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Burial Assistance

Notice

The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) has settled a lawsuit against R.G. Ortiz Funeral Homes Inc. As a result, a Consumer Restitution Fund has been set up and is being held by DCWP. If you believe you may be entitled to restitution due to funeral services provided by R. Ortiz, please go to https://www.nyc.gov/site/dca/consumers/file-a-claim-rg-ortiz.page for more information.

See Consumer Tips When Working With a Funeral Home for additional information.

Background

The Human Resources Administration (HRA) Office of Burial Services (OBS) assists individuals in need of financial assistance to meet funeral expenses for a deceased low-income New York City resident (decedent). Payment may be authorized to reimburse funeral expenses that have already been paid or pre-approval for payment may be authorized for the cost of a planned funeral.

For information on funeral assistance see below.

Burial Services Brochure

Image of a man at a grave with flowers

This brochure summarizes how HRA’s Office of Burial Services (OBS) can provide financial assistance to help you meet the funeral expenses for a deceased low-income New York City resident. This can apply to either funeral expenses that have already been paid, or pre-approval for the cost of a planned funeral.

Open the Burial Services Outreach Brochure:






What can be covered

OBS can pay up to a maximum amount of $1,700 towards the cost of a funeral bill for a decedent's final disposition (which includes burial, cremation or burying of cremation ashes) to the decedent's relative, friend, organizational friend, or authorized representative.

In the event, the funeral bill exceeds $3,400, the cost of the burial plot, grave opening, or cremation will be deducted from the total bill. If the remaining bill amount is less than $3,400, a burial allowance will be approved.

Eligibility

The burial allowance is available to low-income decedents that do not have resources or assets available to pay for their funeral. Proof of low-income status may include receipt of social services benefits or public assistance from HRA such as cash assistance, supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits, or social security benefits including supplemental security income (SSI).

A legally responsible relative (a spouse or parent of a deceased minor under age twenty-one (21)) who applies for the allowance must also be unable to pay the funeral bill and meet the low-income eligibility criteria to qualify.

To determine eligibility, an application must be submitted and OBS will assess the individual circumstances of each case.

Burial Allowance Application Process

Apply Online — Available 24/7

The Office of Burial Services offers a fully digital application experience — from any device, at any time.

Applying online gives families a streamlined experience — complete your application, upload documents, and check your status every step of the way, all in one place. You will be able to:

  • Complete and submit your burial assistance application entirely online, with the ability to save your progress and return at any time
  • Upload all required documents securely — photos and scans are accepted
  • Work with your preferred funeral home — share your claim number with them and they can submit their invoices directly, streamlining the process for you
  • Access a secure, password-protected portal — your personal information and case details are protected by NYC's enterprise security standards, accessible only by you and your assigned caseworker
  • Track your application status and receive email notifications at every stage — receive automatic updates when your application is received, when your eligibility is under review, when a decision has been made, and when payment has been authorized, so you are never left wondering where things stand

To apply

How to Apply Online:

The applicant responsible for funeral arrangements, or their authorized representative, must complete a burial allowance application within 120 days of the date of the decedent's death.

Step 1 — Create an account

Step 2 — Complete the burial assistance quick eligibility questionnaire and decide if you’d like to continue with the application directly in the portal

Step 3 — Upload all required supporting documents

Step 4 — Provide your selected funeral home with your claim number, the decedent's last name, and date of death so they can submit their invoices quickly and directly through the Funeral Home Portal

Step 5 — Submit your application and track your case status in real time

Please note: Documents requiring notarization may be uploaded through the portal for quicker and more streamlined processing. However, the original notarized document must also be mailed to OBS at the following address: NYC HRA Office of Burial Services, 33-28 Northern Blvd., 3rd Floor, Long Island City, NY 11101

There are several key documents required, which are outlined below under Supporting Documentation.

For questions about burial assistance eligibility, required documents, the status of an application, or to request a paper application, call the NYC HRA Office of Burial Services at 718-557-1399. Help is available in most languages, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, except City holidays.

How to Help

Need help using the online application? Start with our instructional video and step-by-step guides for common tasks.


Audio Description: An explainer video showing how to register and apply for the NYC HRA Burial Allowance program.

How-to guides: View step-by-step online application guides.

Technical Support

For help using the online application—including creating an account, resetting a password, uploading documents, or resolving a portal error—contact Burial Application Technical Support. Support is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time, except City holidays. If you do not reach a live agent, your call will be returned within one business day.

Support Line
(888)868-8831

Support Email
baits_support@acgovsolutions.com


Funeral Home Portal

Licensed funeral directors can now register to submit invoices directly through our dedicated Online Funeral Home Portal — further supporting families by streamlining the process.

Important: The Funeral Home Portal is for invoice submission only. Funeral homes cannot initiate or submit a claim. The claim must always be started by the applicant.

Here is how the process works:

Step 1 — The family member files their burial assistance application and receives a claim number.

Step 2 — The family member contacts their funeral home and provides the following: their claim number, the decedent's last name, and the decedent's date of death.

Step 3 — The funeral home uses these details to locate the claim in the portal and submit their invoices and any other required supportive documentation.

The portal allows registered funeral homes to:

  • Submit invoices against an existing claim using the claim number, decedent's last name, and decedent's date of death provided by the family
  • Upload itemized funeral bills, notarized affidavits, and supporting documents digitally.
  • Complete W-9 registration within the portal
  • Funeral homes only need to register once. A single account can be used to service multiple families.

Please note: Funeral homes will not have access to any other details about the applicant or decedent beyond what is needed to match and submit invoices. All personal and case information remains private and visible only to the applicant and Burial Services.

Register your funeral home online now.

How-to Help for Funeral Directors

Funeral directors can use these resources for help creating an account and completing common tasks in the Funeral Home Portal.


Audio Description: An explainer video showing funeral homes how to register and submit invoices in the HRA Burial Allowance portal.

How-to guides: View step-by-step Funeral Home Portal guides

Technical Support

For help registering for or using the Funeral Home Portal—including account, password, upload, or portal errors—contact Burial Application Technical Support. Support is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time, except City holidays. If you do not reach a live agent, your call will be returned within one business day.

Support Line
888-868-8831

Support Email
baits_support@acgovsolutions.com

Other Ways to Apply

For faster service, we encourage use of online applications. For those unable to apply online, the paper Burial Allowance Application Form M-860W is available to download, pick up in person, or request by phone.

You can also view the M-860W Burial Allowance Application form in:

View the Instructions for the Burial Allowance Application form in:

Completed paper applications can be submitted by:

In Person or by Mail: NYC HRA Office of Burial Services, 33-28 Northern Blvd., 3rd Floor, Long Island City, NY 11101.

By Fax: 917-639-0476

To request a paper application or get help completing it, call the NYC HRA Office of Burial Services at 718-557-1399. Help is available in most languages, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, except City holidays. If you leave a message, a staff member will return your call by the end of the next business day.

Supporting documentation

Below is a list of the general documentation needed to begin processing the burial allowance application. We will accept a photo or scanned image of a document via the online application and we may require a hard copy if the image or photo is not legible. OBS may request additional documents to determine eligibility based upon the facts and circumstances of each case.

  • Burial Allowance Application Form M-860W completed and signed by the applicant or authorized representative. See application for details.
  • 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 person who made the funeral arrangements.
  • A copy of the cemetery or crematory bill, itemizing all charges.
  • Original itemized funeral bill signed by the Funeral Director and notarized in the presence of a Notary Public or Commissioner of Deeds. The funeral bill must be stamped "Paid-in-Full" if the charges have been paid and the applicant is seeking reimbursement.
  • Original fully completed Funeral Director's Affidavit forms signed by the Funeral Director and notarized in the presence of a Notary Public or Commissioner of Deeds, if there is money still owed to the funeral establishment. See link to Funeral Director's Affidavit.

Submit Your Application

In-Person or Mail:

NYC HRA Office of Burial Services
33-28 Northern Blvd. - 3rd Floor
Long Island City, NY 11101

Fax:

The application can be faxed to 917-639-0476.

Payments

In the case of reimbursement to an individual, to receive a payment you will need a form of identification to verify the name and address of the person receiving the payment from HRA. For payments to an Organizational Friend, funeral home or funeral services provider a W-9 will be required. OBS can assist you with requesting the W-9 information.

For questions about burial assistance eligibility, required documents, or application status, call the NYC HRA Office of Burial Services at 718-557-1399. If you leave a message, a staff member will return your call by the end of the next business day.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Burial Assistance Frequently Asked Questions provides more detailed guidance about the burial assistance application process.

View the Burial Assistance Frequently Asked Questions in:

Contact the NYC HRA Office of Burial Services (OBS)

  • Our office is now located at:
    33-28 Northern Blvd. - 3rd Floor
    Long Island City, NY 11101
  • We are open Monday through Friday (except public holidays) from 9 am to 5 pm.
  • You can email us at: BurialServices@hra.nyc.gov
  • You can call us at: 718-557-1399
  • Please leave a message and a staff member will return your call before the end of the next business day.

Hart Island - the City’s Public Cemetery

Since 1869, Hart Island has been used as a site for public burials and is the final resting place for more than a million souls. In 2021, management of Hart Island was transferred from the NYC Department of Correction to the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation and the NYC Department of Social Services. The City is committed to ensuring that the public has access to the island and has several services available to help individuals find and visit their loved ones on Hart Island. Please visit Hart Island Website for more information on visiting the island and finding a loved one. Families seeking to bury their indigent loved ones on Hart Island should contact the Office of the Chief Medical Officer Outreach Unit at (212) 447-2030 for information and assistance.

Survivors Benefits for Decedent’s Children from the Social Security Administration

Applicants for Burial Assistance should know that surviving children of decedents may be eligible for Survivors Benefits from the Social Security Administration under certain circumstances. The Social Security Administration may provide Survivors Benefits based upon the decedent’s work history to decedent’s unmarried children. Visit Survivors Benefits | SSA to learn more about these benefits and how to apply.

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