Colorado Department of Human Services

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Burial Assistance

The Burial Assistance program provides financial assistance to help pay for funeral, burial, and/or cremation costs.

Eligibility Requirements

The deceased must have been a recipient of Aid to the Needy Disabled, Aid to the Blind, Colorado Supplement, Old Age Pension, or Medicaid while they were alive; and
The estate of the deceased individual must be insufficient to pay reasonable expenses; and
Persons legally responsible for the support of the deceased individual are unable to pay because of insufficient resources.

The total cost for the funeral/burial/cremation cannot exceed $2,500. The maximum contribution from the Burial Assistance program will be reduced by the decedent's estate. The County Department of Social (Human) Services will determine whether any funds are available from the decedent's estate or from legally responsible persons that will reduce the Burial Assistance program benefit.

The maximum reimbursement depends upon the program from which the decedent received benefits.

For individuals age 60 and over who were receiving Old Age Pension or Medicaid at the time of death or for individuals of any age who were receiving Medicaid benefits for families and children at the time of death, the Burial Assistance program contribution is limited to a maximum of $1,500.
For individuals who were receiving benefits from Aid to the Needy Disabled (AND), Aid to the Blind (AB), Colorado Supplement to AND or AB, or Supplemental Security Income/Medicaid-Only at the time of death, the Burial Assistance program contribution is limited to a maximum of $1,000.

How to Apply

Applications for the Burial Assistance Program must be made at the County Department of Social/Human Services where the deceased individual resided.

United States Repatriation

The Repatriation Program is a federally funded program that helps Americans in other countries who are returning or being returned to the U.S. because of illness or destitution. The U.S. Department of State certifies which persons are eligible for assistance under this program.

U.S. Repatriation can provide up to three months temporary assistance for persons returned to this country, including cash, food, shelter, clothing, transportation or medical and/or psychiatric Care

Any assistance provided under this program is a loan that must be repaid to the U.S. Government.

Eligibility Requirement

Repatriates are U.S. citizens who are in crisis abroad and are in need of financial or other assistance in order to return safely to the U.S. To be eligible for a repatriation loan, a person must be:

A U.S. citizen;
Destitute and would experience hardship if not returned to the U.S.;
Without relatives or friends in the U.S. or abroad who will provide assistance;
Involved in, or the cause of, a situation which may damage the prestige of the U.S. Government or which may provide some other compelling reason to affect the applicant's prompt repatriation, without meeting the subparagraphs above; and/or
Other eligibility requirements as determined by the Department of State.

How to Apply

Individuals should contact the American Consulate or Embassy in the country where they are located. All eligibility determinations will be handled through the U.S. Department of State (DOS), Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of Overseas Citizens Services (OCS). For more information, you may contact the Overseas Citizens Services at 1-888-407-4747 or from overseas (202) 501-4444.