FEMA disaster assistance for renters and homeowners

After a hurricane, flood, fire or tornado, many families do not know whether they can ask the federal government for help, especially if they rent or if people in the home have different immigration statuses. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMAFederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) is the federal agency that supports people and emergency personnel to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate all hazards. When the President declares a disaster in an area, people there can apply for help from FEMA; if your area is not eligible, state agencies and other organizations may offer assistance. FEMA also runs the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and publishes the flood maps that show high-risk flood zones.See the full definitionClose) has a program for individuals and households with clear rules. This guide explains what it covers, how to apply, the deadlines and what mixed-status families can do. For the insurance claim and the first days, read After a hurricane, flood or fire.

Standard period to register with FEMA, from the presidential declaration

60 days⁴

To appeal a FEMA decision, from the date of the letter

60 days⁶

The time FEMA has to answer your appeal in writing

90 days⁶

What FEMA assistance for individuals and households covers

FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program (IHP) is for people who live in an area with a presidential disaster declaration.⁹ It provides funds for three things:¹

• Temporary housing while you cannot live in your home: rental assistance for other housing or hotel reimbursement.
• Repair or replacement of the owner’s home, if it is their primary residence.
• Other disaster-caused expenses and serious needs that insurance does not cover or covers poorly.

FEMA is clear on two points: this assistance is not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate for all losses.¹ It is help to start recovering, not a full payment.

Under “other needs”, FEMA’s regulation includes medical and dental expenses, child care, funeral, personal property, transportation, moving and storage, among others.⁸ Keep receipts for everything you pay because of the disaster.

If you rent or if you own: what changes

FEMA assistance by situation

Renter

If you rent

• Help renting other housing if you had to leave
• Reimbursement for a short hotel stay
• Other needs: personal property, transportation, moving
• Repairing the building is the owner's job

Primary residence

If you own

• Help renting other housing while you repair
• Repair or replacement of your primary residence
• Only what your insurance does not cover
• Other household needs

Renters and owners can both apply; what changes is whether FEMA can pay to repair the home.

Under FEMA’s regulation, eligible people who had to leave their home can receive rental assistance for other housing, and those not yet receiving that assistance can be reimbursed for reasonable short-term lodging. Repair or replacement is only for an owner-occupied primary residence, when the disaster damaged or destroyed it and the damage is not covered by insurance.⁷

If you rent, remember that repairing the building is the owner’s responsibility, and your belongings may be covered by your renters insurancerenters insuranceRenters insurance, also called tenants insurance, protects your belongings and protects you when you rent. The landlord's insurance covers the building, but not your furniture, clothes or electronics. It usually includes three coverages: your personal property, even if it is stolen away from home; additional living expenses if a covered loss forces you to move out for a while; and personal liability if someone is hurt in your home. A standard policy does not cover floods, which are insured separately. Some landlords require it.See the full definitionClose if you have it; read the guide Renters insurance.

Insurance comes first

FEMA does not pay for what your insurance already covers. Under its regulation, it does not give assistance to people with adequate insurance coverage, unless the insurance payment is likely to be significantly delayed. It also does not give temporary housing assistance to someone who owns a second or vacation home nearby, or available rental property.⁵

So file your insurance claim and apply to FEMA at the same time. If your insurer pays little or denies the claim, keep the letter: it proves what was not covered. The guide Flood insurance and the NFIP explains a flood claim.

How to apply and the deadlines

According to USA.gov, there are four ways to apply: online at DisasterAssistance.gov, with the FEMA app, by phone at 1-800-621-3362 or in person at a Disaster Recovery Center. To apply you will need a Social Security number, your insurance information, a description of the damage, your annual household income, your contact information and a bank account for direct deposit.⁹

Do not wait. The standard registration period is 60 days after the presidential declaration. FEMA may extend it if the state asks, and afterward it accepts late registrations for 60 more days, but you must explain why you were late.⁴

Your FEMA application, step by step

1. 1. Photograph the damage

   Before cleaning up

   Photos and videos of every room and your damaged belongings.¹

2. 2. File your insurance claim

   As soon as possible

   FEMA does not pay for what your insurance already covers.⁵

3. 3. Register with FEMA

   Within 60 days

   At DisasterAssistance.gov, with the app, at 1-800-621-3362 or at a Recovery Center.⁹

4. 4. Attend the inspection

   When they call

   Ask for official ID; FEMA never charges to inspect.³

5. 5. Read the decision letter

   When it arrives

   Check how much you get and why; keep the date.⁶

6. 6. Appeal if you disagree

   Within 60 days

   In writing and signed, with documents; FEMA answers within 90 days.⁶

If your family has mixed immigration statuses

To receive FEMA financial assistance, you must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien. That last category includes, among others, permanent residents, asylees, refugees, certain people paroled for at least one year and certain victims of battery and trafficking.² The glossary explains what a qualified alienqualified alien"Qualified alien" is a term in a federal law, 8 U.S.C. 1641, used to decide who may apply for or receive certain federal public benefits. The law defines it with a list of categories. They include lawful permanent residents, people granted asylum, refugees, certain people paroled into the country for at least one year, people whose deportation is being withheld, Cuban and Haitian entrants and, in certain cases, people subjected to battery or extreme cruelty. The same law has exceptions and other conditions, so the definition alone does not say whether a person can receive a benefit.See the full definitionClose is.

If the person applying does not meet those requirements, FEMA has a rule for mixed-status families: the parent or legal guardian of a minor child who is a citizen or qualified alien can apply on the child’s behalf, as long as they live in the same household. The parent or guardian must apply as the co-applicant, and the child must have been under 18 when the disaster occurred.²

There is also help for everyone, regardless of citizenship or status: crisis counseling, disaster legal services, disaster case management, disaster food assistance and other in-kind emergency aid such as medical care, shelter, food and water. Voluntary agencies also help regardless of status.²

Example with real numbers

A mixed-status family after a flood

An example in words, not a real case, of how FEMA's rules apply.

They rent an apartment and had to leave

They can ask for help renting other housing

The parents are not qualified aliens

They do not qualify for financial assistance on their own

Their 9-year-old daughter was born in the U.S.

The mother can apply on the girl's behalf, as co-applicant

They all live together

They meet the same-household rule

What they do

Apply within 60 days and consult an accredited representative

The rules come from FEMA and its regulation.²⁷⁴ Use the document checklist to gather your papers.

Run it with your numbersDocument checklist

If FEMA denies you or gives you little

A denial is not always the last word. Many letters ask for a missing document. You can appeal any decision about your eligibility within 60 days of the date FEMA notifies you. The appeal must include a written explanation or verifiable documents. If you send a written explanation, you sign it, or the person you designate does, with a signed statement granting that authority. FEMA or the state must answer you in writing, with its reasons, within 90 days.⁶

If you need help with the appeal, Disaster Legal Services provides free legal help to low-income people in federally declared areas.⁹ The guide Free legal aid explains how to find it.

SBA loans and other help

The Small Business Administration (SBA) lends money to homeowners and renters whose homes were damaged in a disaster, even if they do not own a business. The loan must be for your primary home, cannot duplicate what insurance or other programs pay, and before applying you must register with FEMA.¹⁰ A loan must be repaid, so review your budget before accepting one.

If the disaster has no federal declaration, the Red Cross may provide free shelter and food.⁹ And if you were left without housing, the guide Emergency shelter and rapid rehousing explains other options.

If this is your situation

You rent and had to leave

You can ask for help renting other housing and for other needs.⁷⁸

Your home is your primary residence

FEMA can help repair it for what your insurance does not cover.⁷⁵

Your household has mixed status

A parent can apply on behalf of a minor child who is a citizen or qualified alien, if they live together.²

You need shelter, food or medical care now

That emergency aid is for everyone, regardless of status.²

FEMA denied you

Appeal in writing within 60 days; free disaster legal help is available.⁶⁹

You paid for a hotel or child care

Keep the receipts: they are expenses the assistance can cover.⁷⁸

Watch out for scams after the disaster

According to FEMA, it never charges a fee for an inspection. Its inspectors always wear an official government badge, and you can ask to see it. They do not ask for your bank information. If you receive a FEMA letter you did not request, call its Helpline at 800-621-3362.³ If someone offers to “speed up” your assistance for money, do not pay. And if a contractor knocks on your door offering repairs, first read Contractor and home repair scams.

Costly mistakes

• Mistake: Waiting for insurance to pay before registering with FEMA.

  Instead: Do both at once; FEMA's deadline is 60 days from the declaration.⁴

• Mistake: Cleaning up before taking photos.

  Instead: Document all the damage first.¹

• Mistake: Not appealing a denial.

  Instead: You have 60 days to appeal in writing, with documents.⁶

• Mistake: Believing nobody in your home can apply because of your status.

  Instead: A parent can apply on behalf of a minor child who is a citizen or qualified alien, and there is help for everyone.²²

• Mistake: Paying someone who says they are from FEMA.

  Instead: FEMA never charges to inspect; ask for ID.³

• Mistake: Throwing away hotel or moving receipts.

  Instead: Keep them to ask for reimbursement and other needs.⁷⁸

What to do this week

1. Confirm your county has a presidential declaration and register with FEMA.⁹
2. Photograph the damage and file your insurance claim.⁵
3. Gather your papers with the document checklist and keep every receipt.⁸
4. If your household has mixed status, consult an accredited representative before applying.²
5. Write down the date of each FEMA letter: you have 60 days to appeal.⁶
6. Organize your expenses with the family budget before accepting an SBA loan.¹⁰