Technical difficulties create issues for those applying for FEMA's COVID-19 funeral assistance

Having to bury a family member due to COVID-19 is heartbreaking enough without the financial burden.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is trying to help families with its COVID-19 funeral assistance applications that opened on Monday.

CarLotta Mitchell reached out to WRAL News for help after she called FEMA’s funeral assistance line more than 150 times.

She lost her mother and her grandmother to the virus and said that, despite the wait for assistance, she’s not giving up.

Mitchell said COVID-19 not only changed the way she lives, it also changed who she lived for.

“I’d call and say, ‘I’m coming down today. Do you need anything?’ Now, I don’t have anybody to give that need to anymore,” she said.

In a matter of days, she lost two of her favorite people to COVID-19.

"My grandmother ended up passing away on Dec. 30. My mom ended up passing on Jan. 11," she described.

Mitchell had to plan two funerals with no time to properly grieve. She said that she hoped FEMA's COVID-19 funeral assistance would help.

A FEMA spokesperson said they've received thousands of calls and ask for patience as they’ve never done anything to this scale.

"I have all the documentation that’s necessary. It’s just a matter of someone picking up the phone," said Mitchell.

Aside from patience, FEMA is also asking people to watch out for scammers.

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein said FEMA is not initiating calls and reminds people to never give out their personal or financial information over the phone.

"To target someone who has lost a loved one to COVID is a true definition of heartless," said Stein.

There isn't a deadline to apply for COVID-19 funeral assistance. FEMA asks those needing assistance to have all documentation ready and remain patient as the agency works out technical issues.