The CAO will determine the type and amount of available resources when payment is requested. Determine if resources are available from:
The estate of the deceased;
Other sources payable on the deceased’s behalf; or
Contributions from relatives and friends.
The CAO notifies the funeral director in writing of all resources it knows or learns of that reduce the burial payment. The funeral director notifies the CAO of any available resources.
Calculate the DHS payment by adding the total value of countable resources and contributions by an agency or person. See Section 890.31, Resources.
If the total value of resources is:
Equal to or greater than $1,500 – DHS will not pay for burial or cremation, or both.
Less than or equal to $750 – DHS’s payment is $750.
Greater than $750, but less than $1,500 – DHS’s payment is the remainder after subtracting the amount from $1,500.
Example: The deceased was a member of a local fraternal organization that donates $800 towards funeral expenses.
$1,500 - $800 = $700
The DHS payment is $700.
Total funeral expenses cannot exceed $1,500 after combining the total value of countable resources and the DHS payment.
Citation:
Count the total value of the following resources to determine the amount of the burial payment:
1. A burial reserve and burial space.
2. Contributions of money or goods such as a casket, urn, burial plot, crypt or vault.
3. Cash on hand in the estate of the deceased.
4. Other personal property in the estate of the deceased that can be readily converted into cash and is not required to meet the basic needs of the survivors.
5. Life insurance death benefits paid to a person or organization when that person or organization paid the insurance premiums and had an agreement with the insured to use the benefits for the deceased's burial, cremation, or both.
6. Burial or cremation benefits, or both, from a lodge or fraternal organization.
7. A lump-sum death benefit from the Social Security Administration (SSA) payable to a surviving spouse or to a funeral director:
The person who assumed responsibility for payment of the funeral expenses may authorize that the lump-sum payment be paid to the funeral director.
DHS, at the funeral director’s request, may authorize that the lump-sum payment be paid to the funeral director if one of the following occurs:
The person who assumed responsibility for payment of the funeral expenses does not authorize the payment to the funeral director.
The SSA determines that the person who arranged burial, cremation, or both did not assume responsibility.
The DHS will not pay costs for burial or cremation, or both, until the funeral director provides definite information about payment of the lump-sum death benefit.
8. A lump-sum death benefit from railroad retirement payable to a surviving spouse or a funeral director.
9. Benefits available from county commissioners on behalf of deceased widows of deceased veterans.
10. Benefits available for burial in a national cemetery.
11. Workers compensation benefits designated for burial or cremation, or both, if death results from an accident or injuries sustained in connection with the deceased’s employment.
12. Awards resulting from accidental death not connected with the deceased’s employment. Pending awards do not reduce DHS’s payment. When an award is pending, DHS will pay for burial or cremation, or both, and seek recovery when the award is made.
13. Department of Veterans Affairs death benefits.
14. Death benefits from the United Mine Workers of America welfare and retirement or health and retirement funds.
Do not count these resources in determining the amount of the burial payment:
Small contributions such as the value of articles of clothing, transportation of the funeral party, newspaper obituaries, flowers and religious services.
DHS will seek recovery of resources if:
The resource was reported to the funeral director after the deadline date to submit the PA 118 to request payment, and the funeral director does not collect from them.
The resource becomes available only after DHS has paid for burial services.
Revised April 29, 2019, Replacing July 30, 2013