Families who lost a loved one to COVID-19 could receive financial assistance to cover funeral costs.

FEMA is offering financial assistance of up to $9,000 to help families who lost loved ones to COVID-19 recoup their funeral expenses.

The agency says it will begin funeral assistance in April, and that families should start to get their paperwork together now.

You'll need:

-An official death certificate that attributes the death to COVID-19 and shows that the death happened in the U.S.

-Any receipts related to costs from the funeral home, transportation and burial plot.

FEMA will launch a hotline for families to connect with caseworkers who will help those eligible register. The families will then be given access to an online portal to submit documents.

Funeral expenses after Jan. 20, 2020 will be covered.

Ballard-Durand Funeral home in White Plains helped more than 100 families with funerals related to COVID-19 deaths, and it's now calling families and urging them to apply.