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Basic Needs

Pandemic Response: COVID-19 Resources

With the end of the Public Health emergency most programs have sunsetted.

These programs are still active at this writing:

• Tests
  • City of Boston Offering Free COVID Tests - The City of Boston is offering COVID test kits at pickup sites in the community. See the site for distribution hubs throughout the city: https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-health-commission/free-covid-19-home-test-kits. Fact sheets and testing instructions are also available on the site.
    • Service providers and community partners may also request tests for distribution to their clients or to become a distribution hub. Applications are on the site.
    • See the full announcement on the Boston Public Health Commission website.
  • Federal Free Mail-Order Covid Test Program (resumed 9/25/23) - households may order four free testing kits for home delivery at covid.gov/tests

• COVID Funeral Fund Reimbursement Program (one page handout)
  • Benefits- FEMA provides financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses up to $9,000 per funeral. FEMA will continue to provide funeral assistance until Sept. 30, 2025.
  • Eligibility
    • The death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.
    • The death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19.
    • The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national (Swains Island and American Samoa), or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after January 20, 2020. There is, however, no requirement for the deceased person to have had legal immigration status.
    • Financial eligibility: there is no income limit
      • insurance does NOT preclude participation.
      • One of the few disqualifiers (detailed here) is if a funeral was pre-paid.
  • Documentation - You will need to show the official death certificate that lists COVID-19 as the cause of death (directly or indirectly) and shows that it occurred in the US, including the US territories. You will also need to share funeral expense documents and proof of any funds received from other sources.
  • To apply- call the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Line 844-684-6333 (TTY: 800-462-7585), Monday – Friday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern time. (No online application process; families must call.)
  • For more information- fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance (available in multiple languages) and FAQs