Funeral Assistance in Florida

Funeral costs in Florida can reach well into the thousands, and when a loved one dies suddenly, that bill arrives before grief has even settled in. If you're looking for help because you genuinely don't have the money, this page is for you.

There are real programs in Florida — some federal, some run by the state or your county — and it helps to know they exist before you commit to anything with a funeral home.

Federal programs that apply anywhere in Florida

These programs work the same whether you're in Miami-Dade or the Panhandle.

If the person who died paid into Social Security, there's a one-time payment of $255 for a surviving spouse who lived with them, or a qualifying child if no spouse qualifies. It's small and hasn't changed in a long time, but it's yours to claim. Two-year deadline. Call 1-800-772-1213.

Veterans get more. The VA can cover up to $2,000 toward burial depending on the circumstances of death, plus a plot allowance of up to $1,002 and up to $441 for a headstone the VA doesn't supply. The discharge must not have been dishonorable. Call 1-800-827-1000 and ask about Form 21P-530EZ.

FEMA has funeral assistance only after presidentially declared disasters, for deaths tied to that event. The COVID-era program has closed. For a death today, FEMA isn't in the picture unless a major disaster has been declared.

Florida's own programs

Florida has two separate routes depending on your situation.

For families who lost someone to a violent crime, the state's Bureau of Victim Compensation can pay up to $7,500 toward funeral and burial costs. The crime must have been reported to law enforcement, and you'll need to cooperate with the investigation. It's designed to kick in after other insurance sources, not instead of them. The Division of Victim Services can be reached at 1-800-226-6667.

For everyone else — families who simply can't afford the cost — Florida places the responsibility on the county where the person died. Each county's Board of County Commissioners funds a basic burial or cremation for residents who qualify as indigent, meaning their income was at or below the federal poverty line and they had no estate to cover costs. How that works in practice, and what it actually covers, differs between counties. The right call to make is to the county health department or county commission where the death happened.

The order that tends to work

Phone calls first, forms second. Here's what to do:

• For county burial help, call the county health department or Board of County Commissioners in the county where the death occurred. Be plain about the situation — that the family has no funds. Ask what they need and whether they want to hear from you before you make any arrangements.
• For crime-victim funeral assistance, call the Florida Bureau of Victim Compensation at 1-800-226-6667 or email VCIntake@MyFloridaLegal.com.
• For Social Security, call 1-800-772-1213 with the death certificate and Social Security number in hand.
• For VA burial benefits, call 1-800-827-1000.

Save everything in writing. Itemized funeral home invoices, receipts, death certificates. Programs that reimburse costs need to see those costs documented.

Keeping the cost itself lower

Even when assistance comes through, it rarely stretches to a full traditional service. Simpler choices can matter here.

Direct cremation is the lowest-cost option most Florida families have access to. No embalming, no viewing, and the memorial happens later — however you want, wherever you want. Many families find a gathering at home or a beach weeks later more meaningful than a rushed ceremony.

If burial is what you need, you have the legal right to buy a casket anywhere — including online — and have the funeral home accept it. There's no handling surcharge they can legally add. More detail on that is in our guides, and some comparison options are just below.