FEMA assistance to include COVID funeral expenses

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has made another amendment to the Apr. 17, 2020 US President’s Major Disaster Declaration on the coronavirus for American Samoa to include COVID-19 Funeral Assistance for funeral expenses.

FEMA announced the latest amendment, which is effective Mar. 11th, in a notice posted Monday this week to the federal portal (www.regulations.gov)

According to FEMA, the amendment is for Individual Assistance limited to COVID-19 Funeral Assistance under Other Needs Assistance for all areas in the territory of American Samoa already designated for emergency protective measures [Category B] not authorized under other Federal statutes, including direct Federal assistance.

A joint local Homeland Security Department and Governor’s Office news release last month announced that FEMA is providing COVID-19 assistance with funeral expenses. And the assistance is for expenses incurred after January 20, 2020.

U.S. Nationals and Citizens, as well as qualified aliens who have lost a loved one to COVID are eligible for FEMA funeral assistance, providing the death certificate indicates the death was attributed to or caused by COVID-19.

“There are several guidelines that applicants need to make sure they understand, and be in line with before we start processing requests,” Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga said at the time. “We do not want to turn away anyone seeking assistance, but we need to know what the requirements are for eligibility.” (See Samoa News edition Apr. 22nd for details.)