Eligibility

Who can apply

Assistance is open to any family in California facing financial hardship after the death of a loved one.

You do not need to be a member. You do not need to have donated. We do not consider race, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, age, disability, or immigration status. There is no fee to apply and no charge of any kind if you are approved.

What we can help with

• Funeral home and mortuary charges
• Cemetery, burial, or interment costs
• Transportation of remains within California
• Other expenses directly related to the death

Assistance is up to $8,000 per household, or the unpaid balance of the costs, whichever is less. All awards depend on funds being available.

We are not able to help with debts, living costs, or other expenses not connected to the death.

How we decide

We look at two things:

• That a death has occurred, shown by a death certificate or a statement from the funeral home.
• That the family cannot meet the cost. This is established if household income is at or below 250% of the federal poverty guideline for your household size, or if paying the remaining balance would leave the household short of what it needs for housing, food, utilities, or medical care.

The same standards are applied to every applicant. Our volunteer board reviews each request and records its decision.

What to send with your application

• Death certificate, or a statement from the funeral home confirming the death
• Itemized statement of the funeral, burial, or cemetery charges
• Proof of household income — pay stubs, a benefits letter, or a signed statement if there is no income
• Photo identification
• Proof that you live in California

If you cannot get one of these documents, tell us why. We will work with you.

How payment is made

Wherever possible we pay the funeral home or cemetery directly, so the family does not have to handle the money at a difficult time.

How long it takes

We review each request as quickly as we can and will let you know our decision in writing. Requests are considered in the order received, and depend on the funds available.