MANSFIELD — Residents who lost loved ones due to COVID-19 are eligible to apply for up to $9,000 in reimbursed funeral costs, effective today, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Two pieces of legislation recently passed by Congress — the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 — authorized FEMA to provide financial assistance to families that incurred COVID-19-related funeral expenses after Jan. 20, 2020.
Leaders of north central Ohio funeral homes are ready to assist their clients in the application process. Residents can complete the application on the phone by calling 844-684-6333 on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
In north central Ohio, nearly 500 residents have died due to COVID-19 as of Monday, according to the Ohio Department of Health website, including 197 in Richland County, 108 in Knox County, 100 in Crawford County and 86 in Ashland County.
“This has been an extraordinarily difficult year as hundreds of thousands of families throughout the country have unexpectedly had to plan a funeral when a loved one died of COVID-19,” said J Todd Snyder, CEO of Snyder Funeral Homes.
“Our hearts are with, not only the families we have served, but everyone in this community who is grieving the death of a loved one or friend due to the pandemic,” Snyder said.
Snyder said his staff has maintained a database of clients who lost loved ones due to COVID-19 since the pandemic reached Ohio more than a year ago. He said his staff will be contacting each by letter and is also ready to assist clients who reach out to Snyder Funeral Homes.
“While this assistance cannot take away their pain and grief, it will make a tremendous difference by enabling them to meaningfully honor the life of their loved one and lay them to rest with dignity,” Snyder said.
“If there is anything we can do to assist families with the application process – such as by ordering copies of a death certificate or providing copies of receipts or contracts showing the expenses that were incurred – please call us,” he said.
Bill Wappner, owner of Wappner Funeral Directors and Crematory, said news of the reimbursement plans has only filtered down to the industry in the last week or so.
“Most of our COVID-related deaths were in December and January, so we are checking on those,” he said. “We will send a blast email to all of our families to let know about this reimbursement plan.
“We now have some information we can provide to families going forward and also reaching back,” said Wappner, who owns four homes in Mansfield, Ontario and Ashland, including the cremation center/funeral home on Ashland Road.
He said Wappner’s will also use its advertising means to share information about the COVID-19 reimbursement program.
Documentation will be required during the application, including:
— An official death certificate that attributes the death to COVID-19 and shows that the death occurred in the United States. The death certificate must indicate the death “may have been caused by” or “was likely the result of” COVID-19 or COVID-19-like symptoms. Similar phrases that indicate a high likelihood of COVID-19 are considered sufficient attribution.
— Funeral expense documents (e.g., receipts, funeral home contract, etc.) that include the applicant’s name, the deceased individual’s name, the amount of funeral expenses and dates the funeral expenses were incurred.
— Proof of funds received from other sources specifically for use toward funeral costs. Funeral assistance may not duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance; financial assistance received from voluntary agencies; federal/state/local/tribal/territorial government programs or agencies; or other sources.
If multiple individuals contributed toward funeral expenses, they should apply under a single application as applicant and co-applicant(s). Applicants can also apply for assistance for more than one individual who died.
The FEMA website has complete information about eligibility requirements, documentation applicants will be required to provide, and how to start the application process.
According to FEMA, financial assistance is available for such costs as transportation for up to two individuals to identify the deceased individual; transfer of remains; casket or urn; burial plot or cremation niche; marker or headstone; clergy or officiant services; arrangement of the funeral ceremony; use of funeral home equipment or staff; cremation or interment costs; and costs associated with producing and certifying multiple death certificates.
Applicants who are approved for assistance will receive a check by mail or funds by direct deposit, depending on which option they chose when applying for assistance.
