COVID-19

FUNERAL
ASSISTANCE
OUTREACH TOOLKIT
Table of Contents

Overview .............................................................. 3

Help Us Reach Your Community ............................... 3

How You Can Help

Eligibility & Application Process ............................. 4

How to Apply

Required Documents

Who is Eligible

What is Covered

More Information

Outreach Resources .............................................. 5

Messaging Materials

Talking Points

Social Media Materials

Toolkit Materials ................................................... 9

How to Access the Toolkit .zip File

How to Use the Toolkit

Contact Us ........................................................... 10
 COVID-19 FUNERAL ASSISTANCE OUTREACH TOOLKIT

S E C T IO N O N E S E C T IO N T WO

Overview Help Us Reach

The COVID-19 pandemic brought overwhelming grief to many. To Your Community
help ease the financial stress caused by the virus, FEMA is helping
pay for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred on or after We want to provide clear information about
January 20, 2020. this important assistance for affected
So far, FEMA has distributed over $2 billion in financial assistance individuals in your community in order to
to individuals. The current eligibility rate for applicants post final encourage them to apply for COVID-19
review is 97%. However, many hard-hit communities may be unaware Funeral Assistance. The resources in this
of COVID-19 Funeral Assistance. FEMA needs your help to spread toolkit will help you share key information
the word about this important resource. with your community.

FEMA developed the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Toolkit to provide

sample messaging, graphics, and guidance to empower community- HOW YOU CAN HELP
based organizations (CBOs) to promote awareness of this assistance To help promote the COVID-19 Funeral
in their communities. Assistance program:
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance is available to all U.S. citizens, Share the toolkit resources
noncitizen nationals, or qualified noncitizens. and messaging with your
We hope to harness your community relationships to reach community
individuals who may be eligible but have not applied for COVID-19
Funeral Assistance. With your help, we can build awareness, provide Use communication
access to vital funding, and encourage more people to apply. channel(s) that best fit
your community’s needs

Provide tips for gathering

required documents (e.g.,
death certificate and funeral
home contract/expense
receipts/invoices)

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 COVID-19 FUNERAL ASSISTANCE OUTREACH TOOLKIT

S E C T IO N T H R E E

Eligibility & Application Process

Applying for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance starts with a simple phone call. It only takes about 20 minutes to complete
an application with a FEMA representative who will explain the process and answer any questions.

HOW TO APPLY WHO IS ELIGIBLE

Individuals who incurred funeral expenses for a death You may qualify for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance if:
attributed to COVID-19 may apply by calling the toll-free • You are a U.S. citizen, noncitizen national, or
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline at 844-684-6333. qualified noncitizen
Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9
• You incurred COVID-19-related funeral expenses
p.m. Eastern Time. Service is available in multiple languages.
on or after January 20, 2020
When the application is complete, the applicant will receive
The death was attributed to COVID-19, as noted on the
a FEMA application number and a letter explaining how to
death certificate.
submit documents to FEMA. They can send their documents
via web, fax, or mail:
• Upload to: DisasterAssistance.gov, which is
WHAT IS COVERED
available to the applicant after the application Eligible COVID-19 Funeral Assistance expenses include,
process is completed but are not limited to:
• Fax to: 855-261-3452
• Funeral services • Clergy or officiant
• Mail to: P.O. BOX 10001, Hyattsville, MD 20782 services
• Cremation
• Burial • Funeral ceremony
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS arrangements
• Transportation for up to
• Official death certificate that shows the death • Use of funeral home
two people to identify
happened in the United States, including U.S. equipment or staff
the deceased individual
territories and District of Columbia, and attributes
• Transfer of remains • Costs for producing
the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19
multiple death
• If the death certificate was issued between January • Casket or urn
certificates
20 and May 16, 2020, and does not attribute the • Burial plot or
• Additional expenses
death to COVID-19, you may also provide a statement cremation niche
required by local or
signed by the certifying official who signed the death
• Marker or headstone state government laws
certificate, medical examiner, or coroner linking the
cause of death on the death certificate to COVID-19

FOR MORE INFORMATION

You may find more information on
FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance website.

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 COVID-19 FUNERAL ASSISTANCE OUTREACH TOOLKIT

S E C T IO N FOU R

Outreach Resources
The following sections include digital and printed materials, along with guidance for sharing this messaging. This toolkit also
includes best practices for using the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Toolkit .zip file, which is available on FEMA’s website.
These resources will educate your community about the application process and provide answers to frequently asked questions.

MESSAGING MATERIALS
Email Copy
Note: Update the highlighted sections to fit your community. To access the messaging materials copy document, click here.

Hello,
The COVID-19 pandemic brought overwhelming grief to many residents of [COUNTY/CITY NAME]. To help
ease the financial stress caused by the pandemic, FEMA is offering financial assistance for COVID-19-
related funeral expenses.
You may qualify for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance if:
• You are a U.S. citizen, noncitizen national, or qualified noncitizen
• You incurred funeral expenses on or after January 20, 2020, for a person whose death was caused
by COVID-19

HOW TO APPLY: HOURS OF OPERATION:

Call the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline Monday – Friday

at 844-684-6333 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. E.T.

Call the phone number above to start your application. This will only take about 20 minutes. A FEMA
representative will guide you through the application process. Multilingual services are available. If you
use a relay service, please provide FEMA with the specific number assigned to you for the service.
You may only submit your application by phone. FEMA does not accept online applications for COVID-19
Funeral Assistance.
To learn more, visit FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance website or call the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance
Helpline at 844-684-6333.
Best Regards,
[ORGANIZATION NAME]
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 COVID-19 FUNERAL ASSISTANCE OUTREACH TOOLKIT

Newsletter Copy Website Copy

Include the newsletter copy in existing newsletters, blogs, Add the website copy below to your organization’s webpage.
or other communications. Consider adding it as either a new section or subpage. (The
Note: Update the highlighted sections to fit your community “Toolkit Materials” section also includes website banner
Access the messaging materials copy document here. images and a video that are available to include along with
the copy.)

Did you know financial assistance is available for COVID-19 Note: Update the highlighted section and ensure the hyperlink
funeral costs? FEMA may provide up to $9,000 in financial is embedded properly. Access the messaging materials
assistance per deceased individual for COVID-19-related copy document here.
funeral expenses incurred on or after January 20, 2020.
[ORGANIZATION NAME] understands that the COVID-19 COVID-19 Funeral Assistance
pandemic brought overwhelming grief to many. We are The COVID-19 pandemic brought overwhelming grief to
providing information to the [COUNTY/CITY NAME] many. To help ease the financial stress caused by the virus,
community about federal assistance that may ease the FEMA may provide up to $9,000 in financial assistance per
financial stress caused by the pandemic. deceased individual for COVID-19-related funeral expenses
Currently, there is no deadline to apply for COVID-19 Funeral incurred on or after January 20, 2020.
Assistance. To apply or learn more, please call FEMA’s You may qualify for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance if:
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline at 844-684-6333. • You are a U.S. citizen, noncitizen national, or
You may also visit FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance qualified noncitizen
website or contact [INSERT CONTACT] for more information.
• You incurred funeral expenses on or after
January 20, 2020, for a person whose death
was caused by COVID-19

HOW TO APPLY: HOURS OF OPERATION:

Call the COVID-19 Funeral Monday – Friday
Assistance Helpline at
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. E.T.
844-684-6333

[ORGANIZATION NAME] encourages you to apply

for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance if you had funeral
expenses as a result of a death caused by COVID-19.
For more information, please call FEMA’s COVID-19
Funeral Assistance Helpline at 844-684-6333 or visit
FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance website.

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 COVID-19 FUNERAL ASSISTANCE OUTREACH TOOLKIT

TALKING POINTS
Use this language to talk about FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance.

Talking Points for Applicants

• If you incurred funeral expenses as a result of a death caused by COVID-19, you
may be eligible for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance up to $9,000 per deceased
individual through FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance.
• Learn more about COVID-19 Funeral Assistance by calling 844-684-6333 or
visiting FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance website.
• To qualify for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance, you must provide a death certificate
showing the death was attributed to COVID-19.
• [ORGANIZATION NAME] is committed to supporting you and your family. Please
visit our office or give us a call if you have questions about FEMA’s COVID-19
Funeral Assistance program.

Talking Points for Partner Organizations

• [ORGANIZATION NAME] is teaming up with FEMA to spread the word about
financial assistance to [COUNTY/CITY NAME] residents who incurred COVID-19-
related funeral expenses.
• FEMA is offering up to $9,000 per deceased individual to those who incurred
COVID-19-related funeral expenses. [ORGANIZATION NAME] needs your help
to share this financial resource with the [COUNTY/CITY NAME] community.
• Please help us spread the word about COVID-19 Funeral Assistance by using
the attached toolkit.

General Talking Points

• FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance provides up to $9,000 per deceased
individual for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred on or after January
20, 2020.
• [COUNTY/CITY NAME] residents may apply by calling the FEMA COVID-19
Funeral Assistance Helpline at 844-684-6333. FEMA does not accept online
applications for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance.
• [REGION FEMA CONTACT] can help answer questions from the media about
COVID-19 Funeral Assistance.
• Visit fema.gov/funeral-assistance for more information.

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 COVID-19 FUNERAL ASSISTANCE OUTREACH TOOLKIT

SOCIAL MEDIA MATERIALS

This section includes messaging for your social media platforms (e.g., Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram). The “Toolkit
Materials” section also includes social media graphics to share with these posts.

Posting Guidance
• You are welcome to customize these messages to best suit
your community.
• Please choose the language(s) used within your community.
• If your audience speaks multiple languages, please publish the
post in all languages so everyone can read the message.
• Feel free to tag @FEMA to help us boost your messaging. There
is currently no hashtag for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance.
• Apply this guidance to any social media platforms you use.

Sample Post Copy

• Did you incur funeral expenses as result of a death caused by
COVID-19? You may qualify for up to $9,000 in FEMA COVID-19
Funeral Assistance. Call FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance
Helpline at 844-684-6333 to apply.
• Did you incur funeral expenses due to a death caused by COVID-
19? You may qualify for up to $9,000 in financial assistance
through FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance program. Call
FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline at 844-684-6333
to apply.
• Know someone who incurred funeral expenses for a death caused
by COVID-19? They may qualify for up to $9,000 toward eligible
costs. Tell them to call FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance
Helpline at 844-684-6333.
• FEMA may provide up to $9,000 to help pay for funeral expenses
for a death caused by COVID-19, and [ORGANIZATION NAME]
is helping to spread the word. Call FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral
Assistance Helpline at 844-684-6333 to apply.
• Did you incur funeral expenses as result of a death caused by
COVID-19? You may qualify for up to $9,000 in FEMA COVID-19
Funeral Assistance. [ORGANIZATION NAME] encourages
[COUNTY/CITY NAME] residents to call FEMA’s COVID-19
Funeral Assistance Helpline at 844-684-6333 to apply.

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 COVID-19 FUNERAL ASSISTANCE OUTREACH TOOLKIT

S E C T IO N FI V E

Toolkit Materials
The COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Toolkit .zip file includes printable resources (e.g., handouts, posters) and digital materials
(e.g., website content, social media imagery). These resources are available in the toolkit .zip file:
• Digital Bulletin Board • Informational Handout • Social Media Graphics
• Informational Video • Website Banner Images

HOW TO ACCESS THE TOOLKIT .ZIP FILE HOW TO USE THE TOOLKIT .ZIP FILE
You will receive an email from your FEMA Regional Resources included in the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance
Representative with a link to the FEMA website, where Toolkit .zip file provide information about the funding in
you can access the toolkit materials. multiple languages.
• Download the toolkit directly to your computer • Upload digital materials to your organization’s
• To open the toolkit .zip file on your computer: channels.

◦ This may include your organization’s

1. Open File Explorer (Finder for Mac users) and
website, social media, or similar
find the zipped folder.
communications channels.
2. To unzip the entire folder, right-click, select
“Extract All,” and follow the instructions. • FEMA can send printed materials to you. Just ask
your FEMA Regional representative.
3. To unzip a single file, double-click the zipped
folder to open it. Then, drag or copy the item • Work with your local FEMA Regional representative
from the zipped folder to a new location. to decide which printed materials will be best for
your community. Contact information for all FEMA
Regional offices is below.
• Share toolkit resources with your community
members.

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 COVID-19 FUNERAL ASSISTANCE OUTREACH TOOLKIT

S E C T IO N S I X

Contact Us
Thank you for sharing information about COVID-19 Funeral Assistance to help your community members
receive this financial assistance!
For questions relating to the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance toolkit, please contact your local FEMA Regional
representative below:

REGION STATES CONTACT

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire,
Region 1 [email protected]
Rhode Island, Vermont

Region 2 New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands [email protected]

Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, District of

Region 3 [email protected]
Columbia, West Virginia

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi,

Region 4 [email protected]
North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee

Region 5 Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin [email protected]

Region 6 Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas [email protected]

Region 7 Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska [email protected]

Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota,

Region 8 [email protected]
Utah, Wyoming

Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Guam,

American Samoa, Commonwealth of Northern
Region 9 [email protected]
Mariana Islands, Republic of Marshall Islands,
Federated States of Micronesia

Region 10 Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington [email protected]

To apply for assistance or request more information, please call FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance
Helpline at 844-684-6333. Hours of Operation are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time.
Multilingual services are available.
Visit fema.gov/funeral-assistance for more information.

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