The Supreme Court of India’s latest order detailing the modalities for payment of ex gratia financial assistance to the families of those who died of COVID-19 is the stern caveat that no State shall deny the benefit solely on the ground that a person’s death certificate did not specify the cause of death as due to the novel coronavirus disease. Thanks to its assertiveness, the Union government shed its initial wariness about incurring the financial burden of compensating the next of kin of the over 4.49 lakh people officially recorded as having died due to the virus infection. The National Disaster Management Authority issued guidelines last month, specifying that Rs 50,000 be paid for each death. While the primary requirement to avail of this assistance is that the death should be certified as having been caused by COVID-19, the Court has rightly ruled that the cause mentioned in the death certificate would not be conclusive by itself, and that if other documents are provided, the family shall be entitled to the ex gratia payment. Given the fact that independent data analysis has revealed a possibly huge undercount in the official COVID-19 toll maintained by the State governments and the Centre, the view that only a certified COVID-19 death should be eligible for compensation has been rightly discarded. Of course, some documentary evidence will still be required to establish the cause, but once it is submitted, the payment should be disbursed within 30 days. It is a matter of consolation to those likely to have their claims rejected or disputed that the Court has created an appeal mechanism in the form of Grievance Redressal Committees at the district level. Thanks to the court, there is at least some recognition to the plight of near and dear ones of  the COVID-19 victims and immediate succour available. Now, authorities must come forward  to help the needy.