Federal Resources

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is offering financial assistance for individuals who have incurred funeral expenses on or after January 20, 2020 from COVID-19. The website with full information is: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance

To Apply: Call 844-684-6333 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. The application is by phone (no online option), and will take 20 minutes to apply.  After you have applied by phone, FEMA will send you a letter with the documents needed for submission, and how to submit them.

Eligible Expenses: Eligible expenses may include, but are not limited to: funeral services, cremation, interment, casket or urn, burial plot or cremation niche, marker or headstone, arrangement of the funeral ceremony, use of funeral home, and more. Reimbursement of expenses already paid is not eligible. View the FAQs for more information. 

Amount: Individuals may receive a maximum of $9,000 per deceased individual.

As of September 13, 2021, $426,535 have been awarded to 75 Alaskan applicants, but a minor percentage of Alaskans who have been affected by the loss of a loved one due to the COVID-19 pandemic have applied. Please share widely with your networks and in your newsletters to help ensure our families, relatives and friends are receiving the most amount of support possible, during these challenging times.

If you have questions, you may call FEMA at the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline: 844-684-6333.

Economic Impact Payments: Check IRS.gov for the latest information. No action needed by most people at this time. https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/economic-impact-payments-what-you-need-to-know

Check the status of your Economic Impact Payment online here. 

Non-Filers Info

If you don’t normally file a tax return, you can still sign up to receive an Economic Impact Payment (EIP)!
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) believes as many as 30,000 Alaskans may be eligible for the EIP but have not filed a tax return or applied.
 
The deadline is Thursday, October 15, 2020! Apply and learn more at: www.irs.gov/eipnonfiler.

Restaurant employees can apply for $500 grants from the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund.

On Benefits.gov, you can find government benefits related to unemployment assistance, healthcare, and food and nutrition. You can also use the Benefit Finder to find additional benefits you may be eligible for.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture unveiled a one-stop-shop of federal programs that can be used by rural communities, organizations and individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide is a resource for rural leaders looking for federal funding and partnership opportunities to help address this pandemic.

Click here to view a fact sheet with information on COVID-19 substance use disorder resources from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy

Click here to see the COVID-19 Disaster Resources Report (updated 4/24/20)