COVID-19 Resources

FEMA Offers COVID-19 Funeral Assistance

If you’ve lost a loved one to COVID-19 and are struggling with funeral expenses, you may be eligible to receive financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provide financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020. If you qualify, you will receive a check by mail or funds by direct deposit.

If you are interested in applying for aid, call (844) 684-6333 between 9:00 am and 9:00 pm Eastern Time.

To be eligible for assistance:

The death must have occurred in the U.S., including U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.
The death certificate must indicate that the death was attributed to COVID-19.
You must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after January 20, 2020.

Note: There is no requirement for the deceased person to have been a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien.

Before you call to apply, FEMA suggests gathering as much documentation as possible, including:

An official death certificate that attributes the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19 and shows that the death occurred in the United States, including U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.
Funeral expense documents (receipts, funeral home contract, etc.) that include your name, the deceased person’s name and the amount and dates of the funeral expenses.
Proof of funds received from other sources specifically for use toward funeral costs. FEMA will not duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance, or financial assistance received from voluntary agencies, government agencies or other sources.

Survivors’ Benefits for Family Members

We want to express our sincere condolences for your loss. Since your loved one was an 1199SEIU Benefit Fund member, you are entitled to some important Survivors’ Benefits through the Benefit Fund. Those benefits include a limited extension of health benefits through the Benefit Fund, a life insurance policy, a pension benefit and more. Because we realize this is an incredibly difficult time, we have dedicated a team of staff members to help you access all of the benefits to which you are entitled. Please see specific information below about how to contact one of our team members to help you get started. Again, we are so sorry for your loss.

For National Benefit Fund Family Members

The following Survivors’ Benefits are available to you:

Health coverage: Spouses and eligible dependents get 30-day extension of health benefits from date of death, then 36 months of COBRA eligibility (Wage Class I and II)
Life Insurance: Designated beneficiaries get up to $50,000 maximum benefit, based on member’s Wage Class and annual base pay
Death benefit: Burial plot in one of three designated cemeteries or $75 payment to you (Wage Class I and II)
Pension: Spouses of vested members of the 1199SEIU Health Care Employees Pension Fund can collect a monthly pension benefit starting any time after the member would have turned age 55, at 50 percent of the amount the member would have been entitled to. At the time the spouse starts collecting the pension, the amount is reduced based on the number of years before the member would have turned age 65.

How you can access these benefits:

Outreach Coordinators are available as the first contact to assist you. Contact information is available through Union Officers/Organizers or online here.
Alternatively, you may call (646) 473-9200 and a Member Services Representative will transfer you to a dedicated team to support family members.

How it will work:

You will need to file a life insurance claim and additional forms to access other beneficiary benefits.
You can fax, email or mail documents and forms. Benefit Fund staff will assist you.

Documents Required to Submit Life Insurance Claim

Certified Death Certificate
Claimant Statement (In “Seal of Notary” space, please write “COVID.”)

Funeral Arrangements

A portion of your loved one’s life insurance can be assigned to a funeral home. Below is a list of funeral homes that have accepted assignment from the Fund. Please note that in the current crisis, many funeral homes have waiting lists.

All Boroughs and Manhattan

Walter B. Cooke Funeral Home: (718) 898-2200; ask for Amanda and tell her that it is for an 1199SEIU member

Brooklyn

Interboro Funeral Services: (718) 452-0101

Queens

J. Foster Phillips Funeral Home: (718) 526-5656

Workers’ Compensation (WC)

If the member was exposed to the novel coronavirus on the job, and has died from complications related to a COVID-19 infection, we strongly urge you to file a WC claim for Workers’ Compensation death benefits. Visit wcb.ny.gov or call (800) 877-1373 for questions about filing a claim.
For free assistance filing your Workers’ Compensation claim, contact Pasternack, Tilker, Ziegler, Walsh, Stanton & Romano, LLP at (718) 222-9800. You should inform them that you are calling on behalf of an 1199SEIU member.

Please consult the Summary Plan Description (SPD) for a full description of your Fund benefits, including limitations and exclusions. In case of any conflict between this and the SPD, the terms of the SPD shall govern.

For GNY Benefit Fund Family Members

The following Survivors’ Benefits are available to you:

Health coverage: Spouses and eligible dependents get 30-day extension of health benefits from date of death, then 36 months of COBRA eligibility (Eligibility Class I and II)
Life Insurance: Designated beneficiaries get up to $25,000 maximum benefit, based on member’s Eligibility Class and annual base pay
Death benefit: Burial plot in one of three designated cemeteries (Eligibility Class I and II)
Pension: Spouses of vested members of the 1199SEIU Greater New York Pension Fund can collect a monthly pension benefit starting any time after the member would have turned age 65, at 50 percent of the amount the member would have been entitled to. If the member had at least 15 Years of Pension Credit and was at least 55 years old, the spouse can begin collecting the survivor pension at any time, but the amount is reduced based on the number of years before the member would have turned age 65.

How you can access these benefits:

Outreach Coordinators are available as the first contact to assist you. Contact information is available through Union Officers/Organizers or online here.
Alternatively, you may call (646) 473-9200 and a Member Services Representative will transfer you to a dedicated team to support family members.

How it will work:

You will need to file a life insurance claim and additional forms to access other beneficiary benefits.
You can fax, email or mail documents and forms. Benefit Fund staff will assist you.

Documents Required to Submit Life Insurance Claim

Certified Death Certificate
Claimant Statement (In “Seal of Notary” space, please write “COVID.”)

Funeral Arrangements

All Boroughs and Manhattan

Walter B. Cooke Funeral Home: (718) 898-2200; ask for Amanda and tell her that it is for an 1199SEIU member

Brooklyn

Interboro Funeral Services: (718) 452-0101

Queens

J. Foster Phillips Funeral Home: (718) 526-5656

Workers’ Compensation (WC)

If the member was exposed to the novel coronavirus on the job, and has died from complications related to a COVID-19 infection, we strongly urge you to file a WC claim for Workers’ Compensation death benefits. Visit wcb.ny.gov or call (800) 877-1373 for questions about filing a claim.
For free assistance filing your Workers’ Compensation claim, contact Pasternack, Tilker, Ziegler, Walsh, Stanton & Romano, LLP at (718) 222-9800. You should inform them that you are calling on behalf of an 1199SEIU member.

For Home Care Benefit Fund Family Members

The following Survivors’ Benefits are available to you:

Health coverage: Eligible dependents get 36 months of COBRA eligibility
Life Insurance: Designated beneficiaries of eligible members enrolled in the health plan get a $20,000 benefit
Pension: Spouses of vested members of the 1199SEIU Home Care Employees Pension Fund can collect a monthly pension benefit starting any time after the member would have turned age 65, at 50 percent of the amount the member would have been entitled to. If the member had at least 10 Years of Pension Credit and was at least 55 years old, the spouse can begin collecting the survivor pension at any time, but the amount is reduced based on the number of years before the member would have turned age 65.

How you can access these benefits:

Outreach Coordinators are available as the first contact to assist you. Contact information is available through Union Officers/Organizers or online here
Alternatively, you may call (646) 473-9200 and a Member Services Representative will transfer you to a dedicated team to support family members.

How it will work:

You will need to file a life insurance claim and additional forms to access other beneficiary benefits.
You can fax, email or mail documents and forms. Benefit Fund staff will assist you.

Documents Required to Submit Life Insurance Claim

Certified Death Certificate
Claimant Statement (In “Seal of Notary” space, please write “COVID.”)

Funeral Arrangements

All Boroughs and Manhattan

Walter B. Cooke Funeral Home: (718) 898-2200; ask for Amanda and tell her that it is for an 1199SEIU member

Brooklyn

Interboro Funeral Services: (718) 452-0101

Queens

J. Foster Phillips Funeral Home: (718) 526-5656

Workers’ Compensation (WC)

If the member was exposed to the novel coronavirus on the job, and has died from complications related to a COVID-19 infection, we strongly urge you to file a WC claim for Workers’ Compensation death benefits. Visit www.wcb.ny.gov or call (800) 877-1373 for questions about filing a claim.
For free assistance filing your Workers’ Compensation claim, contact Pasternack, Tilker, Ziegler, Walsh, Stanton & Romano, LLP at (718) 222-9800. You should inform them that you are calling on behalf of an 1199SEIU member.