West Virginia · Berkeley County
What to do when someone dies in Berkeley County, West Virginia
Berkeley County is home to about 136,287 people. Everything below applies county-wide.
If you cannot afford burial or cremation in Berkeley County, call the West Virginia Department of Human Services, Berkeley County Office (Family Assistance) first, before signing anything with a funeral home. If the person was a veteran, free burial benefits may cover even more.
West Virginia Indigent Burial Program (Berkeley County DoHS Office)
West Virginia Department of Human Services, Berkeley County Office (Family Assistance)
When they answer, say: "I need to apply for burial assistance for a family member." It is okay if you do not have documents ready. They will tell you what to bring.
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Step 1 of 5 · If money is tight
Berkeley County burial assistance
Do not sign anything with a funeral home before you call. In many counties, signing first disqualifies the family.
Berkeley County program
Read this before you call
Payment cannot be made unless the burial application is filed within 30 days of the burial or cremation, and a responsible relative who agrees to pay $2,200 will be denied.
West Virginia Indigent Burial Program (Berkeley County DoHS Office)
West Virginia Department of Human Services, Berkeley County Office (Family Assistance)
433 Mid Atlantic Pkwy, Martinsburg, WV 25402 (opens in Google Maps)
Official program pageWho qualifies
The state pays toward a direct burial or direct cremation for a West Virginia resident who died without resources to pay. The applicant can be a spouse, other relative, funeral director, friend or neighbor, who must be 18 or older. The deceased person's income must not have exceeded 133 percent of the federal poverty level.
Time matters here: The application (form DFA-BU-1) must be filed no more than 30 days after the burial or cremation.
What it pays, what you pay
$1,000 maximum burial rate; the program pays nothing if total resources received by the funeral home reach $2,200.
| Income | The income of the deceased must not have exceeded 133 percent of the federal poverty level. A responsible relative's income limit is also 133 percent of the poverty level. |
|---|---|
| Assets | If the deceased had at least $2,200 in available resources, such as life insurance, burial trust funds, cash or bank accounts, the application is denied. A responsible relative who agrees to pay the $2,200 allowable amount also causes a denial. |
| Residency | The deceased must have been a West Virginia resident at the time of death, with one narrow exception for visitors with no one to claim the body. |
What it covers
Direct cremation is the preferred method. Direct burial is used only if the deceased objected to cremation for religious reasons or cremation is prohibited. Maximum burial rate is $1,000 toward all funeral costs, and the maximum allowable payment is $2,200.
Documents to bring
- Form DFA-BU-1 Application for Burial Expenses
- Form DFA-BU-2 Affidavit of Responsible Relative
- Copy of the death certificate and the deceased's Social Security number if not on the certificate (for mail applications)
- Funeral home billing form DFA-67-A
How to apply
Apply at the DoHS office in the county where the person lived at death by calling 304-267-0100. The application can also be done by mail. The funeral home completes the billing form. Questions about the program go to the Division of Family Assistance at 304-352-4431.
Typical timeline: A responsible relative has 10 days to provide income verification or the application is denied.
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Step 2 of 5 · If they served
Was the person a veteran?
This can replace the county program
You may be able to skip the county program entirely. Veterans can receive a free gravesite, headstone, and perpetual care at a national or state veterans cemetery, plus a VA burial allowance of up to $2,000 for service-connected deaths.
Veteran burial help in Berkeley CountyFrom our free tools
Housing costs weighing on the family too?
Check what housing assistance the household may qualify for, including Section 8 vouchers, in a few minutes. Free, no signup.
Check housing help at CheckMyVoucher.com4
Step 4 of 5 · The paperwork
Death certificates in West Virginia
Where copies come from
Certified copies come from the West Virginia Department of Health, Vital Registration Office (official site). Copies are $12 each, and that includes a non-refundable search fee. The fastest route is walking up: same day service is available at the Vital Registration Office, 350 Capitol Street, Charleston, weekdays 8:30am to 5:00pm at the walk-up window. By mail, send the application with a COLOR copy of your ID and a check or money order, since those are the only accepted mail payments. West Virginia has no direct online ordering of its own, so expedited online orders go through VitalChek.
Order about 10 certified copies. Banks, insurers, Social Security, vehicles, and property will each want one.
West Virginia death certificate cost, address and how to order
Know your rights
Every funeral home must follow these rules
Federal law (the FTC Funeral Rule) protects you. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise.
- They must give you prices over the phone. Refusing is a federal violation. Call two or three homes; prices for identical services can differ by thousands on the same street.
- Embalming is rarely required by law. If someone claims it is legally required, ask them to show you the law. Direct cremation and immediate burial never need it.
- You can decline anything in a package. You have the right to an itemized price list and to buy only what you choose.
- You can buy a casket anywhere. The funeral home must accept it without charging a handling fee.
Full rules: the FTC Funeral Rule. If a funeral home breaks them, you can report it to the FTC.
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Step 5 of 5 · If you need more
Beyond the county, more help
Where families find the rest
- Dial 211 for local charities, churches, and county funds with money available right now.
- Ask local churches directly. Many congregations have benevolence funds for funerals even for non-members.
- Ask the funeral home about a payment plan or a simpler package. Direct cremation is usually the lowest-cost professional option, and prices vary widely between providers in the same city.
- Considering a fundraiser? Read crowdfunding a funeral: what works.
- And take care of you. Grief is not a checklist. If you are struggling, call or text 988 (free, 24/7) to talk to someone, and most hospices offer free grief support groups to the whole community, no connection to their patients required.
Right now
The first 48 hours
Nothing else on this page matters until these are done. Everything not on this list can wait, and most of it should.
- 1Get the pronouncement. Hospital or hospice handles it; at home, call 911.
- 2Ask one person to help. Making calls should not all be on you.
- 3Look for written wishes or prepaid arrangements before agreeing to anything.
- 4Money tight? Call the county FIRST. Signing with a funeral home first can disqualify you.
- 5Secure the home, pets, vehicles, and any dependents.
- 6Start one folder for every paper you receive. You will need it constantly.
- 7Banks and insurance can wait. That is week one, not today.
Questions families ask
Straight answers
Who pays for a funeral in Berkeley County if the family has no money?
Berkeley County's assistance program (West Virginia Indigent Burial Program (Berkeley County DoHS Office)) can cover a basic burial or cremation for families who qualify. Call 304-267-0100 before signing anything with a funeral home.
Does Social Security pay anything when someone dies?
Yes. An eligible surviving spouse or child can claim a one-time $255 lump-sum death payment by calling 1-800-772-1213, and monthly survivor benefits are often available too.
What if the person who died in Berkeley County was a veteran?
Veterans may qualify for free burial in a national or state veterans cemetery plus a VA burial allowance, which can matter more than any county program. See our Berkeley County veteran page for details.
How many death certificates do I need?
Most families need about 10 certified copies for banks, insurance, and property. In West Virginia, order through the funeral home or the state vital records office.
How much does a funeral usually cost?
A traditional funeral with burial commonly runs $7,000 to $12,000. Direct cremation is usually the lowest-cost professional option, often $700 to $2,000, and prices vary widely between providers in the same area, so it pays to call two or three. Every funeral home must give you prices over the phone under the FTC Funeral Rule.
I have power of attorney. Can I still use it?
No, and this surprises almost everyone: a power of attorney ends the moment the person dies. After death, authority passes to the executor named in the will, or to a court-appointed administrator when there is no will. Funeral decisions belong to the next of kin in the order set by state law, usually spouse first, then adult children, then parents, then siblings.
Nobody had power of attorney. Is that a problem?
For after-death decisions, no. Power of attorney only matters while someone is alive. The next of kin can make funeral decisions right away, and the estate is handled through the will or, without one, through the state's simple next-of-kin rules. See our guide on what happens when there is no will.
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Step 3 of 5 · Money owed to you
The Social Security $255 payment
Who can claim it
A surviving spouse who was living with the person who died, or a spouse or child eligible for benefits on the deceased person's record.
Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit a local office. You must apply within 2 years of the death. The funeral home often reports the death to SSA, but the survivor must apply for the payment.
Full guide: the $255 death payment, explained