Funeral Assistance Available to Texas Flood Survivors

FEMA and the State of Texas may provide money to help survivors cover funeral or burial expenses resulting from the severe storms and flooding that began July 2.

What is Funeral Assistance?

• Funeral Assistance is money to help pay for expenses from death or unearthed remains after a disaster. The State of Texas manages the Funeral Assistance program, with support from FEMA.

Who can get Funeral Assistance?

• You may be eligible for Funeral Assistance if:
• You or someone in your household is a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien
• FEMA can confirm your identity
• The death or disinterment was caused by the disaster, either directly or indirectly
• The costs are not covered by insurance or financial assistance from another source

What is the difference between a direct cause and indirect cause of death?

• A death is directly caused by a disaster if it happens due to forces of the disaster or the direct results of the forces such as building collapse or flying debris.
• A death is indirectly caused by a disaster if it happens due to unsafe or unhealthy conditions present during any part of the disaster (i.e., preparations before the disaster, during the actual disaster, or cleanup after a disaster). Indirect cause of death also includes pre-existing conditions made worse because of the disaster. Documents stating the death "may have been caused by" or "was likely a result of" the disaster do not qualify as an indirect cause of death.

How do I apply for Funeral Assistance?

• Visit DisasterAssistance.gov
• Use the FEMA mobile app
• Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Lines are open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. If you use a relay service, captioned telephone or other service, you can give FEMA your number for that service. Helpline operators speak many languages. Press 2 for Spanish.
• Visit a Disaster Recovery Center to receive in-person assistance. A recovery center is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily at First Baptist Church, 625 Washington St., Kerrville, TX 78028. As more Disaster Recovery Centers open, you may find one closer to you by using your ZIP code to search FEMA.gov/DRC.

Which expenses can FEMA and the State of Texas help with?

• Funeral Assistance can help cover:
• Funeral services:
  • Clergy or officiant services
• Burial services:
  • Transfer of remains
  • Burial plot or cremation niche
  • Marker or headstone
  • Casket or urn
• Interment or reinterment services including the cost of identifying disinterred remains
• Other costs:
  • Transportation for up to two people to identify the deceased, if identification is required by your local government
  • Costs for producing and certifying up to five death certificates
  • Additional expenses required by the laws of the local government

I don't live in the disaster area. Can I still apply for Funeral Assistance?

• Yes, if the death or disinterment happened in the disaster area. You do not have to live in Texas to apply for Funeral Assistance.

What documents do FEMA and the State of Texas need?

You must send:

• A document explaining the death or disinterment was caused by the disaster, either directly or indirectly. This can be:
  • An official death certificate
  • A signed statement from a medical examiner, coroner, or other certifier
  • For disinterment, a statement from a funeral home representative or cemetery representative
• Receipts or estimates for funeral or burial costs
• Documents showing any funeral assistance you received from other sources like voluntary organizations, government agencies, charities or private donations
• For reinterment only, documents showing the disinterment occurred in a privately owned, licensed cemetery or burial facility and the cemetery or burial facility is not responsible for reinterring displaced remains.

How much Funeral Assistance can I get?

• The amount you receive is based on your eligible costs. You may be awarded up to $9,000 for each eligible death or disinterment. The State of Texas sets this amount.

Are there any expenses FEMA and the State of Texas cannot help with?

• FEMA does not cover:
  • Obituaries
  • Flowers
  • Printed materials such as banners, programs or register books
  • Catering services, including food
  • Transporting the applicant or others to the site(s) of funeral services, interment or reinterment
  • Tips or gratuities

I don't agree with the amount of assistance I received. How can I appeal?

• If you don't agree with a decision by the State of Texas, you can appeal by showing why you need assistance. The decision letter you receive from FEMA and the State of Texas will have more information about the types of documents you will need to submit.
• You may use an optional Appeal Request form, which is included in the decision letter you received. You can also choose to write and sign a letter to send with your documents to help the State of Texas understand why you need help.

Terms and Definitions

For the latest information about the Texas recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4879. Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at x.com/FEMARegion6 and at facebook.com/FEMARegion6/