FEMA gives Coloradans more than $8 million to help pay for COVID funerals

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance program has provided more than $8 million to Coloradans to help pay for funeral expenses of people whose deaths are related to COVID-19 — and applications for funds are still being accepted, the agency said in a news release.

Funerals can be financially straining, with an average cost of $7,000 according to U.S. Funerals Online. Given the increased financial stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused more than 8,500 reported deaths in Colorado, Congress authorized FEMA to help residents pay for funerals.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many families,” FEMA stated on its website. “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.”

FEMA’s program offers financial assistance for funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020, for “deaths related to COVID-19,” FEMA stated in the news release. This includes funds to help pay for cremation, burial expenses, transfer of remains, headstones, transportation for identifying the deceased individual and more.