funds up to $7,000 via direct deposit or a check by mail, depending on the applicant’s preference.

Funeral expenses can often catch a grieving family off guard at a time when they are already reeling from the loss of a loved one. Zee Wright of Charbonnet Family Services said even a basic service can easily cost between $4,000 and $5,000.

“Who has $4,000 to $5,000 just lying around?” Wright asked.

Wright said costs for funeral services can vary from one business to the next and depend on the services requested. She estimated the cost of using a building for a viewing and funeral service can range from $450-$1,100. The transfer of remains from the place of death to the funeral home can cost anywhere from $275-$800. If it’s an open casket funeral, there will be costs for embalming and preparing the body for viewing (approx. cost $750-$1,500). A low-end casket will still cost around $1,000. If the body is being cremated, there are only a small number of people who are certified to handle cremations, so it is a specialty service people should expect to pay for accordingly. Other charges will include the basic services of the funeral director and staff, the death certificate and graveside services. It all adds up to thousands of dollars in the end.

More information about FEMA’s funeral assistance fund will be made available in the coming days on the FEMA website at www.fema.gov.

This article originally published in the March 29, 2021 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.