You can get $9,000 toward funeral costs after losing a loved one to Covid – but Fema says no one is applying for benefit

FAMILIES who lose a loved one to Covid-19 can be reimbursed up to $9,000 for funeral costs, but FEMA says people are not using the benefit.

As of December 6, only about 226,000 people had taken advantage of the funeral benefit, even though more than 800,000 Americans have died from the virus.

Alamy

Only about 226,000 people have taken advantage of the funeral benefit thus far[/caption]

To be eligible for the benefit, death certificates for those who died after May 16, 2020 must indicate that the death was attributed to Covid-19.

For deaths that occurred in the early months of the pandemic — from January 2020 until mid-May — death certificates must be accompanied with a signed statement from a medical examiner or coroner that certifies the death as related to Covid.

People who have used to reimbursement process have generally said it runs smoothly and quickly, according to NPR, but still, many Americans appear to be unaware of it, given the small percentage of people who have used it.

In the US the average cost of a funeral with a burial is $7,360, while the average cost of a funeral with cremation is $6,260.

The reimbursement can be claimed at any date after the funeral. 

So far, the FEMA program has reimbursed about $1.5billion, but with the high death toll in the nation, that number could be much higher.

If you qualify for the support you can claim up to $9,000 for each Covid-19 related funeral.

For those who have lost multiple family members to the virus there is a cap of $35,500 in one financial year.

WHAT WILL THE BENEFIT COVER?

The support covers a variety of funeral costs, including: transportation to identify the deceased, transfer of the deceased’s remains, the casket or the earn, the marker or headstone, the service, the funeral home, and the cremation or burial.

You can make a claim from FEMA even if you already have insurance that covers funeral costs. 

However, if your insurer then pays out FEMA will recover any assistance given.

If you are eligible you can call the Covid-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline on 844-684-63333. 

The helpline is open between 9am to 9pm Eastern Time. 

You will then be taken through the claim form by one of FEMA’s representatives.

Alamy

More than 800,000 Americans died from Covid-19[/caption]