Help Paying for a Funeral
If you can't afford a funeral, you're not out of options. There are national programs, state and county assistance, and lower-cost choices that can bring the total within reach. Here's where to start.
National programs
Social Security Lump-Sum Death Payment
- How much:
- $255 one-time payment
- Who qualifies:
- Paid to a surviving spouse who was living with the deceased at time of death, OR a surviving spouse who was not living with the deceased but was eligible for Social Security benefits on the deceased's record, OR — if no eligible surviving spouse — a child who was eligible for benefits on the deceased's record in the month of death. The deceased must have been fully or currently insured. Application must be filed within 2 years of the date of death.
- Who to contact:
- Social Security Administration — 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–7 p.m.
VA Veterans Burial Allowance
- How much:
- The VA's burial allowance can be up to $2,000 for a death on or after September 11, 2001 (up to $1,500 for a death before that date), with a separate plot or interment allowance of up to $1,002 and up to $441 toward a headstone or marker the VA does not provide (rates for deaths on or after October 1, 2025). The VA determines the exact amount based on the circumstances of the death.
- Who qualifies:
- Available to surviving spouse, surviving partner from a legal union, surviving child, parent, executor, administrator, family member, or funeral home representative who paid burial costs. The veteran must not have received a dishonorable discharge and must meet one of: died from a service-connected disability; died while receiving VA care; died while traveling for VA-authorized treatment; had a pending VA compensation or pension claim at death; or was receiving VA compensation or pension benefits. No time limit to file for service-connected burial; 2-year deadline for non-service-connected claims.
- Who to contact:
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — 1-800-827-1000 (TTY 711), Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–9 p.m. ET. Apply using VA Form 21P-530EZ online at va.gov or by mail.
FEMA Funeral Assistance (Presidentially Declared Disasters)
- How much:
- Varies; up to the overall Other Needs Assistance (ONA) cap, which is $43,600 for FY2025. Specific funeral and reburial expense limits depend on the state, territory, or tribal government's ONA Administrative Option Selection. Note: the separate COVID-19 Funeral Assistance program closed on September 30, 2025, and is no longer accepting new applications.
- Who qualifies:
- Available when a presidential major disaster declaration includes Individual Assistance. Covers eligible funeral expenses (interment, funeral and officiant services, death certificates) for deaths directly or indirectly caused by the declared disaster. Applicants need not live in the designated disaster area if they incurred expenses related to a disaster-caused death. Expenses must not be covered by other sources such as life insurance. The COVID-19-specific program — which covered deaths from January 20, 2020 through September 30, 2025 — is now closed to new applications.
- Who to contact:
- FEMA Helpline — 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585). Register at DisasterAssistance.gov or call to apply after a presidentially declared disaster.
State and County Indigent Burial Programs
- How much:
- Varies by state and county; amounts are set locally and change periodically. Most programs pay from a few hundred to around a thousand dollars toward a basic burial or cremation. Contact your county social services office for the figure where you live.
- Who qualifies:
- Medicaid does NOT directly pay for funeral or burial costs. However, most states and counties operate separate 'general assistance' or 'indigent burial' programs for low-income families who cannot afford funeral expenses. Eligibility typically requires income at or below the federal poverty level, limited assets, and proof of financial need. Applications usually must be filed within 30–60 days of death. Programs are administered by local county human services, social services, or health departments.
- Who to contact:
- Contact your local county Department of Social Services, Human Services, or Public Health office. The National Funeral Directors Association and state-level funeral director associations can also provide referrals.