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Social Security Services

The deceased worker must have credit for work covered by Social Security ranging from 1 1/2 to 10 years depending on his or her age at death in order to receive monthly benefits. Those eligible for monthly benefits include:

A widow or widower age 60 or older (50 if disabled) or at any age if caring for an entitled child who is under 16 or disabled
A divorced widow or widower age 60 or older (50 if disabled) if the marriage lasted 10 years or if caring for an entitled child who is under 16 or disabled
Unmarried children up to 18 (19 if they are attending a primary or secondary school full-time)
Children who were disabled before reaching 22 as long as they remained disabled
Dependent parent or parents 62 or older

ELIGIBILITY

A one-time payment of $255 is paid in addition to the monthly cash benefits described above. The lump-sum death payment (LSDP) is paid in the following priority order:

A surviving spouse who lived in the same household as the deceased person at the time of death
A surviving spouse eligible for or entitled to benefits for the month of death
A child or children eligible for or entitled to benefits for the month of death

LUMP-SUM DEATH PAYMENT

You must apply in order to receive benefits. You may apply at any Social Security office, by phone at (800) 772-1213, or online at www.ssa.gov.

APPLYING FOR BENEFITS

MEDICAID INFORMATION

Medicaid Information - Title 19 Eligibility: The Dept. of Social Services may contribute towards funeral costs based upon eligibility. The application process will be initiated at the funeral home. Completing the application does not constitute payment from DSS. Family will be responsible for funeral bill until payment from DSS is received. Credit card transactions are not accepted with Title 19 Funerals.

Medicaid or Title 19 can pay for health care for Connecticut residents in low income situations. Anyone applying for Medicaid is entitled to set aside funds for the purpose of paying their funeral/ burial expenses as part of the spend-down process. Placing funds in pre-funded funeral contracts is permissible by law. Current Title 19 regulations allow on individual to enter into and pre-fund one or both of the following types of contracts with a CFDÅ-member funeral home (all of these funds must be used to pay for funeral expenses).

MEDICAID TITLE 19 AND FUNERAL TRUSTS & CONTRACTS

An Irrevocable Trust can be pre-funded up to $3,000, according to Public Act 16-20 that was established in 201 6, In addition, Department of Social Services has confirmed that existing $5,400 contracts may be increased to the new $8,000 limit without impacting the recipients Medicaid eligibility. Selections listed under the Irrevocable Trust include: basic service charges, funeral services, preparation of remains, vehicles etc.

Note that the $8,000 financial cap may not be sufficient to cover all of the costs to provide for the funeral of your choice. Once prepaid, an Irrevocable Contract cannot be cancelled or cashed in, but may be transferred to another licensed funeral home.

IRREVOCABLE TRUST

A Revocable Burial Plot Allowance contract can be pre-funded in an amount for specific burial and cemetery items and services that meet your needs, without any dollar limitation, according to State of Connecticut General Statutes 17b-91 that was established in 2004.

This kind of burial plot allowance contract con only include the purchase of the fallowing burial plot items:

Casket or Urn
Outer Burial Container or Vault
Cemetery Expenses (gravesite, opening and closing charges)
Cemetery Monument, Marker or Mausoleum and Engraving

The family may choose and pre-fund any or all OF these burial plot items of their choice.

A Revocable Contract con be cancelled or transferred at any time that the person is on Title 19. But, according to law, if the Revocable Contract is cancelled, then the funds must be returned to the State of Connecticut.

BURIAL PLOT ALLOWANCES - REVOCABLE CONTRACT

Besides helping to reduce assets for Title 19 qualification and preplanning, your local CFDA-member funeral home is available to answer variety of questions about funeral and memorial services of all types.

The Connecticut Funeral Directors Association is comprised Of funeral directors at more than 220 funeral homes across the state, Based in Wethersfield, CT, it is committed to the promotion and advocacy of high ethical standards in Funeral service. This includes the development and presentation of on-going professional training opportunities for practitioners and educational programs tor association members and the public.

We hope you find this information to be helpful, Please contact us With any questions or concerns.

HOPED THIS HELPED

First, contact a local funeral director who is a member of the Connecticut Funeral Directors. All funeral directors must be licensed by the State to practice. Arrange to meet to learn and understand your options and choices about how to pre-plan and pre-fund your funeral, not only for peace of mind, but to help qualify for state assistance, if appropriate.
Your pre-paid funds are sent to an escrow agent or third party authorized by the State of Connecticut to receive pre-paid funeral funds. These funds can be redesignated or transferred to another funeral firm of your choice.
Absolutely. All funds placed in the trust are invested in financial instruments guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporations (FDIC) or directly by the U.S. Government/U.S. Treasury

Bonds. The Connecticut Funeral Directors Association endorses a licensed escrow agent who is approved by the State for this purpose - your funeral director can help you with these arrangements . It is also permissible to purchase ( or to assign a existing) life insurance policy to pre-fund your funeral contract.
Yes, current regulations entitle you to own one or more personal life insurance policies with a combined face value (death benefit) Of more than $ I,500.

If the total is more than $ I,500 the cash surrender value of the policies will counted as an asset when applying for Medicaid. If you do not have any insurance plicies, aske for your local funeral director for information on preparing upt to a $1,500 face value policy.
Bring identification that shows your Date of Birth, Social number, and your Power of Attorney or Conservatorship documentation, if applicable.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN CHOOSE:

Irrevocable Trust pre-funded up to $8,000

Revocable Burial plot Allowance - pre-funded in an unlimited amount fospecific burial and cemetery items and services

Life Insurance Policy with up to $ 1,500 Face value

As always, the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association recommends you with a qualified elder-law attorney or consultant for information regarding Medicaid. The information provided in this FAQ is not a substitute for competent advice.
Copy of Birth Certificate (for applicant and spouse, if applicable)

Copies of the last 6 months bank statements (from the date of application)

Savings

Checking

Credit Union

Copy of Social Security and Pension Checks (amounts applicant and spouse if applicable)

Copies of Stocks, Bonds Life Insurance policies (plus Cash Out values of insurance, cashed in stocks/bonds (in the past five years)

Copy of Medical Insurance cords and your spouse

Copies of any unpaid medical bills: utilities, insurances, cable, phone, etc.)

Copies of lease or rental agreements/ mortgage payments

Copy of bills for apartment/home recent bills: utilities, insurances, cable, phone, etc.)

Copy of car registration(s)/license plate number(s)

Copy of Pre-funded funeral contracts

Copy of $I,500 Face Value Life Insurance documentation, if you purchased it

Copy of Power of Attorney or Conservatorship documentation, if applicable
All Connecticut citizens, regardless of income, should have the right to a respectful and dignified funeral — one that serves the cultural, religious, and personal choices of the individual and family.

A growing number of Americans are planning ahead, arranging, and pre-funding their own funerals and burials. Most families agree that pre-planning can help bring peace off mind

Before applying for Title 19, you have the option to pre-pay your own funeral by spending down your assets.

The Connecticut Funeral Directors Association (CFDAI wants you to have this important information about what you are legally entitled to do.

After you read this, must contact your licensed CFDA-member funeral director assistance in making your own plans.

FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Program

The U.S. Government recently announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will introduce a program to reimburse families for COVID-19 funeral expenses incurred beginning January 20, 2020.

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WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

To be eligible for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance, the policy states:

The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after Jan. 20, 2020 for a death attributed to COVID-19.
The deceased does not have to be a U.S. citizen.
If multiple individuals contributed toward funeral expenses, they should apply under a single application as applicant and co-applicant.
FEMA will also consider documentation from other individuals not listed as the applicant and co applicant who may have incurred funeral expenses as part of the registration for the deceased individual.
An applicant may apply for multiple deceased individuals.
The COVID-19-related death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.
This Assistance is limited to a maximum financial amount of $9,000 per funeral and a maximum of $35,500 per application.
Funeral Assistance is intended to assist with expenses for funeral services and interment or cremation.

HOW TO APPLY

On April 12, 2021 FEMA will begin accepting applications via their dedicated Funeral Assistance Call Center at 844-684-6333 (TTY: 800-462-7585) from 8am-8pm Central Time, Monday – Friday. Families who incurred COVID-19-related funeral expenses will need to be prepared to submit the require documentation in order to receive reimbursement.

We recommend that if you meet the conditions, you apply for assistance as soon as possible. If there is anything thing we can do to assist during the process, please call us at (203) 755-4370

FEMA Website