FEMA Opens COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Program Aurora Advocate (OH) Hundreds of thousands of families who've lost someone to COVID-19 are eligible for some financial relief for funeral expenses. Starting this week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will open applications for COVID-19-related funeral assistance. Eligible people can apply to recover up to $9,000 of qualifying funeral or burial expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020. Families with multiple deaths can recoup up to $35,000. The program is part of the latest COVID-19 relief bill. "At FEMA, our mission is to help people before, during and after disasters," acting FEMA Administrator Bob Fenton said in a prepared statement. "The COVID-19 pandemic has caused immense grief for so many people. Although we cannot change what has happened, we affirm our commitment to help with funeral and burial expenses that many families did not anticipate."