The Department pays for funeral and burial expenses of SAGA, TFA and State Supplement recipients and indigent persons who:
- Die without sufficient estate
- Do not have a legally liable relative able to pay the cost of a proper funeral and burial.
The Department’s maximum payment is $1,800 (effective July 1, 2024).
This amount is reduced by:
- Any liquid assets in the estate (such as money in a bank account)
- Life insurance policies
- The amount in any funeral fund
- Any prepaid funeral contract
- The amount of contributions (regardless of source) that exceed $3,400.
Applications must be made within one year of the date of death and may be filed by the funeral director, a family member, or any individual who made the funeral arrangements.
Payments can only be made to the funeral director, cemetery or crematory. Family members and individuals cannot be reimbursed or receive payment from DSS.
Applications must be submitted to a DSS Resource Center using the following: Application for Payment of Burial and Funeral Expenses