The stimulus bill passed by Congress and signed into law by the president late last month to provide economic relief to Americans struggling due to the pandemic also included financial assistance for funeral expenses for federally-declared national disasters.  

The COVID 19 Relief Package/Consolidated Appropriations Act 2020, which became law on December 27, 2020, includes FEMA assistance for funeral expenses for the current COVID disaster and, more importantly, for any subsequent major disaster declared by the President. This will help ensure that the families of disaster victims are able to bury their loved with respect and dignity. 

NFDA has been lobbying Congress to provide assistance for future federal disasters and we are pleased to see this provision was included; it will make a tremendous difference for grieving families.   

NFDA will continue to work with FEMA on behalf of families as the agency determines the specifics of how it will make funeral assistance during disasters and will keep you apprised more information becomes available.