Programs and Services of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

What kind of benefits does FEMA provide?

• FEMA's main program for people suffering damage or displacement from a disaster is the Individual and Household Program (IHP).
• The two parts to IHP are "Housing Assistance" and "Other Needs Assistance."
• • Housing Assistance gives money for homeowners to repair or replace homes. It also pays rent for people unable to use their homes.
  • Other Needs Assistance can pay for many other needs. These include medical, dental, transportation, moving and storage costs.

How do I apply?

• You can apply online at www.fema.gov. Click on Disaster Survivor Assistance. Under “assistance after disaster” click on individuals and families, then apply for assistance. Due to high call volume, FEMA urges victims to register online.
• You can call FEMA at 1-800-621-3362. The phones should be open for registration from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., 7 days a week.
• You can go to a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) to receive help with applying.  To find a DRC, use the following link:  https://egateway.fema.gov/ESF6/DRCLocator.
• If you are hearing-impaired, you can call 1-800-462-7585.
• If you have commercial property, FEMA asks you to wait a few days to call.
• If you are a homeowner with minor losses, FEMA asks you to wait a few days to call.
• Be ready to give your Social Security number, describe your losses, give financial information and give directions to the damaged property.

Am I eligible for Housing Assistance?

• You must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or a "qualified non-citizen."
• A "qualified non-citizen" is anyone who has been granted legal permanent residence ("green card"), refugee or asylee status, withholding of deportation, conditional entry, parole into the U. S. for at least 1 year; or a Cuban-Haitian Entrant; or a battered spouse or child(ren) with a pending or approved spousal petition or petition for relief.
• You must show that the disaster destroyed your home or made it unlivable, or that you cannot get to your home because of the disaster.
• You must own no other house in which you could live.
• If you have insurance, you must show that you have unsuccessfully tried to get insurance benefits, or that you don't have enough insurance to cover your necessary expenses and serious needs.
• You must also agree to repay FEMA to the extent that you later get insurance benefits.

What kind of Housing Assistance help can I get?

• One type of assistance survivors can receive is Displacement Assistance.  Displacement Assistance gives survivors who can’t return to their home following a disaster money to help with immediate housing needs.  It can be used to stay in a hotel, motel, or a stay with friends or family.  The amount of Displacement Assistance a survivor receives is based on the cost of a 14 day hotel stay on a rate chosen by the state, territory, or Tribal Nation impacted. If you have more housing needs, you can apply for Rental Assistance from FEMA.  Maximum rental assistance is 18 months. The amount of rental assistance will vary by location. The amount is determined by current fair market value for existing units and the number of bedrooms the household requires;
• You can get to live temporarily rent-free in federal housing. This is only for up to 18 months, but FEMA can extend it; or
• You can get money for home repairs, generally enough to restore your home to a condition that is safe and sanitary; or
• You can get money toward a new home.
• FEMA expects you to accept the first housing assistance it offers.
• If you turn down FEMA's offer without a good reason, you can lose your right to housing assistance.
• Low-income Iowans affected by a disaster may also be eligible for an Iowa Individual Disaster Reimbursement Grant of up to $5,000 for home repairs or other eligible expenses. To apply contact Iowa Department of Human Services at 1-877-937-3363 or your local Community Action Center.

How much help can I get?

• FEMA establishes a maximum grant amount that changes every year. If this is not enough to pay for emergency repairs to your home, you cannot get any additional money for the repairs from FEMA.
• You can file for a Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan for more extensive repairs.
• The Small Business Administration provides low-interest long term disaster loans for individuals to repair/replace real and personal property for non-farm businesses. If SBA determines that an applicant is ineligible for an SBA loan or if the loan amount is insufficient, SBA refers the applicant to FEMA for additional consideration. Borrowers are required to maintain appropriate hazard and flood insurance, where required. SBA can only approve a loan to an applicant with a reasonable ability to repay the loan.

If I get a mobile home (temporary housing unit) from FEMA, can they take it away?

• Yes. After 18 months, you lose the mobile home unless FEMA extends the time period. FEMA may also decide to begin charging rent based on the fair market value of the mobile home after the 18-month period, taking into account the financial ability of the household.
• If other adequate housing becomes available, FEMA can make you leave the mobile home.
• If FEMA finds you lied or committed fraud, it can take away your mobile home.
• You can also lose the mobile home if you don't show FEMA that you are working on a plan for permanent housing.

Do I have a right to fight the loss of the mobile home?

• FEMA has to give you 15 days written notice.
• The notice has to give its reason for wanting you out.
• The notice has to explain the appeal process.

What if I had left my husband, but he filed for Housing Assistance including me?

• FEMA lets one person tell what people lived in the home before the disaster.
• It usually gives one temporary housing residence for all those people.
• You should tell FEMA that your husband lied, and that you and your children are a separate household. Then, you should get your own temporary housing.
• If FEMA does not do this, you can point out that a single household can get a second temporary housing residence if the nature of the household requires it. Protection from domestic violence should require it.

Am I eligible for Financial Assistance to Address Other Needs?

• You must have disaster-related necessary expenses or serious needs.
• You cannot have adequate assistance from other sources, such as insurance and disaster loans.
• You can apply for a Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loan.
• When you apply for an SBA loan, be careful not to overstate your ability to pay. You do not want to end up burdened by a loan you can't afford. You usually get more help from FEMA if you can't get a loan.

What kind of help can I get under the Other Needs program?

• Other Needs can cover the following kinds of serious needs for essential items or services:
• • Medical and dental expenses relating to the disaster;
  • Clothing, household items, furnishings;
  • Appliances, tools and equipment required as a condition of employment;
  • Computers, school books, uniforms and other educational materials;
  • Replacement or repair of your vehicle;
  • Disaster related child-care expenses;
  • Public transportation;
  • Moving and storage;
  • Cleaning or sanitizing personal property;
  • Funeral and burial expenses.

Will Other Needs benefits affect my eligibility for Medicaid, Food Stamps or other public benefits?

• No. Other Needs benefits do not count either as income or resources for any income-tested programs supported by the federal government.

If I owe a creditor money, can the creditor take my Other Needs benefits?

• No. Other Needs benefits are totally exempt under federal law from garnishment.

Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to get Other Needs benefits?

• No. Most non-citizen nationals and qualified non-citizens can get Other Needs money.

How much can I get for Other Needs?

• It depends on how much you got in Housing Assistance.
• The total of all the help your household can get from FEMA cannot be more than the maximum grant amount for the year the disaster took place. This includes Housing Assistance and Other Needs.

Am I eligible for Small Business Administration (SBA) loans?

• To qualify for a loan from SBA, you must show that the disaster damaged your home or business.
• You must also show that you have the ability to repay the loan.

What kind of help can I get from the SBA loan program?

• SBA provides low interest loans for repairs.

How can I get in touch with SBA for questions that I have?

• You can call 1-800-827-5722.

What if I don't like what FEMA offers me?

• FEMA expects you to accept the assistance it offers.
• If you have a good reason to turn FEMA down, explain the reason fully.
• If you turn down FEMA's offer without a good reason, you can end up with nothing.
• You have the right to appeal.

What if FEMA denies me?

• You have the right to appeal. Your denial notice tells you how to appeal. Appeals must be postmarked or received by FEMA within 60 days of the date of the decision. You can mail your appeal t

FEMA - Individuals and Household Program
National Processing Service Center
P.O. Box 10055
Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055

or you can fax you appeal letter to
(800) 827-8112, Attention: FEMA - Individuals and Household Program.

Can I get additional disaster relief information from FEMA?

• You can go to FEMA's Guide Help After a Disaster.
• En Español: Ayuda Después de un Desastre.

 

·       Iowa Legal Aid provides help to low-income Iowans. 

·       To apply for help from Iowa Legal Aid:

o   call 800-532-1275

o   Iowans age 60 and over, call 800-992-8161

OR

o   apply online at iowalegalaid.org

·       If Iowa Legal Aid cannot help, you can look for an attorney on “Find A Lawyer” on the Iowa State Bar Association website – iowabar.org.   A private attorney there can talk with you for a fee of $25 for 30 minutes of legal advice.