Tom Martin, of Martin Funeral Home in Butler, is among area funeral directors who encourage families with a loved one whose death is connected to COVID-19 to apply for funeral assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “A lot of people didn’t know it was true,” Martin said. “They didn’t believe it.” Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle

State officials are encouraging grieving families to apply for COVID-19 funeral assistance funds available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which local funeral directors say is helping many clients.

Financial assistance available to families who have lost a loved one to COVID-19 or a COVID-related illness has been available since the beginning of the pandemic, but state officials are reminding families to apply for the assistance in the event COVID-19 appears on a loved one’s death certificate.

In Pennsylvania, more than 16,000 applications have been submitted as of January, and FEMA has provided nearly $104 million in assistance statewide, according to the state Insurance Department.

Eligible recipients can receive up to $9,000 in funding for expenses related to a COVID-19 death.

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