The table below lists by State what type and level of financial assistance may be offered by a State and/or County to assist families with funeral expenses.
| State | State-level Assistance | County Department | County-level Assistance | Limit of family contribution |
| Alabama | No | County Dept. of Human Services | Minimal – $400 According to Alabama law, each county needs to pay the necessary burial expenses or funeral costs of someone who has died in the county if they don’t have financial means. | No clear data |
| Alaska | Only for tribal members | Dept. of Health & Social Services – Division of Public Assistance (GRA Fund) | GRA is a last resort fund for burial expenses if any other programs cannot meet a household’s emergency need. Up to $2,500. | Yes |
| Arizona | No | County Public Fiduciary | Limited funds are available from the county. Up to $500. | Yes |
| Arkansas | No | County Judge | Each county judge has a ‘Pauper’s Fund’ – which varies by county | Yes |
| California | No | Dept. of Public Health | County Coroner has control over any assistance. | Yes |
| Colorado | Yes – $1,500 for Medicaid recipients & $1,000 for SSI recipients | Dept. of Human Services (CDHS) | Amount spent (contribution + family funds) may not exceed $2,500 | |
| Connecticut | Up to $1,000 Recipients of SAGA & TFA | Dept. of Social Services (CDSS) | $1,000 | |
| Delaware | $400 – $1,500 – burial in one of the state 3 Pauper Cemeteries | Division of Social Services | No clear data | |
| DC | $450 for cremation & $800 for burial. The estate of the deceased (or family member arranging the funeral) must not exceed $800 | Dept. of Human Services | ESA Burial Assistance Program | Family contributions cannot exceed $2,000 for the total cost. |
| Florida | For those below the FL poverty guideline & unclaimed | Florida Health & Human Services | Each county contracts with a local funeral home | Yes |
| Georgia | No | Dept. of Human Services, Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS) by county. $350 to $1,200 available in assistance. | Family cannot have assets or monies over $400 $250 – $500 | No clear data |
| Hawaii | $400 towards funeral home or crematory expenses. $400 towards cemetery expenses | Dept. of Human Services (Funeral Payment Program) Med-QUEST | No clear data | |
| Idaho | No | County Indigent Services | Varies by county – $700 – $1,200 | No clear data |
| Illinois | Recipients of welfare programs may receive $550 – $1,100 assistance. | Dept. of Human Services – Funeral & Burial Program. Family Community Resource Center | Family contribution + state assistance amount may not exceed $2,000 for funeral costs and $2,000 for cemetery expenses. | |
| Indiana | $1,200 toward funeral expenses & $800 toward cemetery expenses for Recipients of TANF | Division of Family Resources – ICES Program (Integrated Client Eligibility System) | Payment is made direct to the funeral establishment & a claim must be made within 90 days. | Family can contribute up to $750 as long as the total does not exceed $1,750 |
| Iowa | No | General Assistance Office Funds – linked to Federal Poverty Guidelines | Varies by county. Up to $400 in assistance. | No clear data |
| Kansas | No | Unclaimed bodies only | N/A | |
| Kentucky | No | Varies by county & usually less than $1,000. | Yes | |
| Louisiana | No | Coroner’s office of the Parish that the person died in. | Each parish has a procedure for disposing of indigent bodies. | No clear data |
| Maine | The funeral director receives directly $785 for cremation or $1,125 for burial. | Maine General Assistance Program. Dept. of Health & Human Services. | If any liable relatives or assets a deduction will be made from the amount the funeral director receives. | |
| Maryland | Up to $650 is paid to recipients of state benefits. | Dept. of Human Services | The total funeral cost must not exceed $2,500 | |
| Massachusetts | Up to $1,100 for funeral costs (Paid directly to the funeral home) Must be a recipient of state benefits. (MassHealth) | Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Dept. of Transitional Assistance. | The total funeral cost must not exceed $3,500 | |
| Michigan | Offers a program called ‘Home & Burial Services’ Payment of up to $600 paid to the funeral director | Dept. of Health & Human Services (SER) | The claim must be made within 10 business days after death | |
| Minnesota | No | Public Health Department and/or Human Services | Varies by county – $1,500 to $3,500 Application must be made within 14 days. | No clear data |
| Mississippi | No | Varies by county | No clear data | |
| Missouri | No | Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO) has an Indigent Burial & Funeral Fund. | CFO current reimbursement rate is $400 | No clear data |
| Montana | No | Varies by county | No clear data | |
| Nebraska | No | Dept. of General Assistance | Varies by county – no more than $1,000. | The spouse of the deceased can earn no more than the federal poverty level, $903 a month for one person. And the deceased, if there is no spouse, can have no more than $800 in his or her estate. |
| Nevada | No | Dept. of Social Services Clark County Social Services (CCSS) (702) 455-4270 | Varies by county. In Clark County, consult the Public Administrator | No clear data |
| New Hampshire | No | Dept. of Health & Human Services | Up to $750 paid directly to the funeral home. | No clear data |
| New Jersey | No | Dept. of Human Services | Up to $2,245 for funeral & $525 for cemetery costs | The family contribution must not exceed $1,570 |
| New Mexico | Social Services – Burial Assistance gives up to $200 for funeral expenses and $600 for burial. | Dept. of Human Services | Less than $600 | |
| New York | No | Varies by county Dept. of Human Services | Up to $1,250 in some counties | No clear data |
| New York City | Check: https://volsprobono.org/a-guide-for-friends-family-of-recently-deceased-new-yorkers/ | Public Administrator by Borough | $900 | The family contribution must not exceed $1,700 |
| North Carolina | Dept. of Health and Human Services | Varies – up to $1,500 reimbursed to funeral home | No clear data | |
| North Dakota | No | Varies by county – can be from $300 to $3,000 | No clear data | |
| Ohio | No | Varies by county & city. For residents with an income of 150% less than poverty line. | No clear data | |
| Oklahoma | No | Varies by county – limited help | No clear data | |
| Oregon | $650 (if available in the state budget) | No clear data | ||
| Pennsylvania | Burial and Cremation Services Payment $750 for recipients of SSI. If the deceased has more than $750 but less than $1,500 | Dept. of Public Welfare | Yes. Deceased cannot have assets over $1,500 | |
| Rhode Island | Up to $900 for recipients of SSI & GPA | Dept. of Human Services | Must apply within 30 days. | To be eligible cannot have resources of $400 or more |
| South Carolina | No | County Coroner | Varies by county, but very limited assistance | No clear data |
| South Dakota | No – state requires that counties cover the cost if a resident dies without sufficient funds to cover burial costs. | Dept. of Human Services | Varies by county. For example, Minnehaha offers up to $2,250 for a funeral with a service or $1,000 for a simple cremation. | Yes |
| Tennessee | No | Social Services | Varies by county. Nashville and Davidson County residents are eligible for help through the Metro Social Services office | No clear data |
| Texas | No | Health Services Department | Varies by county – can range from $300 to $1,500 | No clear data |
| Utah | No | Dept. of Human Services | Regions can provide $500 as a last option. | No clear data |
| Vermont | Up to $1,100 | Agency of Human Services | None | |
| Virginia | For recipients of TANF & SNAP | Dept. of Health & Human Services | Varies by county. For example, Norfolk county offers $500 | No clear data |
| Washington | No | Dept. of Social & Health Services (DSHS) funeral and interment program | Varies by county. Up to $300 may be available. | No clear data |
| West Virginia | $1,250 [to qualify, the applicant must have less than $2,450 in resources] | Dept. of Health & Human Services | Family contributions of up to $1,200 are allowed. |
| Wisconsin | The Wisconsin Funeral & Cemetery Aids program (WFCAP) | Dept. of Human Services | Payment of up to $1,500 for residents enrolled in assistance programs or Medicaid. | No clear data |
| Wyoming | Dept. of Family Services (DFS) | $500 or less funeral payment assistance. Veterans may receive more. | No clear data |
For further information to help you explore how to find help with funeral expenses, you should visit this article What are your options for paying for a funeral or cremation? Which covers how to minimize funeral costs, different options for how to help finance funeral expenses, and various disaster funds or charitable organizations that may assist you.
You can also check out this Guide about How to Claim FEMA Funeral Assistance for a COVID-related death.
If you have a loved one in hospice care, you may find that some funeral service locations will offer a discount for a hospice patient case. Similarly, discounts are sometimes offered for veterans.
