CURRENT AS OF 8/11/2023
CHECKLIST FOR INDIVIDUALS APPLYING FOR FEMA ASSISTANCE
What is FEMA?
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the federal agency that helps in disasters. They
provide assistance including: emergency medical assistance, emergency shelter, funds for temporary
housing, emergency home repairs, and funds to rebuild. They also provide assistance for crisis counseling.
Who Qualifies for FEMA Assistance?
See attached flyer. You can also access the flyer athttps://www.fema.gov/assistance/individual/program/citizenship-immigration-status.
Be aware that while you may qualify for FEMA assistance, by law FEMA cannot duplicate benefits forlosses covered by your insurance company. They can only help with confirmed losses that insurance did
not cover. So, you need to file a claim with your insurance company as soon as possible. See Checklist
for Individuals Applying for Insurance.
How to Register with FEMA for Individual Assistance
You can contact FEMA to register for help using any one of the following:
Online at: www.disasterassistance.gov; orUsing FEMA’s disaster app on your smartphone, www.fema.gov/mobile-app; orCall 800-621-3362. Phone lines are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, seven days a week until furthernotice. Multilingual operators are on duty.
You will need the following information to complete your FEMA application:
1. Date you suffered loss because of the fire.
The fire started on August 8, 2023
2. Your Social Security Number (SSN).
If you do not meet the U.S. citizenship or immigration status, but you have a child under age
18 living with you and you are the parent or legal guardian of the child, you may apply usingthe SSN of the child.
3. Annual household income.
4. Address for your damaged or lost home.
5. Current contact information for you.
You can provide phone number, email address, or alternative mailing address (where you arestaying at present).
You must provide an email address if you want to get your application status online. If you
do not provide an email address, you must contact the FEMA Helpline for updates on yourapplication.
6. Insurance information.
You will need to state if you have homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, fire and/or
property insurance or any other insurance that might pay for your losses.
Name of your insurance company and/or your insurance agent (if you know).

1CURRENT AS OF 8/11/2023
7. Bank account information.
If you qualify for financial assistance, the money can be deposited in your account. So you
will need name of bank and bank account number.
8. Other Information. You will also be asked to answer questions about your situation and the typeof assistance you need.
What to expect after you register with FEMA.
Upon completion of your application, you will receive a nine-digit registration number that you can use
to check on your application status and communicate with FEMA. Save this number.
Sometimes FEMA will ask applicants for more documentation. For example:
Utility bills, to prove the damaged property was the primary residence at the time of the disaster;
Insurance paperwork that is still pending, which will determine other programs the survivor will
be eligible for with FEMA;
A pay stub or a government-issued picture ID that has the damaged property listed;
Proof of home ownership, like copies of mortgage payments or a house deed; orA renter’s lease or rental agreement to prove occupancy.
After you complete your application, you should try to gather copies of this information in case FEMA
asks for the documents. You can contact these companies to request copies of your documents.

If you change your address after completing the application, notify FEMA. You must keep FEMA updatedon your location and contact information so they will know you to contact you about your request forassistance and any payments given to you.
What happens after FEMA reviews your application.
Once FEMA completes their review of your application, they will send you a FEMA Decision Letter thatstates how much assistance they are providing to you, and how you may use the funds they give you.
You may only use FEMA money as listed in that letter. Ask for receipts when you use FEMA money
and keep copies of these receipts for at least 3 years. You will need these receipts if FEMA auditsyou.
Also, be aware that if FEMA decides that some of the money they provided to you should have been
covered by your insurance policies, they may ask you to repay those amounts too. FEMA can ask for
repayment regardless of whether you actually get paid by the insurance company. So it is important toapply for your insurance benefits as soon as possible, and then keep track of what FEMA money you use
while you’re waiting for insurance money. See Checklist for Individuals Applying for Insurance.
Contact FEMA Helpline: 800-621-3362
Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.disasterassistance.gov/help/faqs

2

You May Be Able to Get Disaster Assistance
FEMA and the state, territory or tribal government may provide direct and financial
disaster assistance to U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals and qualified non-citizens.
Disaster assistance may include money for temporary rental assistance, home repairs, personal
property loss, medical expenses, funeral expenses and other serious disaster-related needs or
expenses not covered by insurance or other sources.

A Qualified Non-citizen Includes

Citizen – Anyone born in the U.S.; a person born
outside of the U.S. to at least one U.S. parent; ora naturalized citizen.
Non-Citizen National – A person in an outlying
possession of the U.S. (i.e., American Samoa or
Swain’s Island) on or a˜er the date the U.S. acquired
possession, or a person whose parents are U.S.
non-citizen nationals. All U.S. citizens are U.S.
nationals, but not every U.S. national is a citizen.

Legal Permanent Residents(“Green Card” holders)
Non-citizens granted asylum
Refugees
Non-citizens whose deportation status isbeing withheld for at least one year
Non-citizens paroled into the U.S. for at least one
year for urgent humanitarian purposes orsignificant public benefit
Cuban/Haitian entrants
Certain battered non-citizens or theirspouses or children

Individuals should consult an immigration expert to verify if they meetthe immigration status requirements for FEMA disaster assistance.

Certain victims of a severe form of humantra˜icking, including persons with a “T” or“U” visa3

If an applicant does not meet the citizenship or immigration
status at the time of application, the household may still apply
for certain forms of federal assistance if:
The parent or legal guardian of a minor child who is a U.S.
citizen, non-citizen national or qualified non-citizen applies forassistance on behalf of the minor child, so long as they live inthe same household. The parent or legal guardian must
apply as the co-applicant, and the minor child must be underage 18 at the time the disaster occurred.
All individuals, regardless of citizenship and immigration status,
a°ected by a major disaster may be eligible for crisis
counseling assistance, disaster legal services, disaster casemanagement, disaster supplemental nutrition assistanceprogram and other non-monetary, in-kind emergency
disaster-relief programs. These include medical care, shelter,
food and water.

Apply for Disaster AssistanceInternet or Smartphone Application: Disaster survivors
may apply for the Individuals and Households
Program or check their application status at www.
DisasterAssistance.gov. Disaster survivors may also
access FEMA via smartphone by downloading theapplication from www.fema.gov or through their mobile
provider’s application store.
By Phone: Disaster survivors may call FEMA toll-free at
800-621-3362 to register for assistance or check theirapplication status. Disaster survivors who are deaf,
hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and use a
Text Telephone (TTY) may call 800-462-7585. Disastersurvivors who use 711 or VRS (Video Relay Service)
may call 800-621-3362.
In Person: Visit a Disaster Recovery Center.
••

For locations, check FEMA's mobile app www.fema.
gov/mobile-app or call 1-800-621-3362, or visit
www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
Disaster Survivor Assistance team members mayvisit door-to-door in your area. They will have official
FEMA photo identification.

WHAT to DO if YOU DISAGREEwith FEMA’S DECISION LETTERYOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO APPEAL FEMA’S ELIGIBILITY DECISIONSINCLUDING THE AMOUNT OF YOUR AWARD.

When do I need to submit my appeal?

What do I need to provide?

You must submit your appeal within 60 days ofthe date on your eligibility notification letter.

A signed, written explanation outlining why you
believe FEMA’s decision is incorrect and copies ofany documents supporting your appeal, including
proof of your disaster losses.

60Your full name, your FEMA Application Number andDisaster Number, your pre-disaster primary residence
address, and your current phone number andaddress should be included on all submitted
documents. These numbers are printed on Page 1 ofyour Decision Letter, above your name and address.

DAYS

Where do I send my appeal?
Mail to:
FEMAP.O.Box 10055
Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055

OrFax to:800-827-8112
Attn: FEMA Appeals Officer

How long will it take before I know
if my appeal is approved or denied?

Who can I call if I have questions
about my appeal?

You will receive a decision letter from FEMA within
90 days of FEMA’s receipt of your appeal.

Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362(voice/711/VRS). For Spanish, press 2.
TTY: 800-621-3362. Or visit:www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

To check the status of your appeal, or to notify
FEMA of any change to your mailing address orcontact information, please visit
www.DisasterAssistance.gov and select Check Your
Application Status, or call FEMA’s Helpline at
800-621-FEMA (3362)

4Help After a
Disaster
FEMA Individual AssistanceCan Help You Recover
FEMA B-545/April 2019

How can FEMA help you?
Assistance from FEMA may help you and members ofyour household affected by a disaster take care ofnecessary expenses and serious needs that cannot be
met through insurance or other forms of assistance.

Housing Assistance:
Housing Assistance may provide financial or direct
assistance, including:Rental Assistance: Financial assistance to rent
temporary housing while disaster-caused repairs are
made to your primary residence, or while transitioning
to permanent housing.
Lodging Expense Reimbursement: Financial assistance
reimbursement for short-term lodging expenses.
Home Repair: Financial assistance for homeowners torepair uninsured home damage caused by the disaster.
The assistance is intended to repair the home to asafe, sanitary and functioning living condition.
Home Replacement: Financial assistance forhomeowners who must replace or rebuild their primaryresidence as a result of the disaster.
Direct Housing: In limited circumstances whereadequate temporary housing resources are notavailable within a reasonable commuting distance,
FEMA may provide a temporary housing unit directly tohomeowners and renters.

Other Needs Assistance:
Personal Property: Financial assistance to repair orreplace common household items including, but notlimited to, furnishings, appliances, essential tools andassistive equipment that supports daily living activities.

Clean and Removal: Financial assistance for services toremove contaminants and disinfect surface areas of thehome affected by floodwater.

Medical/Dental: Financial assistance to pay for
medical or dental expenses or losses caused by thedisaster. This includes, but is not limited to, hospitaland ambulance services, medication, and the repair orreplacement of medically necessary assistive devices
or technology.

Critical Needs: Financial assistance for applicants whohave immediate or critical needs because they aredisplaced from their primary dwelling.

Eligibility Criteria for Housing andOther Needs Assistance:

Funeral: Financial assistance for expenses incurred
due to a death or disinterment caused directly or
indirectly by the disaster. Expenses include, but are
not limited to, the cost of a casket or urn and funeralservices.

§ Your disaster losses must be in a Presidentiallydeclared disaster area;

Child Care: Financial assistance for increased
child care costs as a result of the disaster. Eligible
expenses include child care costs for children aged 13
and under and/or children with a disability, as definedby Federal law, up to age 21, who need assistancewith activities of daily living.
Miscellaneous Expenses: Financial assistance topurchase specific items not owned prior to thedisaster. They may include, but are not limited to,items such as a wet/dry vacuum, chainsaw, or agenerator for a medically necessary device.

Disaster Legal Services: Provides free legal assistanceto low income individuals who are otherwise unable
to secure legal services to meet their disaster related
needs.
Disaster Case Management: Assists individuals withunmet needs caused by the disaster through thedevelopment and implementation of a Household
Recovery Plan.

Partner Agency Assistance§ A member of your household must be a United States
citizen, a non-citizen national, or a qualified alien;

To meet the needs of disaster survivors, FEMA partners
with other governmental and non-governmental
agencies.

§ You have necessary expenses or serious needs
as a result of the disaster that are not covered byinsurance, or you filed an insurance claim but yourbenefits are not enough to cover your expenses, oryour damage was not covered by insurance or othersources.

FEMA works with the U.S. Small Business
Administration to offer low-interest disaster loans tohomeowners and renters in a declared disaster area.
You do not need to own a business to apply for adisaster loan.

Additional FEMA Individual Assistance
Programs

Learn more about applying for a disaster loan or about
assistance available from other FEMA partners at:www.DisasterAssistance.gov.

Crisis Counseling: Assists individuals and communities
recovering from the effects of a disaster through theprovision of community-based outreach and educationalservices.

Transportation: Financial assistance to repair orreplace a vehicle damaged by the disaster.

Disaster Unemployment: Provides unemployment
benefits and re-employment assistance services tosurvivors affected by a Presidentially-declared majordisaster. These services are under the responsibility ofthe U.S. Department of Labor and administered by theState, Local, Territory, or Tribal government emergency
management officials of the affected area(s).

Moving and Storage Expenses: Financial assistance totemporarily move and store personal property from thedamaged primary residence while repairs are made.
Assistance may also be provided for moving essential
household goods to a new primary residence.

5FEMA B-545/April 2019