Many families who are eligible for up to $9,000 in funeral cost reimbursement through the federal government have yet to take advantage of the benefit.
Even without a funeral, the bill came to nearly $2,000, a hefty sum that Olson initially covered. She and her daughter then learned of a federal program that reimburses families up to $9,000 for funeral costs for loved ones who died of COVID-19.
As of Dec. 6, about 226,000 people had shared in the nearly $1.5 billion that FEMA has spent on funeral costs that occurred after Jan. 20, 2020, the date of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. With the nation’s coronavirus death toll topping 800,000, it’s clear that many families who are eligible for reimbursement have yet to take advantage of the funeral benefit.
The percentage of individuals who have been reimbursed varies dramatically from state to state — from nearly 40% in North Carolina and Maryland to fewer than 15% in Idaho and Oregon, according to state-by-state data compiled by FEMA. “Nine thousand dollars — that’s a lot of money. We wanted to find a way to tell people about it,” he said. “We stopped advertising some time ago, but when we have a new family with a death from COVID, we tell them about the program.”
“They’re much more likely to take advantage right then than if they’ve already spent the money and don’t want to open it up again,” Shipper said.The program has paid out more than 21,000 reimbursements in California and Texas, which have both reported more than 74,000 COVID-19 deaths. Residents applied for more than $141 million in each state.
The program has been funded using federal stimulus funds, and money remains available. No online applications are allowed.
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Federal program offers cash to cover COVID-19 funeral costsFamilies who have lost loved ones to COVID-19 can apply for reimbursement from the federal government for up to $9,000 to cover the cost of funeral expenses.
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Mourning Texans Signing Up For Federal Program That Offers Cash To Cover COVID Funeral CostsThe program has paid out more than 21,000 reimbursements in Texas and California, which have both reported more than 74,000 COVID-19 deaths.
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Federal program offers cash to cover COVID-19 funeral expensesFamilies who have lost loved ones to COVID-19 can apply for reimbursement from the government for up to $9,000 to cover the cost of funeral expenses.
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Federal program offers cash to cover COVID-19 funeral expensesFamilies who have lost loved ones to COVID-19 can apply for reimbursement from the government for up to $9,000 to cover the cost of funeral expenses.
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Federal program covers COVID-19 funeral costsFamilies who have lost loved ones to COVID-19 can apply to FEMA for reimbursement of up to $9,000 to cover funeral expenses.
Leer más »