Wanda Olson poses for a photo in Villa Rica, Ga., on December 17. When Olson’s son-in-law died in March after contracting COVID-19, she and her daughter struggled with more than their sudden grief. They have to give money for cremation. Even without the funeral, the bill went up to nearly $2,000, a hefty sum that Olson paid initially.
Mike Stewart / AP
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Mike Stewart / AP
Wanda Olson poses for a photo in Villa Rica, Ga., on December 17. When Olson’s son-in-law died in March after contracting COVID-19, she and her daughter struggled with more than their sudden grief. They have to give money for cremation. Even without the funeral, the bill went up to nearly $2,000, a hefty sum that Olson paid initially.
Mike Stewart / AP
BOSTON – When Wanda Olson’s son-in-law died in March after contracting COVID-19, she and her daughter struggled with more than just their unexpected grief. They have to give money for cremation.
Even without the funeral, the bill came to nearly $2,000, a hefty sum that Olson paid initially. She and her daughter later learned of a federal program that reimburses families for up to $9,000 in funeral costs for loved ones who have died of COVID-19.
Olson’s daughter applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency, received a deposit in June and was able to reimburse her mother for $1,974.
Olson, 80, of Villa Rica, Georgia, said: “Without this, we would have had to pay for it ourselves. “There wasn’t any red tape. It was a very easy process, well handled.”
As of December 6, approximately 226,000 people shared the nearly $1.5 billion FEMA spent on funeral expenses that occurred after January 20, 2020, the date of the first COVID-19 case. confirmed in the United States with the nation’s coronavirus. With the death toll reaching 800,000, it’s clear that many families eligible for the refund are still not enjoying the funeral fee scheme.
Olson’s son-in-law had traveled extensively, working on air conditioning systems in theatres, restaurants and businesses, when he started feeling ill, she said. After a few days at home, he went to the hospital and was put on a ventilator. He died a few weeks later.
“He was never able to get through,” Olson said.
To be eligible for reimbursement, death certificates for those who died after May 16, 2020, must clearly state that the death was attributed to COVID-19.
For deaths that occurred during the early months of the pandemic – from January 20 to May 16, 2020 – the death certificate must be accompanied by a statement signed by the medical examiner, staff investigator or certifying official listed on the certificate that COVID-19 was the cause or a contributing cause of death.
The percentage of individuals who are reimbursed varies considerably between states — from nearly 40% in North Carolina and Maryland to less than 15% in Idaho and Oregon, according to state-by-state data compiled by FEMA.
While reimbursement must go directly to individuals, some funeral home directors have taken on the task of informing grieving families of benefits.
After benefits were first announced, David Shipper, owner of Sunset Funeral Home, Crematorium & Cemetery in Evansville, Ind., posted an ad to let people know they would be willing to help. help if they qualify.
“Nine thousand dollars – that’s a lot of money. We wanted to find a way to tell people about it,” he said. “We stopped advertising a while back, but when we have a new family die from COVID, we’ll tell them about the show.”
Those working from home will sit down with families, gather the necessary paperwork, contact FEMA by phone and help guide them through the process if they ask for it, he said.
Many families may simply not be aware of the benefits, but others may refuse to seek cash out of reluctance to revisit the grief of death, Shipper said. He said the best time to seek help is when planning the funeral.
“They’re more likely to take advantage now than when they’ve spent money and don’t want to reopen,” Shipper said.
The largest states account for some of the largest shares of FEMA reimbursements.
The program has paid out more than 21,000 reimbursements in California and Texas, both of which reported more than 74,000 COVID-19 deaths. Residents have applied for more than $141 million in each state.
The least amount of refunds occurred in Vermont, where 123 people were awarded a total of about $704,000.
Expenses covered under the FEMA program include funeral, cremation, and intercession services, as well as the cost of coffins or urns, burial umbrellas or niches, markers or headstones, transportation transfer or removal of remains, clerical or ceremonial services, and funeral use of household equipment or staff.
The program was funded using federal stimulus funds, and funds are still available. No online applications are allowed.
Once all required documents are received and verified, it usually takes less than 30 days to determine if an individual is eligible, according to FEMA. Once eligibility is confirmed, direct deposit applicants can receive their funds in a few days. It may take longer for applicants to claim checks.
According to Ellen Wynn McBrayer, president of Jones-Wynn Funeral & Crematorium in Villa Rica, reimbursement is one way to help ease the emotional and financial burden the pandemic has placed on communities across country.
She recalls a woman who lost her mother, husband and one of her children to a terrible disease within six months. One of the workers at the funeral home also succumbed to the virus.
“It’s hard on a weekday to help a grieving family, but seeing so many people die,” she said. “COVID has just broken so many hearts and taken so many lives.”
