Thursday 28th March 2024

emanuel-cleaver-ii-4-16-21

United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO) has announced that FEMA has begun accepting applications for funeral assistance for Missourians who have lost loved ones to the coronavirus. Rep. Cleaver helped create the funeral assistance program by supporting funding as part of the American Rescue Plan.

“There is certainly no amount of money that can return a loved one or heal the wound of their painful passing,” Congressman Cleaver said. “While we may not be able to reverse the trauma of losing someone to COVID-19, with this grant program we hope to ease the financial burden of families who have suffered enough already. For the families that have been faced with unimaginable loss over the last year, FEMA and my office stand ready to assist you in this most difficult hour.”

Missourians may qualify if: they are a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien who paid for funeral expenses after January 20, 2020, and the funeral expenses were for an individual whose death in the United States, territories or the District of Columbia may have been caused by or was likely the result of COVID-19. Individuals may apply for assistance for multiple funerals, with a maximum of $9,000 per funeral and up to $35,500 per application.

To apply, Missourians can call FEMA’s dedicated call center at (844) 684-6333; TTY (800) 462-7585, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Applicants will need to provide information when they call:
· Social Security number for the applicant and the deceased individual;
· Date of birth for the applicant and the deceased individual;
· Current mailing address for the applicant;
· Current telephone number for the applicant;
· Location or address where the deceased individual passed away;
· Information about burial or funeral insurance policies;
· Information about other funeral assistance received, such as donations;
· CARES Act grants and assistance from voluntary organizations; and
· Routing and account number of the applicant’s checking or savings account (for direct deposit, if requested).

You can find more information on FEMA’s COVID-19 funeral assistance program here <https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance/faq>.