Federal assistance program provides up to $9,000 for funeral, cremation costs for people who died of COVID-19

photo by: contributed

A flyer provides information about federal assistance for the families of people who have died of COVID-19.

Federal financial assistance remains available for the funeral or cremation costs of people who have died of COVID-19.

The United Way of Douglas County is distributing information around the community to help ensure more people are aware of the resource, which is provided through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Families can receive up to $9,000 to cover expenses, and United Way Director of Operations Mandy Enfield said that the assistance program has been under-utilized and that significant funding remained available.

According to data from Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health, 106 Douglas County residents have died of COVID-19, with the most recent death occurring Nov. 24. The United Way is providing print and digital information regarding the assistance program to local organizations and outlets in an effort to help community members access the funds, according to a news release.

FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral, cremation or burial costs incurred on or after Jan. 20, 2020. Guidance and eligibility requirements can be found on the FEMA COVID- 19 Funeral Assistance website, fema.gov/funeral-assistance. Those who need assistance with the application or have questions can call FEMA’s dedicated helpline at 1-844-684-6333. Multilingual services are available.

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