{"id":4046,"date":"2022-05-05T03:52:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-05T08:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.funeralocity.com\/blog\/?post_type=press&#038;p=4046"},"modified":"2023-01-20T06:21:49","modified_gmt":"2023-01-20T11:21:49","slug":"the-today-show-interviews-funeralocity-ceo","status":"publish","type":"press","link":"https:\/\/www.funeralocity.com\/blog\/media-center\/the-today-show-interviews-funeralocity-ceo\/","title":{"rendered":"The Today Show Interviews Funeralocity CEO"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>National, May 5, 2022 \u2013&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/health\/fema-funeral-assistance-program-offers-9000-coronavirus-funerals-rcna27297\">The Today<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the United States surpasses&nbsp;<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/health\/covid-19-death-toll-million-us-rcna26889\" target=\"_blank\">1 million deaths from COVID-19<\/a>, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is urging those who lost loved ones to the coronavirus to use its COVID-19 Funeral Assistance fund.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The fund is a federal program that offers up to $9,000 to cover the cost of a funeral for someone who died of COVID-19. The program, which has no end date, covers deaths attributed to the coronavirus as far back as January 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As of April 2022, less than half the people believed eligible for the program had applied for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAs our nation mourns the 1 million death mark and the immense impact the pandemic has had on our country, we remain committed to providing assistance with the compassion, fairness, integrity and respect these families deserve,\u201d said Jaclyn Rothenberg, the director of public affairs for FEMA.<\/p>\r\n    <div class=\"single-content-banner\">\r\n                                    <div class=\"single-content-banner__shortcode\">\r\n                            <div class=\"input-search-wrapper input-search-wrapper--bottom\">\r\n            <h2 class=\"title-search\">See funeral home prices in your area<\/h2>\r\n            <div class=\"input-search search-home\">\r\n                <input placeholder=\"Enter your City or ZIP Code\" type=\"search\" class=\"addressMain\">\r\n                <button type=\"submit\" class=\"blue-button\">\r\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.funeralocity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/funeralocity\/dist\/images\/icons\/search-button.svg\">Search\r\n                <\/button>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n            <span class=\"small-text\">Use zip code for more precise search results<\/span>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-does-the-funeral-assistance-work\">How does the funeral assistance work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To apply for funeral assistance, applicants must call (844) 684-6333, where FEMA representatives will take their call. The application must be completed over the phone and the process takes about 20 minutes, according to Rothenberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The applicant will also have to submit supporting documents, including any relevant receipts, a death certificate listing the coronavirus as a cause of death, and any other necessary paperwork, like funeral home contracts or invoices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After the paperwork is received, it takes FEMA \u201capproximately 45 days to make an eligibility decision,\u201d Rothenberg said. According to the agency, as of May 4 over 356,000 of 496,582 applicants have been deemed eligible for funeral assistance, and around 119,000 applications are still pending a decision. Only 20,700 applicants have been deemed ineligible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Families who had multiple deaths due to the coronavirus can also apply. One family can receive up to $35,000 across multiple funerals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-will-i-receive-the-funds\">How will I receive the funds?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Rothenberg, after an application is approved, funds will either be deposited into a bank account or sent by mail via check. Funds usually arrive within a few days of approval.<\/p>\r\n    <div class=\"single-content-banner\">\r\n                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/funeralocity.com\/average-funeral-price\" class=\"single-content-banner__image\">\r\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"desktop\" src=\"https:\/\/www.funeralocity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Banner_1_desktop.png\" alt=\"Compare the cost of funerals in your city\">\r\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"tablet\" src=\"https:\/\/www.funeralocity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Banner_1_tablet.png\" alt=\"Compare the cost of funerals in your city\">\r\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mobile\" src=\"https:\/\/www.funeralocity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Banner_1_mobile.png\" alt=\"Compare the cost of funerals in your city\">\r\n                <\/a>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n\n\n\n\n<p>Ed Michael Reggie, the founder of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.funeralocity.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Funeralocity<\/a>, a site that educates people about the cost and process of funerals, noted that the up-to-$9,000 payment can make a significant impact, since the average funeral in the United States costs around $8,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a very rich program, and yet just under half of (eligible applicants) have even applied for it,\u201d Reggie told TODAY.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-are-there-any-scams-i-should-be-on-the-lookout-for\">Are there any scams I should be on the lookout for?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There have been no reports of scammers trying to use the program to get funds dispersed to themselves, but Reggie warned that people should be aware that all contact will be direct through FEMA, not a funeral home or other party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t believe scammers are going to call the federal government and try to squeeze $9,000 out of them,\u201d Reggie said, noting that obituaries often include information like surviving family members, funeral home details and the person\u2019s cause of death. \u201cThe (possibility) is they\u2019re going to call the family and say, \u2018Hey, we\u2019re from the funeral home, we\u2019re going to help get your reimbursement, give me the information and we\u2019ll help you fill it out.&#8217;\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reggie said that though there have yet to be reports of cases like this, it is something families should \u201cbe aware of.\u201d<\/p>\r\n    <div class=\"single-content-banner\">\r\n                                    <a href=\"https:\/\/funeralocity.com\/cremationclub\" class=\"single-content-banner__image\">\r\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"desktop\" src=\"https:\/\/www.funeralocity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Banner_2_desktop.png\" alt=\"Advanced directive planning - for peace of mind\">\r\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"tablet\" src=\"https:\/\/www.funeralocity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Banner_2_tablet.png\" alt=\"Advanced directive planning - for peace of mind\">\r\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"mobile\" src=\"https:\/\/www.funeralocity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Banner_2_mobile.png\" alt=\"Advanced directive planning - for peace of mind\">\r\n                <\/a>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n\n\n\n\n<p>Rothenberg said that part of why FEMA asks applicants to call is to prevent fraud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s always a chance for fraudulent activity with these types of programs and FEMA traditionally has systems in place to prevent it,\u201d she explained. \u201cThat said, we\u2019ve put even more new processes in place designed for this specific program including only taking registration over the phone to protect against fraud.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-does-this-program-exist\">Why does this program exist?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The FEMA Funeral Assistance program is part of the American Rescue Plan, a stimulus package passed in 2021 in an effort to help the country financially manage amid the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere were so, so many people suffering from COVID-19, and the cost of a funeral if you\u2019re having trouble putting food on the table during this difficult time \u2026 can be an extra burden,\u201d said Rothenberg. \u201cWe wanted to offer funds for people to be able to provide a proper burial for their loved ones.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reggie said he has seen the program bring families some peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThese deaths, even for people with serious medical conditions, came sooner than expected,\u201d he said. \u201c(Financially), families can recover here. \u2026 It has a big impact on people.\u201dSHARE:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/wordpress-148638-614849.cloudwaysapps.com\/blog\/media-center\/yahoo-news-talks-to-funeralocity-about-covid-deaths\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/home?status=https:\/\/wordpress-148638-614849.cloudwaysapps.com\/blog\/media-center\/yahoo-news-talks-to-funeralocity-about-covid-deaths\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=https:\/\/wordpress-148638-614849.cloudwaysapps.com\/blog\/media-center\/yahoo-news-talks-to-funeralocity-about-covid-deaths\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress-148638-614849.cloudwaysapps.com\/blog\/media-center\"><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-4046","press","type-press","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"section_type":"in_the_news","news_content_type":"inner_post","news_image":"https:\/\/www.funeralocity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Today-Show-1-1.png","full_width_image":false,"show_on_page":[],"location":{"state":"National","city":""},"popularity":"6"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v17.7 (Yoast SEO v17.7) - 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