NYC HRA

Low-income New York City residents may be eligible for up to $900 in financial assistance to meet funeral expenses of no more than $1700. You can get an application for benefits with written instructions by following the link below:

http://www1.nyc.gov/site/hra/help/other-services.page

Background:

The Human Resources Administration (HRA) will provide financial assistance to individuals in need of assistance to meet funeral expenses. These funds are available when an indigent resident of New York City dies who may have been in receipt of Supplement Security Income (SSI), Cash Assistance (CA), or leaves no funds to cover his or her burial expenses, and there are no Legally-Responsible Relatives (LRR) able to pay the funeral expenses.

What can be covered:

HRA will pay up to $900 towards burial expenses, but total burial expenses must be no more than $1,700. The cost of cremation or grave and grave opening charges are excluded, however, the cost of burying the ashes, after cremation is not excludable in calculating the $1,700 total cost. If the total funeral bill exceeds the amount of $1,700, HRA will make no payment.

Any asset (whether or not previously assigned to HRA), that was available to the deceased or any amount that a LRR (e.g., a spouse or parent of a minor child) may have had on the Date of Death (DOD) is deemed available, and any amount paid or to be paid by any other source, will be subtracted from the $900 payment if the claim is determined eligible for payment. Any assets or resources left by the decedent on the date of death will be subtracted from the $900, if the claim is otherwise determined to be eligible.

To apply:

The individual who makes the funeral arrangements or his/her representative must file an application within 60 days from the DOD, in person, at our office located at 25 Chapel Street (6th Floor) Brooklyn. That individual should bring in any Documentation to the initial interview and may submit the remainder of documentation needed by US Mail.

Required documentation:

• A Burial Application Form completed and signed by the applicant.
  
  
• One original certified copy of the Death Certificate (it will be returned to the applicant.)
  
  
• A copy of the Funeral Contract also known as the Statement of Goods and Services Selected. The contract must be signed by the Funeral Director and by the party who made the funeral arrangements. The required sequential invoice number must appear on the document.
  
  
• A copy of the cemetery or crematory bill, itemizing all charges.
  
  
• Original itemized funeral bills signed by the Funeral Director and notarized in the presence of a Notary Public. The funeral bill must be stamped "Paid-in-Full" if the charges have been paid.
  
  
• Original fully completed Funeral Director's Affidavit forms signed by the Funeral Director and notarized in the presence of a Notary Public, if there is money still owed to the funeral
  establishment.
  
  
• Information and documentation regarding the decedent's available assets/income as of the DOD, and those of the applicant (if the applicant is an LRR) is required on each case.
  
  
• The Agency may request any other documentation which may be necessary to make an eligibility determination based upon the particular facts and circumstances of each case.