Funeral Assistance in Delaware

Losing someone is hard enough without a funeral bill landing on top of the grief. If you've come here because the money simply isn't there, you're not the first and there's no shame in it.

Delaware has a couple of routes that can help, and there are federal options too. None of them is a magic fix, but knowing what exists before you sit down with a funeral home can change what you end up paying.

Federal help that works the same across Delaware

Three federal programs are worth knowing about. They apply whether you're in Wilmington, Dover, or down near the shore.

Social Security pays a one-time $255 death payment to a surviving spouse who was living with the person who died. If there's no eligible spouse, a child who qualifies may receive it instead. It's a small amount and it hasn't moved in decades, but it's yours if you're entitled. You have two years to claim it. The number is 1-800-772-1213.

For veterans, the VA does more. Depending on the circumstances of death, it can put up to $2,000 toward burial, add a plot allowance of up to $1,002, and contribute up to $441 toward a headstone the VA itself doesn't provide. The discharge can't have been dishonorable. Call 1-800-827-1000 and ask about VA Form 21P-530EZ.

FEMA is the one people often ask about. Its funeral help only exists after a presidentially declared disaster, and the death has to be linked to that event. The COVID-19 program closed on 30 September 2025. For an ordinary death today, FEMA won't apply.

What Delaware itself offers

The state runs two very different things, and which one fits depends on how your loved one died.

If the death came from a violent crime, the Delaware Victims' Compensation Assistance Program can reimburse funeral and burial costs. It's run by the Department of Justice, and the overall award can reach $25,000 across all the losses a family suffers, with funeral expenses counted among them. There are conditions. The crime has to be reported to police within 72 hours, and the program only pays what insurance or another source hasn't already covered. You have a year from the crime to apply. The office in Wilmington takes calls at (302) 255-1770.

For families who weren't touched by crime but genuinely can't afford a burial, Delaware's Division of Social Services runs an indigent burial service. It's basic — a plain burial at a state site, no viewing — and the deceased's assets are checked first. Before anything happens, the state advertises for three days to find next of kin. To ask about it, dial 211. Be honest about your situation when you call; that's what the service is there for.

Where to start, and in what order

Pick up the phone before you sign anything. A few calls early on can save you committing to costs you can't recover.

• If the death involved a crime, call the Victims' Compensation Assistance Program at (302) 255-1770 or email VCAP@delaware.gov. Make sure a police report was filed within 72 hours, and keep every itemised invoice.
• For the state indigent burial service, dial 211 and explain that the family has no funds. Ask what they need from you and whether they want to hear from you before any arrangements are made.
• For the Social Security payment, call 1-800-772-1213 with the death certificate and the deceased's Social Security number ready.
• For VA burial benefits, call 1-800-827-1000.

And keep paper. Death certificates, receipts, itemised funeral home bills. The programs that reimburse you can only do it against documented costs.

Bringing the cost down on its own

Assistance rarely covers a full traditional service, so it helps to know the cheaper paths too.

Direct cremation is usually the lowest-cost option a Delaware family can choose. There's no embalming and no formal viewing, and you hold the memorial later — at home, outdoors, whenever feels right. Plenty of families find a gathering weeks afterward means more than something arranged in a hurry.

If you'd rather bury, remember you're allowed to buy a casket from anywhere, including online, and the funeral home has to accept it. They can't tack on a fee for handling it. There's more on that in our guides, and a few comparison options sit just below.