03-11-2022, 08:48 PM
VA’s National Cemetery Scheduling Office and VA national cemeteries have received many calls from
family members and funeral homes asking how they can apply for the Funeral Expense Reimbursement
Program that covers funeral expenses when a loved one’s death was related to COVID-19. This new
program, which began on April 12, 2021, is run entirely by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA). VA has no role in creating or tracking claims for this reimbursement program. Visit this FEMA
website: https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavir...stance/faq to learn more
about the program and how to apply. Before getting started:
Gather the documents FEMA requires before you call FEMA to apply. Family members must
provide documentation to establish a claim. You do NOT need any paperwork from VA.19
The only way to apply is by calling FEMA’s toll-free number844-684-6333 | TTY: 800-462-7585
M-F 09-2100 EST. There is no way to apply online.
Only the person who covered the funeral expenses can call FEMA’s toll-free number, not a third
party like a funeral home director or cemetery representative.
FEMA only wants documents showing the costs you incurred. If your loved one was interred in a
VA national cemetery, there was no cost to you for those things associated with the cemetery,
such as the headstone or marker, the gravesite or columbarium niche, the grave liner, and assorted
fees for opening and closing the grave, mounting the headstone, etc. All these items were part of
the Veteran’s burial benefit with VA.
FEMA’s program can be used to reimburse a family for funeral-related expenses that VA doesn’t
cover, such as the cost of the casket or urn, clergy fees and funeral home fees. FEMA’s website
has more details.
The Veterans Benefits Administration also pays a burial allowance to the families in certain
circumstances, whether or not the Veteran is interred in a VA cemetery. To learn more about this VA
benefit and who qualifies, click here: https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/vet...-allowance.
Please be patient with FEMA’s call center, as it is currently dealing with a very high volume of calls. If
you get a busy signal, try again later. There is no deadline for submitting claims. Finally, be prepared
before calling FEMA’s toll-free number. FEMA’s website provides all of the details on what you need to
do: https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavir...stance/faq.
Beware of Scams
FEMA has issued a “Fraud Alert” on its website, noting reports of scammers contacting mourners and
offering to register them for funeral assistance. If you are concerned about fraud, keep these points in mind
as you navigate the process:
FEMA will not contact anyone until that individual has reached out to FEMA or applied for
assistance. If you’re contacted by an individual claiming to be from FEMA and have not reached
out, hang up and call the FEMA Helpline (800-621-3362) or the National Center for Fraud Hotline
(866-720-5721).
A third party cannot apply for burial assistance on your behalf. You must call FEMA (844-684-
6333) between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Eastern on a weekday to begin the application process; do not
provide personal information to anyone offering assistance outside of FEMA.
Unlike other benefits programs, you can register for this assistance only via telephone. Beware of
emails or online forms requesting your data in exchange for aid. You may be asked to submit
documents via an online portal at gov after the initial phone call, but you’ll also be able to do so
via fax or regular mail.
FEMA received more than 1 million calls shortly after the program’s launch, CBS News reported,
and warns that high call volume could continue and callers could receive a busy signal. The agency
maintains a list of answers to frequently asked questions about the benefit at this link
family members and funeral homes asking how they can apply for the Funeral Expense Reimbursement
Program that covers funeral expenses when a loved one’s death was related to COVID-19. This new
program, which began on April 12, 2021, is run entirely by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA). VA has no role in creating or tracking claims for this reimbursement program. Visit this FEMA
website: https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavir...stance/faq to learn more
about the program and how to apply. Before getting started:
Gather the documents FEMA requires before you call FEMA to apply. Family members must
provide documentation to establish a claim. You do NOT need any paperwork from VA.19
The only way to apply is by calling FEMA’s toll-free number844-684-6333 | TTY: 800-462-7585
M-F 09-2100 EST. There is no way to apply online.
Only the person who covered the funeral expenses can call FEMA’s toll-free number, not a third
party like a funeral home director or cemetery representative.
FEMA only wants documents showing the costs you incurred. If your loved one was interred in a
VA national cemetery, there was no cost to you for those things associated with the cemetery,
such as the headstone or marker, the gravesite or columbarium niche, the grave liner, and assorted
fees for opening and closing the grave, mounting the headstone, etc. All these items were part of
the Veteran’s burial benefit with VA.
FEMA’s program can be used to reimburse a family for funeral-related expenses that VA doesn’t
cover, such as the cost of the casket or urn, clergy fees and funeral home fees. FEMA’s website
has more details.
The Veterans Benefits Administration also pays a burial allowance to the families in certain
circumstances, whether or not the Veteran is interred in a VA cemetery. To learn more about this VA
benefit and who qualifies, click here: https://www.va.gov/burials-memorials/vet...-allowance.
Please be patient with FEMA’s call center, as it is currently dealing with a very high volume of calls. If
you get a busy signal, try again later. There is no deadline for submitting claims. Finally, be prepared
before calling FEMA’s toll-free number. FEMA’s website provides all of the details on what you need to
do: https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavir...stance/faq.
Beware of Scams
FEMA has issued a “Fraud Alert” on its website, noting reports of scammers contacting mourners and
offering to register them for funeral assistance. If you are concerned about fraud, keep these points in mind
as you navigate the process:
FEMA will not contact anyone until that individual has reached out to FEMA or applied for
assistance. If you’re contacted by an individual claiming to be from FEMA and have not reached
out, hang up and call the FEMA Helpline (800-621-3362) or the National Center for Fraud Hotline
(866-720-5721).
A third party cannot apply for burial assistance on your behalf. You must call FEMA (844-684-
6333) between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Eastern on a weekday to begin the application process; do not
provide personal information to anyone offering assistance outside of FEMA.
Unlike other benefits programs, you can register for this assistance only via telephone. Beware of
emails or online forms requesting your data in exchange for aid. You may be asked to submit
documents via an online portal at gov after the initial phone call, but you’ll also be able to do so
via fax or regular mail.
FEMA received more than 1 million calls shortly after the program’s launch, CBS News reported,
and warns that high call volume could continue and callers could receive a busy signal. The agency
maintains a list of answers to frequently asked questions about the benefit at this link