FEMA assisting families affected by COVID-19

Posted on April 29, 2021
State Rep. Dan Brady, who is also a Funeral Home Director spoke with WJBC’s Scott Miller. (Photo courtesy: Kibler-Brady-Ruestman Memorial Home/Facebook)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – Those who lost loved ones due to COVID-19 can receive funeral reimbursements through a Federal Emergency Management Agency program.

Under the American Rescue Plan and Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, FEMA provides financial assistance for those who lost a loved one to COVID-19 after January 20, 2020.

State Rep. Dan Brady, who also serves as a Funeral Director at Kibler-Brady-Ruestman Memorial Home in Bloomington, said intentions of the act are good; however, there are some ill-intended consequences.

“That opens a pandora’s box on a number of fronts. The intention is good; there may be some ill-intended consequences there and issues that come up. But, overall, trying to reimburse people for the cost of a funeral service or related service for someone who died of COVID-19 or had contributory cause of COVID-19 on the death certificate.”

Speaking with WJBC’s Scott Miller, Brady said to receive funding, and an individual must be the one who paid for the services.

“I was a bit surprised that the federal government had gone to this level and expense, but certainly in a pandemic, it calls for thinking outside of the box and doing things that truly help’s the people across this country.

Additionally, an individual can receive up to $9,000 in funding for each burial.

LISTEN: State Rep. Dan Brady spoke with WJBC’s Scott Miller. 

“It’s a working progress,” added Brady. “I believe it rolled out April 12. We’ve had families that we’ve been assisting with this. We provide the information, (but) they have to do the filling for the reimbursement.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 570,421 Americans have died from COVID-19.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

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