Funeral Assistance FAQ

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The COVID-19 incident period ended on May 11, 2023. FEMA will continue to provide funeral assistance until Sept. 30, 2025, to those who have lost loved ones due to this pandemic.

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

FEMA expanded the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Interim Policy to assist with COVID-19 related deaths that occurred in the early months of the pandemic, before the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidance on death certification. This policy change allows applicants to submit a signed statement from the certifying official on the death certificate, or the local medical examiner or local coroner, that links the death to COVID-19 for deaths that occurred between Jan. 20 and May 16, 2020. The applicant would submit the signed statement to FEMA along with the death certificate that does not list COVID-19 as a cause of death.

No. Your income does not affect your eligibility, although you will be asked to provide your annual gross household income when you apply for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance. FEMA collects this information for demographic purposes only.

Yes. If you receive notification from FEMA your application was placed in a suspended status, you can submit the required information and documentation, and FEMA will reopen your application for additional processing. You will not need to submit an appeal.

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