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*aResearch Service
FEMA Funeral Assistance for COVID-19
Updated June 30, 2021
Congress authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide Funeral Assistance
for deaths associated with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This Insight provides an
overview of FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance, including eligible expenses, applicant eligibility
criteria, and award amounts.
FEMA IA for the COVID-19 Pandemic
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, President Donald J. Trump issued a nationwide emergency
declaration under Section 501(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
(Stafford Act; 42 U.S.C. §§5121 et seq.). Subsequently, President Trump and President Joseph R. Biden
Jr. approved major disaster declarations for 50 states, 5 territories, the District of Columbia, and 3 tribes
under Stafford Act Section 401.
Funeral Assistance is a form of Other Needs Assistance (ONA) that is typically available when the
President authorizes the Individuals and Households Program (IHP)-a type of Individual Assistance
(IA)-pursuant to a declaration of emergency or major disaster under the Stafford Act. In the case of the
COVID-19 pandemic, however, Congress authorized FEMA to provide Funeral Assistance through
legislation.
Only Funeral Assistance, and not all forms of IHP assistance, has been authorized for the COVID-19
pandemic Stafford Act declarations. In addition, the other forms of IA authorized to support pandemic
recovery are limited to the Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program and the Lost Wages
Assistance (LWA) program (authorized by President Trump under the ONA statutory authority to provide
grants for supplemental lost wages payments to individuals receiving unemployment insurance).
Funeral Assistance for the COVID-19 Pandemic
Congress, through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, first required FEMA to provide Funeral
Assistance through the IHP for the presidential Stafford Act declarations for the COVID-19 pandemic. An
additional $2 billion was appropriated to the Disaster Relief Fund to reimburse funeral expenses incurred
through December 31, 2020, at a 100% federal cost share.
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
IN11582
CRS INSIGHT
Prepared for Members and
Committees of Congress

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