Tom Martin, of Martin Funeral Home in Butler, is among area funeral directors who encourage families with a loved one whose death is connected to COVID-19 to apply for funeral assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “A lot of people didn’t know it was true,” Martin said. “They didn’t believe it.” Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle

State officials are encouraging grieving families to apply for COVID-19 funeral assistance funds available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which local funeral directors say is helping many clients.

Financial assistance available to families who have lost a loved one to COVID-19 or a COVID-related illness has been available since the beginning of the pandemic, but state officials are reminding families to apply for the assistance in the event COVID-19 appears on a loved one’s death certificate.

In Pennsylvania, more than 16,000 applications have been submitted as of January, and FEMA has provided nearly $104 million in assistance statewide, according to the state Insurance Department.

Eligible recipients can receive up to $9,000 in funding for expenses related to a COVID-19 death.

Allowable expenses include funeral services, transportation to identify the deceased person, the transfer of remains, a burial plot or cremation niche, a marker or headstone, clergy or officiant fees, the use of funeral home equipment or staff, cremation or interment costs and other expenses.

“Our hearts go out to the thousands of families ... that have suffered financial stress due to funeral expenses for their loved ones,” said MaryAnn Tierney, FEMA Region 3 administrator. “We want to assure families that we’re here to help.”

Tom Martin, owner of Martin Funeral Home in Butler, said he gives families information on the funds, including a letter explaining the program and how to apply as well as a FEMA form containing frequently asked questions.

“A lot of people didn’t know it was true,” Martin said. “They didn’t believe it.”

He said if COVID-19 was the cause of death or appears anywhere on the death certificate, most people receive funds to help with expenses.

“I had a few widows, it was a great helping hand to them when they didn’t know what they were going to be able to do,” Martin said.

In some cases where a financial need was present, Martin waited to be paid until the family received the funds. Other times, families paid up front and were reimbursed.

Most of his clients received the FEMA funds within six to eight weeks, Martin said.

Only families of the deceased, and not funeral directors, can apply for the funds, he said.

“I’ve seen a high success rate of people getting the money,” Martin said. “It’s almost 100%.”

He said the funds are not available to those who have prearranged their funerals, but might be approved for expenses outside of funeral services, such as cemetery costs or paying for death certificates.

So far, FEMA has not attached an end date to the funding.

“For something the government put together pretty quickly, it has worked out well,” Martin said. “It’s out there, and it has worked.”

Spencer Geibel, owner of Spencer D. Geibel Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Butler, said 90% of his families are aware of the COVID-related funds available for funeral expenses.

He said about 100 clients have applied for the funds since the pandemic began.

Geibel said all but a few families have paid their expenses up front and were reimbursed by the FEMA funds.

Those who have already paid their expenses and are interested in being reimbursed receive the funds faster than those who are waiting to receive the funds to pay the funeral home.

Those who have already paid receive their FEMA funds in two to six weeks compared to those who submit an unpaid receipt for funeral services, Geibel said.

“The mental, emotional and financial losses due to COVID-19 were devastating for many families,” said Randy Padfield, state Emergency Management Agency director. “While no amount of financial assistance can ease the pain of a loved one’s loss, it can help ease the burden for those left behind.”

Information on eligibility and how to apply for assistance is available at FEMA.gov.

Eligible applicants can apply for funeral assistance by calling 1-844-684-6333 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday.