WASHINGTON -- Over the past year, FEMA has provided more than $2.1 billion in COVID-19 funeral assistance to 326,000 applicants grappling with the financial stress and burden caused by the pandemic.
Committed to reaching all affected communities, the agency launched a targeted outreach campaign this month. Paid advertisements are directed to localities identified with high rates of COVID-19-related deaths, low funeral assistance application rates and a high Social Vulnerability Index score.
The advertisements help ensure information about FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Program reaches underserved communities who have experienced a high COVID-19 death rate. The ads are running in San Bernardino, California; Bronx County, New York; Philadelphia; and Hidalgo, Texas.
In its first year, COVID-19 funeral assistance has:
Awarded over $2.1 billion to assist 326,000 applicants. Provided a $6,500 average award. Maintained a 97% eligibility approval rate. Supported 76 languages through the toll-free COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline. Translated 13 web pages and 29 languages for an informational one-pager.Eligible applicants may qualify for up to $9,000 for each deceased individual per application, with a maximum of $35,500 for applicants who may have incurred funeral expenses for multiple individuals due to COVID-19.
Additional information, including eligibility requirements, can be found at COVID-19 Funeral Assistance | FEMA.gov.
