Estate Planning State Laws:
Funeral Assistance Programs

This chart includes information about state laws related to state burial assistance programs and where to apply. Check back often, as this chart is updated frequently.

If you don't find what you're looking for, see our chart of state laws related to Remote Execution of Estate Planning Documents, Death with Dignity, Funeral Designations, and Creating a Valid Will.

For more information, see our Estate Planning Materials & Resources, and our State-Specific Estate Planning Toolkit.

StateState LawSummary of State Burial Assistance ProgramWhere to ApplyOther Burial Assistance Programs
ALABAMA§ 38-8-2The state of Alabama does not directly provide for state funeral or burial assistance. Individual Alabama counties are responsible for necessary burial/cremation expenses if the decedent's immediate family members cannot afford to pay the funeral costs.Contact your local Alabama county officialhttps://www.sos.alabama.gov/city-county-lookup/counties
ALASKA7 AAC § 47.130General Relief Assistance may be offered to those in need of financial assistance for a dignified burial.Fill out an application and deliver or mail it to the closes Public Assistance officehttps://health.alaska.gov/dpa/Pages/gra/default.aspxThe U.S. Department of the Interior, Indian Affairs helps federally-recognized Alaskan Natives with burial expenses through a program called BIA. The BIA offers a single payment, up to $2,500, to cover funeral or burial costs. The money goes straight to the funeral provider. To apply, you need proof of tribal membership.https://health.alaska.gov/dpa/Pages/default.aspx
ARIZONAThe state of Arizona does not directly provide for state funeral or burial assistance. Assistance may be provided at the county level.To see if your Arizona county offers funeral assistance, visit the Arizona 2-1-1 resource directoryhttps://211arizona.org/
COLORADOColorado's Department of Human Services' Burial Assistance Program may provide financial assistance up to $1,500 for burial and cremation services of Coloradans with low-income.Apply through Colorado's Adult Financial Programshttps://cdhs.colorado.gov/benefits-assistance/cash-assistance/adult-financial-programs
CONNECTICUT§ 17-82iConnecticut's Depart of Social Services (DSS) is required to provide financial assistance to up to $1,350 towards funeral/cremation expenses to those with limited assetsApply for services through Connecticut's DSShttps://portal.ct.gov/dsshome?language=en_US
DELAWARETitle 31 § 110Delaware offers limited assistance for burial for those indigent individuals. According to recent information available online individuals may receive $400-$1500. Eligibility for other benefits such as social security or VA is taken into account.Contact the Delaware Health and Social Services, Division of Social Serviceshttps://dhss.delaware.gov/dss/Delaware Nation provides burial assistance up to $10,000 for enrolled tribal citizens.https://www.delawarenation-nsn.gov/burial-assistance-program/
FLORIDAThe state of Florida does not directly provide for state funeral or burial assistance. Assistance may be provided at the county level.To see if your Florida county offers funeral assistance, contact your local Florida County Health Departmenthttps://www.floridahealth.gov/all-county-locations.html?utm_source=floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/county-health-departments/find-a-county-health-department/index
GEORGIAThe state of Georgia does not directly provide for state funeral or burial assistance. Assistance may be provided at the county level.Contact the Department of Human Services, Division of Family and Children Services in your countyhttps://dfcs.georgia.gov/locations
HAWAII§ 17-1745-4The State of Hawaii Med-Quest Division provides financial assistance up to $400 for mortuary expenses and $400 for burial expenses. The claim will be denied if it is not submitted within sixty days from the date of the death.Complete an application at the Med-Quest Division officeshttps://www.hcoahawaii.org/AGISModules/ProviderSearch/ProviderDetails.aspx?OrgID=549781&mid=411&pageid=371&letter=F&state=HI#:~:text=Services%3A%20provides%20partial%20payment%20for,returned%20to%20a%20DHS%20office.&text=(2)%20Unclaimed%20bodies.
IDAHOThe state of Idaho does not directly provide for state funeral or burial assistance. Assistance may be provided at the county level, in some cases, through County Indigent Services.If you need help or to apply, contact the Idaho Department of Health and Welfarehttps://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/
ILLINOISThe Illinois Department of Human Services pays for the funeral and burial expenses for a person who at the time of death qualifies for certain programs. The maximum amount that Illinois DHS will pay is $1,370 for a funeral and $686 for a burial.Applications may be found at your local Family Community Resource Center, or you can apply onlinehttps://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?module=12; https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=30367
INDIANAIndiana's Burial Assistance program provides reimbursement of funeral and burials costs for people covered by Medicaid in eligible categories (e.g., aged, blind, disabled). The maximum amount the burial assistance program will offer is $1,200 for funeral expenses and $800 for cemetery expenses.Indiana requires funeral and cemetery providers to complete the Indiana Burial Assistance claim form online.https://www.in.gov/fssa/dfr/about-dfr/about-the-burial-assistance-program/
IOWAThe state of Iowa does not directly provide for state funeral or burial assistance. Assistance may be provided at the county level.Contact the Iowa Department of Human Services to see if your local county has a burial assistance program.https://hhs.iowa.gov/Iowa State Code 252.27 provides burial assistance up to $250 to nonresident indigent individuals.
KANSASThe state of Kansas does not provide for state funeral or burial assistance. Assistance may be provided at the county level.To see if your local Kansas County offers funeral assistance, contact your Kansas County officialhttps://www.kansascounties.org/resources/county-websites
KENTUCKYThe state of Kentucky does not provide for state funeral or burial assistance. Assistance may be provided at the county level.To see if your local Kentucky County offers funeral assistance, contact your Kentucky County officialhttps://www.kentucky.gov/government/Pages/local.aspx
LOUISIANAThe state of Louisiana does not provide for state funeral or burial assistance. Assistance may be provided through their local parish.To see if your local Louisiana parish offers funeral assistance, contact your Louisiana parishhttps://www.louisianasca.org/parish-offices
MAINEThe Maine General Assistance Program, administered by local municipalities, provides financial assistance for funeral and burial expenses. The maximum amount of assistance provided for a funeral is $1,125 and $785 for cremation.Contact your local municipal office for more informationhttps://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ofi/programs-services/general-assistance
MARYLANDThe Maryland Burial Assistance Program provides limited financial help with funeral expenses of deceased recipients of Public Assistance Programs.Apply online or contact the Maryland Department of Human Serviceshttps://dhs.maryland.gov/weathering-tough-times/burial-assistance/#:~:text=The%20Burial%20Assistance%20Program%20provides,families%20cannot%20afford%20funeral%20costs.
MASSACHUSETTSThe Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance provides financial assistance up to $1,100 to help pay for the cost of the funeral and burial for a resident of Massachusetts with limited resources. In order to be eligible for the assistance, the total cost of the funeral and burial may not exceed $3,500.Complete an application by mail or in person with the Department of Transitional Assistancehttps://www.mass.gov/funeral-and-burial-payment-assistance
MICHIGANMI Bridges provides financial assistance for the cost of burial, cremation, or donation of a body to a medical school. The amount of financial assistance ranges from $45 to 595. An application for burial assistance must be made within 10 days after the burial, cremation, or donation takes place.Apply for state burial assistance through MI Bridgeshttps://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/assistance-programs/emergency-relief/burial
MINNESOTA§ 261.035The state of Minnesota does not provide for state funeral or burial assistance. Each county is required to offer residency-based funeral assistance for deceased person without sufficient means.To check your local Minnesota County's funeral assistance, contact your Minnesota County officialhttps://mn.gov/dhs/general-public/about-dhs/contact-us/counties-and-regional-offices/
MISSISSIPPIThe state of Mississippi does not provide for state funeral or burial assistance. Assistance may be provided at the county level.To see if your local Mississippi County offers funeral assistance, contact your Mississippi County officialhttps://www.mssupervisors.org/mississippi-counties
MISSOURIThe state of Missouri does not provide funeral or burial assistance. Assistance is offered at the county level through the Indigent Burial and Funeral Fund which pays $400 to the county or city that buries an indigent individual.Contact you local Missouri city or county governmenthttps://www.mo.gov/government/city-county-government/
MONTANATitle 7, Chapter 4, Part 29 24The state of Montana does not provide for state funeral or burial assistance. Assistance may be available at the county level through an indigent assistance program.To see if your local Montana county offers funeral assistance, contact your Montana county officialhttps://www.mtcounties.org/counties/county-websites/
NEBRASKAThe state of Nebraska does not provide for state funeral or burial assistance. Assistance may be provided at the county level.To see if your local Nebraska county offers funeral assistance, contact your Nebraska county officialhttps://sos.nebraska.gov/elections/election-officials-contact-information
NEVADAThe state of Nevada does not provide for state funeral or burial assistance. Assistance may be provided at the county level.To see if your local Nevada county offers funeral assistance, contact your Nevada county officialhttps://www.nvnaco.org/members/
NEW HAMPSHIRE§ 165:27New Hampshire law requires that city and town welfare departments pay for the cremation and burial services of unclaimed persons and those whose families have limited resources.Contact your local New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services District Officehttps://www.dhhs.nh.gov/about-dhhs/locations-facilities
NEW JERSEYNew Jersey offers public assistance funds to help pay for some or all of the funeral expenses of those in need. The public assistance reimbursement rates range from $452 to $3,770.Contact your local New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS)https://web.njsfda.org/public/consumer/funeral-costs/financial-assistance
NEW MEXICO8.106.502The New Mexico Human Services Department provides financial assistance up to $200 towards funeral expenses and up to $600 towards burial expenses for those who were receiving state support at the time of death.Contact your local New Mexico Human Services Departmenthttps://www.hsd.state.nm.us/contact_us/
NEW YORKThe state of New York does not provide for state funeral or burial assistance. Assistance may be provided at the county or city level.To see if your local New York county offers funeral assistance, contact your New York county officialhttps://www.ny.gov/countiesNew York City provides financial assistance to low-income New York City residents up to $1,700 to meet funeral expenses.https://www.nyc.gov/site/hra/help/burial-assistance.page
NORTH CAROLINAThe state of North Carolina does not provide for state funeral or burial assistance. Assistance may be provided at the county level.To see if your local North Carolina county offers funeral assistance, contact your North Carolina county officialhttps://www.nc.gov/your-government/county-government-websites
NORTH DAKOTAThe state of North Dakota does not provide for state funeral or burial assistance. Assistance may be provided at the county level.To see if your local North Dakota county offers funeral assistance, contact your North Dakota county officialhttps://www.ndaco.org/cod/
OHIO§ 9.15The state of Ohio does not offer assistance for funeral or burial expenses. The township or county will provide assistance if the deceased is considered to be indigent and there is no one to cover expenses. Other funeral assistance programs vary based on county resources and funding.To see if your local Ohio county offers funeral assistance, contact your Ohio county officialhttps://ccao.org/aws/CCAO/pt/sp/counties
OKLAHOMAThe state of Oklahoma does not provide for state funeral or burial assistance. Assistance may be provided at the county level.To see if your local Oklahoma county offers funeral assistance, contact your local funeral home or Oklahoma county officialhttps://oklahoma.gov/okdhs/library/resources/countylist.html
OREGONThe state of Oregon does not provide for state funeral or burial assistance. It does have a program for the burial of unclaimed indigent individuals, and the application must be submitted by a licensed funeral home. Assistance may be provided at the county level.To see if your local Oregon county offers funeral assistance, contact your Oregon county officialhttps://oregoncounties.org/counties/
PENNSYLVANIAThe Pennsylvania Department of Human Services provides financial assistance up to $750 for burial and cremation services to eligible individuals. Eligibility for assistance is determined by the local county assistance office.Contact your local County Assistance Office (CAO)https://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Other-Services/Pages/Burial-and-Cremation.aspx
RHODE ISLANDRIGL § 40-6-3.10 & 218 - RICR - 20-00-3The Rhode Island Department of Human Services General Public Assistance (GPA) Program provides financial assistance up to $900 towards funeral and burial expenses to GPA recipients and indigent individuals.Contact your local Rhode Island Department of Human Services Office or call the DHS Call Center at (855) 697-4347https://dhs.ri.gov/programs-and-services/general-public-assistance
SOUTH CAROLINAThe state of South Carolina does not provide for state funeral or burial assistance. Assistance may be provided at the county level.To see if your local South Carolina county offers funeral assistance, contact your South Carolina county officialhttps://www.sccounties.org/county-information
SOUTH DAKOTAThe state of South Dakota does not provide for state funeral or burial assistance. Assistance may be provided at the county level.To see if your local South Dakota county offers funeral assistance, contact your South Dakota county officialhttps://www.sdcounties.org/counties/
TENNESSEEThe state of Tennessee does not provide for state funeral or burial assistance. Assistance may be provided at the county level.To see if your local Tennessee county offers funeral assistance, contact your Tennessee county officialhttps://www.ctas.tennessee.edu/counties
TEXASThe state of Texas does not provide for state funeral or burial assistance. Assistance may be provided at the county level.To see if your local Texas county offers funeral assistance, contact your Texas county officialhttps://www.county.org/county-information-map
UTAHThe state of Utah does not provide for state funeral or burial assistance. Assistance may be provided at the county level. If the expenses of a funeral cannot be covered by the family, the county in which the death occurred will be responsible for the cremation and disposition of the remains after a reasonable period time has elapsed for the family to seek financial assistance.Contact your local health department to learn more about what assistance may be availablehttps://ome.utah.gov/for-families/#financialassistance
VERMONTVermont provides financial assistance for funeral and burial expenses to eligible individuals through its General Assistance Program. The program is administered through the county and up to $1,100 is paid directly to the funeral provider.Visit your local Economic Services Division officehttps://dcf.vermont.gov/benefits/EA-GA
VIRGINIAThe state of Virginia offers assistance with burial costs for those who are enrolled in its Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). Payment is made directly to the funeral home.Apply at your city or county’s Department of Social Services (DSS)https://www.dss.virginia.gov/localagency/index.cgi
WASHINGTONThe state of Washington does not provide for state funeral or burial assistance. Assistance may be provided at the county level.Contact your local Washington State Department of Health and Social Services officehttps://www.dshs.wa.gov/office-locations
WEST VIRGINIAWest Virginia's Indigent Burial Program provides financial assistance up to $1,000 toward the cost of funeral expenses for eligible children and adults.Contact your local West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Field Officehttps://dhhr.wv.gov/bfa/programs/Pages/Burial-Assistance.aspx
WISCONSINThe Wisconsin Funeral and Cemetery Aids Program (WFCAP) offers financial assistance up to $1,500 for funeral and burial expenses and up to $1,00 for unmet cemetery and crematory expenses.Contact your local funeral director or cremation provider for help with the application processhttps://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/em/wfcap.htm
WYOMINGThe Wyoming Department of Family Services provides financial assistance up to $500 to funeral homes for burial expenses of deceased individuals who have limited resources and were receiving other financial assistance at the time of their death.Contact your local Wyoming County Department of Family Services officehttps://dfs.wyo.gov/about/contact-us/
*PUERTO RICO
*GUAM
Last updated2/23/2024

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