FEMA Funeral Assistance
Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Congress authorized FEMA to provide financial assistance to individuals who incurred COVID-19-related funeral expenses after January 20, 2020. On March 24, FEMA issued its final policy – which includes details such as eligibility and documentation criteria and the application process – for how funds will be distributed to families. Most notably, FEMA shared that the maximum financial assistance will now be $9,000 per funeral.
Although funeral establishments are not responsible for administering this assistance, individuals will see you as a key resource they can turn to for guidance. Visit the FEMA Funeral Assistance Page to learn more.
Please be aware establishments and consumers are being targeted by scammers regarding the FEMA COVID-19 payout program. The link provided below is for an article from AARP warning of unsolicited calls and emails offering to help with FEMA applications.
https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2021/fema-coronavirus-funeral-scams.html
Guidance for Coronavirus (COVID-19)
(Updated 1-22-21)
It is the fundamental responsibility of every citizen to do his or her part to help suppress the spread of this virus. Professionally, you also have a multi-point duty of care. This duty of care, which is consistent with state laws and regulations, is equally as critical to public health and welfare; reverent, dignified care of the deceased; and compassion to those who grieve. This is a responsibility that each of you are well versed in. While we are passionate for our own personal causes, we must yield to commonsense and the greater public welfare in the application of our duties. Please take time to look over the references below for helpful information.
Funeral Home Fact Sheet from Arizona Department of Health Service
CDC Funeral Home Workers (updated 11-10-20)
National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) regarding Postmortem Guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC)
Frequently asked questions, Center for Disease Control (CDC)
Arizona Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Association (AFCCA) COVID-19 updates
Arizona Department of Health Service COVID-19 information
United States Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
National Vital statistic Systems for certifying COVID-19 deaths
Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Map
Do NOT conduct business with unlicensed Funeral Establishments
Funeral providers, please be aware of online SCAM organizations continually trying to conduct funeral business, particularly cremations, with licensed Funeral Establishments in Arizona. These fraudulent companies are not appropriately licensed as funeral establishments. They advertise under many different names that may make them appear to have the same name of a licensed provider in Arizona. Here are some examples as reference:
https://www.kristv.com/news/6-investigates/why-did-a-widow-wait-24-days-for-her-husbands-ashes
https://www.csbj.com/2016/03/02/bbb-warns-against-using-local-funeral-services-provider/
Do not confuse a fraudulent provider with a licensed funeral establishment in Arizona or elsewhere. Take the time to verify the information you are being provided when contacted to perform cremation services for an out-of-state provider. Funeral establishments must do their due diligence in protecting the consumers of Arizona from deceptive practices. Contact the Board office if you have any concerns or need to verify licensure.
Consumers, please question the physical location to verify the validity of any funeral provider you find online claiming to offer discount cremation. Make sure the funeral provider is a licensed funeral establishment in Arizona not just claiming to be a local provider. Do not hesitate to contact the Board office for assistance if you are unsure of a funeral provides legitimacy.
Pursuant to Arizona Revised Statute (A.R.S.) 32-1301 (54)(i)(k)(l) "Unprofessional conduct includes the following acts, whether occurring in this state or elsewhere:
- Falsely advertising or labeling any service or merchandise with the intention of deceiving the public.
- Committing any act involving dishonesty, fraud, misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, gross negligence or incompetence if the act has a reasonable relationship to funeral directing or embalming.
- Engaging in any conduct or practice that is reasonably related to funeral directing or embalming and that is or may be harmful or dangerous to the health, safety or welfare of the public.
A.R.S. 32-1365 (A)(7), It is unlawful for any funeral establishment or funeral director to advertise under any name that tends to mislead the public or that sufficiently resembles the professional or business name of another licensed funeral director or establishment as to cause confusion or misunderstanding.
Alkaline Hydrolysis
Curious about Alkaline Hydrolysis (AH) and would like to read up on the subject? Click here to see what the Cremation Association of North America (CANA) has to say:
Shipping cremated remains - updated information from USPS
United States Postal Service is improving the process to ship cremated remains. Here is the link to view the updated requirements https://link.usps.com/2019/09/23/cremated-remains/
Disclosure Statement
Statement of locations where all notices of the meetings of the Arizona State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers will be posted:
Pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.02A1a), the Arizona State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers (“Board”) hereby states that all notices of the meetings of the Board and any of its committees or subcommittees will be posted in the lobby of the Board office located at 1740 W. Adams St., Phoenix, AZ 85007.
This location is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m., except for legal holidays and State mandated furlough days. The above notices for all meetings will also be posted on the Board’s website at www.funeralboard.az.gov under “Board Meetings”.
Notices will indicate the date, time, and place of the meeting and will include an agenda or information concerning the manner in which the public may obtain an agenda for the meeting.