September 18th, 2024 by WCBC Radio

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has assisted with funeral expenses for victims of COVID-19 since January of 2020.  According to Wendy Upchurch of Upchurch Funeral Homes, that assistance will be ending September 30, 2025. While many families have taken advantage of the benefit, many have been unaware of the program.  Upchurch said there are steps to take to find out if a person is eligible…

”If you’re not sure if you’re eligible, look on your loved one’s death certificate and if the words COVID 19 are listed as a cause of death or if they’re listed as a contributing factor, a significant condition, I would advise you to call the FEMA line.”

FEMA has been able to assist families with burial costs including headstones, caskets, plots and funeral services…

“We have had quite a few of our families in the last four years that have applied. One of the interesting statistics that they shared with us -  over $315 billion dollars, billion dollars, has been used to help almost half a million families.”