Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administrator Robert Fenton says the agency is beginning the process of paying back funeral costs for families of people who have died due to COVID-19.
The money was allocated due to the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump in December.
FEMA says a toll free number will be available soon.
Statement from FEMA:
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many families. At FEMA, our mission is to help people before, during and after disasters. We are dedicated to helping ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by the virus.
The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 provides FEMA $2 billion to reimburse individuals and households for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred between Jan. 20 and Dec. 31, 2020.
We are working with stakeholder groups to get their input on ways we can best provide this assistance, and to enlist their help with outreach to families and communities. In April, FEMA will implement a funeral assistance program for this assistance.
Additional guidance is being finalized and will be released to potential applicants and community partners as soon as possible. In the meantime, people who have COVID-19 funeral expenses are encouraged to keep and gather documentation.
#BREAKING: Trump issues lengthy statement after Washington Post retracted false quotes attributed to the former President – https://t.co/Uw5QgV38HF pic.twitter.com/YDAz7K5ZnB
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