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COVID-19 Resources

Most programs have sunsetted.

• Ending 9/30/25: COVID Funeral Fund Reimbursement Program (one page handout)
  • Benefits- FEMA provides financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses up to $9,000 per funeral. FEMA will continue to provide funeral assistance until Sept. 30, 2025.
  • Eligibility
    • The death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.
    • The death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19.
    • The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national (Swains Island and American Samoa), or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after January 20, 2020. There is, however, no requirement for the deceased person to have had legal immigration status.
    • Financial eligibility: there is no income limit
      • insurance does NOT preclude participation.
      • One of the few disqualifiers (detailed here) is if a funeral was pre-paid.
  • Documentation - You will need to show the official death certificate that lists COVID-19 as the cause of death (directly or indirectly) and shows that it occurred in the US, including the US territories. You will also need to share funeral expense documents and proof of any funds received from other sources.
  • To apply- call the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Line 844-684-6333 (TTY: 800-462-7585), Monday – Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern time. (No online application process; families must call.)
  • For more information- fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance (available in multiple languages) and FAQs

 

• "Remembering with Dignity" Project to Honor MA Residents Who Died During the Pandemic

  To honor the more than 25,000 Massachusetts residents who died during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dignity Alliance Massachusetts (DignityMA) has launched “Remembering with Dignity,” a new online memorial. The public is invited to submit remembrances of those lost between January 2020 and May 2023.

  The COVID-19 pandemic caused unprecedented upheaval, and yet the 1.2 million Americans who died from the disease have no official national day or place of remembrance. During the COVID-19 emergency, widespread closures led to profound isolation. Many individuals died in healthcare and other facilities without the comfort of family, and survivors were often deprived of the ability to hold traditional funerals or grieve with their families and friends.

  “The pandemic left a void, not just in our families but in our collective memory,” said Deborah W. Coogan, Chair of the ‘Remembering with Dignity’ initiative. “So many died in isolation, and their stories risk being lost in the statistics. ‘Remembering with Dignity’ provides a way to honor their essence – the values they lived by – and ensures they are remembered as more than just a number. It is a first step toward healing and advocating for a future where we better protect our most vulnerable.” The platform seeks to capture the spirit of each individual.

  How to Submit a Remembrance:

  • Visit dignityalliancema.org and navigate to the Pandemic Memorial or see under the “Resources” tab or click on tinyurl.com/DignityRemembrance.
  • A remembrance should be no more than 175 words.
  • Rather than a formal obituary, each submission should describe the person’s essence, values, and their story.
  • Please include the circumstances of their passing (e.g., if they lived or worked in a high-risk setting such as a nursing home, rest home, group home, or hospital, or as a caregiver or essential worker).

  Watch the site for a virtual event in the fall of 2025 or early 2026. This gathering will provide a forum for survivors to honor their loved ones and channel their grief into advocacy for policies that better protect vulnerable populations during future public health crises.