The US Government Has Spent $2 Billion on COVID Funerals
Budget

The US Government Has Spent $2 Billion on COVID Funerals

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has provided more than $2 billion to Americans to help defray the funeral costs for those who have died of Covid-19, officials announced Tuesday.

Funded by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021, signed into law by then-President Donald Trump, and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, signed into law by President Joe Biden, the Covid-19 Funeral Assistance program provides up to $9,000 per Covid-related death, with a cap of $35,000 for those dealing with multiple funeral expenses.

More than 300,000 families have received assistance so far, with an average grant amount of amount $6,500 per death, FEMA said. Families in Texas have received the most assistance aid in total, $189 million, followed by California ($168 million), New York ($132 million) and Florida ($125 million).

The program is still in operation, and FEMA officials say they are launching a new outreach program in areas that have recorded high levels of Covid deaths but relatively low levels of funeral expense reimbursement. 

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