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The County Indigent Burial Program is administered by the Wyoming County Commissioners Association (WCCA) and assists counties in offsetting expenses incurred for the burial or cremation of deceased individuals who lacked sufficient means or other resources to provide for such expenses.

 

Eligibility Factors

 

The decedent must meet the following criteria for assistance to be provided:

 

• Not receiving Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Personal Opportunities with Employment Responsibilities (POWER) benefits at the time of death; and

• Without sufficient means in his or her estate or other resources to provide for burial or cremation.

 

Required Documentation

 

To be eligible for reimbursement, counties must submit documentation establishing that the decedent satisfies both statutory eligibility requirements.

 

Benefit Verification

 

Counties must obtain written confirmation from the Wyoming Department of Family Services (DFS) that the deceased was not receiving Medicaid, SSI, or POWER benefits at the time of death.

 

For benefit verification, contact:

 

Darlene Martinez
Wyoming Department of Family Services
307-721-1967
darlene.martinez@wyo.gov

 

Affidavit of Indigency

 

Counties must also submit a signed affidavit or sworn application establishing that the deceased did not have sufficient means in his or her estate or other resources to provide for burial or cremation. An example affidavit/application is available for county use. Counties may utilize their own form provided it contains a written declaration made under oath before a notary public or other officer authorized to administer oaths. Letters, memoranda, emails, or other statements that are not sworn under oath are not sufficient and will not be accepted as documentation of indigency.

 

 

Allowable Expenditures

 

Except where a county has formally established alternative standards, the WCCA will reimburse counties for the following expenses:

 

Burial

 

• Removal of the deceased from the place of death to a mortuary;

• Minimum services of staff;

• Professional embalming when required;

• Other preparation of the body (dressing and casketing);

• Graveside committal service, if requested;

• Minimum casket offered on the casket price list; and/or

• Hearse to cemetery.

 

Cremation

 

• Removal of the deceased from the place of death to a mortuary;

• Minimum services of staff;

• Professional embalming when required;

• Minimum cremation container;

• Transportation to the crematory;

• Cost of cremation;

• Return of ashes to next of kin; and/or

• Graveside service for interment of ashes, if requested.

 

Payment Information

 

The County Indigent Burial Program is funded through state general funds generated by death certificate fees pursuant to W.S. 35-1-428.

 

Request for Assistance

 

Funeral homes seeking reimbursement for indigent burial expenses should first contact the appropriate county coroner which can be found through the County Explorer.. Each county is responsible for reviewing and paying eligible claims and may thereafter request reimbursement from the WCCA.

 

Each county is responsible for accounting for its annual indigent burial expenses. Counties may submit reimbursement requests to the WCCA as expenses are incurred.

 

Annually in July, the WCCA processes reimbursements of eligible expenses up to $1,500 per burial or cremation. If legislative appropriations are insufficient to reimburse all eligible requests, reimbursements will be adjusted so that each county receives an equal percentage reimbursement, consistent with W.S. 35-1-428(c).