Daniel Prince
FEMA has provided more than $42 million in SC already
If you have lost a loved one in the past two years due to COVID-19, the SC Emergency Management Division wants to remind you that there is federal funding available for COVID-related funeral costs. You may not be aware, but FEMA has provided more than $42 million to 6000+ people in South Carolina who lost loved ones during the pandemic. To apply for assistance or ask questions about an existing application, call 844-684-6333. The line is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
While COVID-19 funeral assistance can be reimbursed, applicants are not required to pay for funeral expenses prior to receiving assistance. Applicants must provide FEMA with a signed funeral home contract, invoice, or similar legal documentation that shows the COVID-19 related funeral expenses were incurred on or after January 20, 2020.
There is no deadline to apply for the assistance. Starting in April, applications that are incomplete after one year will be moved to a suspended status. The application can be reactivated without appeal by submitting the required documents. There are more than 1600 applications in the state awaiting additional documentation. To find out more about COVID-19 funeral assistance, including answers to frequently asked questions, go to www.fema.gov.