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Financial assistance available for those who lost loved ones due to coronavirus

By
Lori Sorenson

According to the Minnesota Department of Health, 19 Rock County residents have died of COVID-19.
Now help is available for their families through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
The agency is providing financial assistance — up to $9,800 per family, for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020.
Rock County Emergency Management Director Kyle Oldre said the aid will be a welcome relief for those who qualify.
“For those who were impacted, it could be a really big deal,” he said.
Among other things, family members must have a death certificate that shows the cause of death was COVID-19.
Jordan Dingmann of Dingmann Funeral Home has already assisted families with the FEMA applications.
“This has been a wonderful surprise for families we have served who have lost a loved one due to the coronavirus,” he said.
Eligible expenses covered by the grant include:
•transportation for up to two people to identify the deceased individual.
•the transfer of remains, a casket or urn.
•a burial plot or cremation niche.
•a marker or headstone.
•clergy or officiant services.
•the arrangement of a funeral ceremony.
•the use of funeral home equipment or staff.
•cremation or interment costs.
•costs associated with producing multiple death certificates.
Call FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline at 1-844-684-6333.
For fastest service following application, documents can be submitted online through Disasterassistance.gov.

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