Burial Assistance

Welcome to the Burial Assistance information page of the El Paso County Department of Human Services. The Burial Assistance program determines eligibility for State contributions toward the payment of funeral, cremation, and/or burial expenses for deceased individuals who were receiving public and/or medical assistance benefits at the time of death and who meet the additional eligibility requirements for the State Burial Assistance Program.

  

·      Individuals who received one of the following public and/ or medical assistance programs may be eligible:

 

o     Old Age Pension (OAP)

o     State Aid to the Needy Disabled (AND)

o     State Aid to the Blind (AB)

o     Aid to the Needy Disabled/Supplemental Security Income-Colorado Supplement (AND/SSI CS)

o     Aid to the Blind/Supplemental Security Income – Colorado Supplement (AB/SSI CS)

o     Temporary Assistance to Needy Families/Colorado Works (TANF/CW)

o     Medicaid

o     Medicare Savings Program.

 

Additional Requirements

 

·      The estate of the deceased is insufficient to pay reasonable expenses; and

·      The persons legally responsible for the support of the deceased are unable to pay because of insufficient resources 

·      The total cost of the funeral, cremation, and/or burial cannot exceed $2,500

·      The deceased individual must meet verification requirements for the program they were receiving at the time of death

·      An application for burial benefits must be provided to the county office within a year from the date of death

·      An invoice for services provided must be provided in order to pay the burial expense

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

1.      What do I have to bring to the County Department of Human Services office to apply for burial benefits?

Answer: In order to process the burial quickly it will be helpful if you provide the following:

a.      A complete burial application

b.      An invoice of services from an established provider

c.      Verification of resources (if applicable) for responsible persons as of the date of death

 

2.      What if the burial amount exceeds the $2,500 limit, but someone chooses to contribute toward the funeral/cremation to decrease the cost to $2,500? 

Answer: The total cost of the funeral/cremation cannot exceed $2,500.  Any money voluntarily contributed by a spouse or parent(s) is used to reduce the state contribution.

 

3.      Do I have to be related to the deceased recipient to apply for burial benefits for them?

Answer: No you do not.  The Burial Assistance Program is based on the eligibility of the deceased individual, not the applicant.  Keep in mind however the resources of the parents (if the deceased is a minor child) or spouse are considered available for payment of funeral, cremation, and/or burial expenses and must be insufficient to pay for the funeral, cremation, or burial expenses.

 

4.      Can we pay for the burial before payment is made to the provider by the County, and then have the funeral provider pay us back after they receive payment?

Answer: No.  The Burial Program is not a reimbursement program.  If payment is rendered prior to payment by the State of Colorado, that amount will reduce the payment amount made.  If the amount is paid in full, no payment will be issued by the State of Colorado for funeral/burial services.  This includes charging a credit card and reimbursing the amount after the provider is paid.

 

5.      Does the county have a list of providers we can use to bury the deceased recipient?

Answer: Yes.

 

6.      Do we have to use an established county provider or could we choose a funeral/burial provider that is not on your “list”?

Answer: Yes. Providers for funeral/burial services must complete the provider process with the State of Colorado.  This process can take a series of months.  If you choose a provider that has not completed this process, payment will not be made to them until the process is complete.