Help After a Disaster Applicant’s Guide to the Individuals & Households Program FEMA 545 / July 2008     www.fema.gov                                  TheFederalEmergencyManagementAgency(FEMA)undertheauthorityofsection408 oftheRobertT.StaffordDisasterReliefandEmergencyAssistanceAct,42U.S.C.§5174, andTitle44oftheCodeFederalRegulations(CFR)mayprovidefinancialassistance and,ifnecessary,directservicestoeligibleindividualsandhouseholdswho,asadirect resultofamajordisaster,havenecessaryexpensesandseriousneedsandareunableto meetsuchexpensesorneedsthroughothermeans.    DearApplicant:   AspartofourongoingeffortstoclearlycommunicateFEMA’sIndividuals andHouseholdsProgram(IHP)requirements,documentation,and processes,weareprovidingyouthisbooklet.Thisbookletcontainsuseful programinformationaboutIHP.Fordisaster‐specificquestions,itis alwaysbesttovisitourwebsiteatwww.fema.gov orcontacttheFEMA Helplineat1‐800‐621‐FEMA(TTY1‐800‐462‐7585forthehearing impaired).  InresponsetothePostKatrinaEmergencyManagementReformActof 2006,FEMAisintheprocessofupdatingourpoliciesandprogramsto includenewauthoritiesdelegatedtoFEMAbyCongress.Asthenew policiesandproceduresareputintoplace,updatedversionsofthis applicantguidewillbemadeavailabletothepubliconFEMA’swebsite,in ourDisasterRecoveryCenters,andbymailforallapplicantsapplyingby phoneoronline.  FEMA’sprogramsaredesignedtohelpmeetessentialneedsandassist individualsandtheirhouseholdsintakingthefirststepstowardrecovery. FEMAprogramsarenotintendedtoreturnallhomesorbelongingstotheir pre‐disastercondition.  Welookforwardtopartneringwithyouintherecoveryprocessasyouand yourcommunityrebuildafteradisaster.  WithRegards,  FEMA Disaster Assistance Directorate TABLEOFCONTENTS OverviewoftheIndividualsandHouseholdsProgram 1 TypesofAssistance 1 YourCivilRightsandDisasterAssistance 2 DisasterAssistanceProcess 2 ProgramEligibility 4 TypesofEligibleLosses 5 ImportantInformationAboutDisasterHelp 6 IfYouAreEligibleforHelp 7 InformationAboutInsuranceandDisasterHelp 8 IWanttoHaveMyCaseReviewedAgain(Appeal) 9 RebuildingandRepairing‐MitigationMeasures 11 InformationAboutAdditionalDisasterAssistanceProgramInformation .12 FrequentlyAskedQuestionsandAnswers 15 DescriptionofIneligibleReasons 20 SampleFEMAForm90‐69BDeclarationandRelease 27 FEMAFraudHotline 29 OverviewoftheIndividualsandHouseholds Program(IHP) PURPOSE:Whendisasterstakeplace,theIndividualsandHouseholdsProgram(IHP) providesmoneyandservicestopeopleinthedisasterareawhenlossesarenotcovered byinsuranceandpropertyhasbeendamagedordestroyed. ThisprogramguideprovidesinformationthatwillhelpyouunderstandIHPand explainshowtoapply.Youmustmeetspecificeligibilityc onditionstoqualifyforhelp. IHPisdesignedtohelpyouwithcriticalexpensesthatcannotbecoveredinotherways. LIMITATIONS:IHPwillnotcoverallofyourlossesfromdamagetoyourpro perty (home,personalproperty,householdgoods)thatresultedfromthedisaster. IHPisnotintendedtorestoreyourdamagedpropertytoitsconditionbeforethe disaster.Insomecases,IHPmayonlyprovideenoughmoney,uptotheprogramlimits, foryoutoreturnanitemtoservice. IHPdoesnotcoverbusiness‐relatedlossesthatresultedfromthedisaster. Bylaw,IHPcannotprovidemoneytoyouforlossesthatarecoveredbyyourinsurance. WhilesomemoneyisavailablethroughIHP,mostdisasteraidfromtheFederal governmentisintheformofloansfromtheSmallBusinessAdministration(SBA)that mustberepaid.ApplicantstoIHPmayberequiredtoseekhelpfromSBAfirst,before beingconsideredforcertaintypesofIHPhelp.YoudonothavetosubmitanSBAloan applicationtobeconsideredforFEMArentalassistance. TypesofAssistance ThefollowinglistshowsthetypesofassistancethatareavailablethroughIHPand whateachprovides. TemporaryHousing(aplacetoliveforalimitedperiodoftime):Moneyisavailable torentadifferentplacetolive,oragovernmentprovidedhousingunitwhenrental propertiesarenotavailable. Repair:Moneyisavailabletohomeownerstorepairdamagefromthedisasterthatis notcoveredbyinsurance.Thegoalistomakethedamagedhomesafe,sanitary,and functional. FEMA Disaster Helpline: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) Hearing/Speech Impaired ONLY: Call 1-800-462-7585 1 Replacement:Moneyisavailabletohomeownerstoreplacetheirhomedestroyed inthedisasterthatisnotcoveredbyinsurance.Thegoalistohelpthehomeowner withthecostofreplacingtheirdestroyedhome. Permanent/SemiPermanentHousingConstruction:Directassistanceormoneyfor theconstructionofahome.Thistypeofhelpoccursonlyininsularareasorremote locationsspecifiedbyFEMA,wherenoothertypeofhousingassistanceispossible. OtherNeeds:Moneyisavailablefornecessaryexpensesandseriousneedscaused bythedisaster.Thisincludesmedical,dental,funeral,personalproperty, transportation,movingandstorage,andotherexpensesthatareauthorizedbylaw. YourCivilRightsandDisasterAssistance TheRobertT.StaffordDisasterReliefandEmergencyAssistanceAct(StaffordAct)isthe lawthatauthorizesFederalassistancewhenthePresidentdeclaresaStatetobea disasterarea.Section308oftheStaffordActprotectsindividualsfromdiscriminationon thebasisoftheirrace,color,religion,nationality,sex,age,oreconomicstatusinall disasterassistanceprograms.Section309oftheStaffordActappliesthesenon‐ discriminationprovisionstoallprivaterelieforganizationsparticipatingintheresponse andrecoveryeffort. In addition, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 also protects individuals from discrimination on the basis of their race, color, or national origin in programs that receive Federal financial assistance.Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a Federal law that protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination in all programs receiving funds from the Federal government or operated by the Federal government.Section 508 of that law prohibits discrimin ation against persons with disabilitiesinregardtoFederallyoperatedtechnologysystems. DisasterAssistanceProcess TobeusedbypeopleinPresidentiallydeclareddisasterareas: 1. Applyonlinebyvisitingwww.fema.gov orbyphonebycalling1‐800‐621‐FEMA (3362)(hearing/speechimpairedONLY—call1 ‐800‐462‐7585).Inadditiontohavinga penandpaper,pleasehavethefollowinginformationready: • YourSocialSecurityNumber. • Adescriptionofyourlossesthatwerecausedbythedisaster. • Insuranceinformation. FEMA Disaster Helpline: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) Hearing/Speech Impaired ONLY: Call 1-800-462-7585 2 • Directionstoyourdamagedproperty. • Atelephonenumberwhereyoucanbecontacted. Whenyouapplyoverthephone,theinformationyouprovideisputintothecomputer andanapplicationisgenerated.Whenyourapplicationiscomplete,youwillbe providedaFEMAapplicationnumber. IfyouhavequestionsAFTERyouhaveappliedforassistanceoriftheinformationyou providedhaschanged,calltheFEMAHelplineat1‐800‐621‐FEMA(3362) (hearing/speechimpairedONLY—call1‐800‐462‐7585).Whenyoucall,haveyour applicationnumberready.Thisnumberwillbegiventoyouwhenyouapplyandwill beonallmailsenttoyoufromIHP. 2.WhenwillIbecontactedbyaninspector?Ifyouareuninsuredorlackthe appropriateinsurancecoverage,aninspectorwillcalltoscheduleanappointmentto visityourproperty.Insomecases,youmaybecontactedthesamedayyou apply.However,inmostcasestheinspectorwillcallwithinthenextseveraldays,but usuallynolaterthan10days. Theinspectorwillassessdisaster‐relateddamageforyourrealandpersonal property.Thereisnofeefortheinspection.Inspectorsarecontractors,notFEMA employees,butyourinspectorwillhavepictureidentification.Youorsomeone18years ofagethatlivedinthehouseholdpriortothedisastermustbepresentforyour scheduledappointment. Theinspectorwillneedtoseeyouridentificationandyoumustprovideproofof ownership(forhomeowners)andoccupancytoshowtheinspector. TheinspectorwillaskyoutosignaformauthorizingFEMAtoverifythatthe informationyouhavegiveniscorrect.Inspectorsfileyourreportbutdonotdetermine youreligibility. 3. Withinabout10daysoftheinspector’svisit,youwillreceivealetterfrom IHP informingyouofthedecisiononyourrequestforhelp. • Ifyouareeligibleforhelp,theletterwillbefollowedbyaU.S. Treasury/Statecheckortherewillbeatransferofcashtoyourbankaccount. Theletterwillexplainwhatthemoneycanbeusedtopayfor.Youshould usethemoneygiventoyouasexplainedintheletter. • Ifyouarenoteligibleforhelp,theletterwillgivethereasonforthe decision.Youwillbeinformedofyourappealrightsintheletter. www.fema.gov 3 • IfyouwerereferredtotheSmallBusinessAdministration(SBA)forhelp fromtheSBADisasterAssistanceProgram,youwillreceiveanSBA application. ProgramEligibility ToreceivemoneyorhelpforHousingNeedsthataretheresultofadisaster,allofthe followingmustbetrue: • Youhavefiledforinsurancebenefitsandthedamagetoyourpropertyisnot coveredbyyourinsurance.YoumaybeeligibleforhelpfromIHPtorepair damagetoyourproperty. • YouorsomeonewholiveswithyouisacitizenoftheUnitedStates,anon‐ citizennational,oraqualifiedalien. • Yourhomeisinanareathathasbeendeclaredadisasterareabythe President. • Thehomeinthedisasterareaiswhereyouusuallylivethemajorityofthe year. • Youarenotabletoliveinyourhomenow,youcannotgettoyourhomedue tothedisaster,oryourhomerequiresrepairsbec a useofdamagefromthe disaster. ToreceivemoneyforNeedsOtherthanHousing thataretheresultofadisaster,allof thefollowingmustbetrue: • Youhavelossesinanareathathasbeendeclaredadisasterareabythe President. • Youhavefiledforinsurancebenefitsandthedamagetoyourpersonal propertyisnotcoveredbyyourinsurance.Youmaybeeligibleforhelpfrom IHPtorepairdamagetoyourproperty. • YouorsomeonewholiveswithyouisacitizenoftheUnitedStates,anon‐ citizennational,oraqualifiedalien. • Youhavenecessaryexpensesorseriousneedsbecauseofthedisaster. • Youhaveacceptedassistancefromallothersourcesforwhichyouare eligible,suchasinsuranceproceedsorSBAloans. Youmaynotbe eligibleformoneyorhelpfromIHPif: FEMA Disaster Helpline: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) Hearing/Speech Impaired ONLY: Call 1-800-462-7585 4 • Youhaveother,adequaterent‐freehousingthatyoucanuse(forexample, rentalpropertythatisnotoccupied). • Yourhomethatwasdamagedisyoursecondaryorvacationresidence. • Yourexpensesresultedonlyfromleavingyourhomeasaprecautionand youwereabletoreturntoyourhomeimmediatelyaftertheincident. • Youhaverefusedassistancefromyourinsuranceprovider(s). • Youronlylossesarebusinesslosses(includingfarmbusinessotherthanthe farmhouseandself‐employment)oritemsnotcoveredbythisprogram. • Thedamagedhomewhereyouliveislocatedinadesignatedfloodhazard areaandyourcommunityisnotparticipatingintheNationalFlood InsuranceProgram.Inthiscase,theflooddamagetoyourhomewouldnot becovered,butyoumayqualifyforrentalassistanceoritemsnotcoveredby floodinsurance,suchaswaterwells,septicsystems,medical,dental,or funeralexpenses. TypesofEligibleLosses IHPonlycoversrepairsorreplacementofitemsthataredamagedasadirectresultof thedisasterthatarenotcoveredbyinsurance.Repairsorrebuildingmaynotimprove yourho meaboveitspre ‐disaster conditionunlesssuchimprovem entsarerequiredby currentbuilding codes. HousingNeeds:Moneytorepairyourhomeislimitedtomakingyourhomesafeand sanitarysoyoucanlivethere.IHPwillnotpaytoreturnyourhometoitscondition beforethedisaster.Youmayuseyourmoneyprovidedforhousingneedstorepair: • Structuralpartsofyourhome(foundation,outsidewalls,androof). • Windows,doors,floors,walls,ceilings,andcabinetry. • Septicorsewagesystem. • Wellorotherwatersystem. • Heating,ventilating,andairconditioningsystem. • Utilities(electrical,plumbing,andgassystems). • Entranceandexitwaysfromyourhome,includingprivatelyowned accessroads. www.fema.gov 5 • Blocking,leveling,andanchoringofamobilehomeandreconnectingor resettingitssewer,water,electricalandfuellines,andtanks. OtherthanHousingNeeds:Moneytorepairdamagedpersonalpropertyortopayfor disaster‐relatednecessaryexpensesandseriousneedsislimitedtoitemsorservicesthat helppreventorovercomeadisaster‐relatedhardship,injuryoradversecondition.IHP willnotpaytoreturnorreplaceyourpersonalpropertytoits conditionbeforethe disaster.Youmayuseyourmoneyprovidedforotherthanhousingneedstorepairor payfor: • Disaster‐relatedmedicalanddentalcosts. • Disaster‐relatedfuneralandburialcost. • Clothing;householditems(roomfurnishings,appliances);tools (specializedorprotectiveclothingandequipment)requiredforyourjob;  necessaryeducationalmaterials(computers,schoolbooks,andsupplies). • Fuelsforprimaryheatsource(heatingoil,gas,firewood). • Disaster‐specifiedclean‐upitems(wet/dryvacuum,airpurifier,and dehumidifier). • Avehicledamagedbythedisaster. • Movingandstorageexpensesrelatedtothedisaster(movingandstoring propertytoavoidadditionaldisasterdamagewhiledisaster‐related repairsarebeingmadetothehome). • OthernecessaryexpensesorseriousneedsasdeterminedbyFEMA. ImportantInformationAboutDisasterHelp MoneyreceivedfromIHPforHousingandOtherthanHousingNeedsmustbeusedfor eligibleexpensesonly,asidentifiedbyFEMA: • IfyoudonotusethemoneyasexplainedbyFEMA,youmaynotbe eligibleforanyadditionalhelpandmayhavetogivethemoneyback. • Isusuallylimitedtoupto18monthsfromthedatethePresidentdeclares thedisaster. • Doesnothavetoberepaid. • Istax‐free. FEMA Disaster Helpline: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) Hearing/Speech Impaired ONLY: Call 1-800-462-7585 6 [...]... applicant’s home to be unsafe to live in.  This determination was based solely on the damages to the home that are related to the disaster.   We explained that although the disaster may have caused some minor damage, it was reasonable to expect the applicant  or their landlord to make these repairs.  We described the documents that could be  submitted to show that the damage to the home was caused by the disaster and has  caused unsafe or unlivable conditions. We have reviewed the appeal and determined ... of Federal help is a low‐interest disaster loan from the SBA. By making affordable loans,  the SBA disaster loan program helps disaster victims pay for their repairs while keeping  costs to the taxpayer reasonable.  How can I get help filling out the application for an SBA disaster loan?  SBA has loan  officers in SBA local disaster offices to provide face to face service to disaster victims.   You may visit SBA at any of these locations, and without an appointment. An SBA ... planned. With an approved SBA loan, you will know that the funds to make full repairs  are available. While no one wants additional debt, a low interest loan with affordable  payments is a better alternative than not making complete disaster repairs.  What happens if I cannot afford a loan to repair damaged property?  If SBA determines  you cannot afford a loan, SBA will automatically refer you back to FEMA for additional  help.   FEMA may be able to provide money for other than housing needs; however, this ... household member over the age of 18) must meet with the inspector to assess the disaster related damages to your home, and that our records showed that the applicant  did not keep appointments with the FEMA inspector.  The applicant contacted the FEMA Helpline and another inspector was assigned to assess the home.  Once again the applicant did not keep the appointment.  As a result, we will not be able to assist the ... disability, or death of an immediate family member; 2). Personal or business travel that  kept the applicant out of the area for the full appeal period. If the applicant wants FEMA  to consider an appeal, the applicant may send a letter of explanation and all related  documents that clearly show why the applicant was unable to complete an appeal.    A INO ‐ Appeal – Ineligible – Insurance Settlement Exceeds FEMA Eligible Damage:   Unlike private insurance, FEMA housing repair program is limited only to essential ... our records showed that at the time of the disaster the applicant was living at the same  address as someone who already applied for FEMA housing assistance.  FEMA  FEMA Disaster Helpline: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) Hearing/Speech Impaired ONLY: Call 1-800-462-7585 22 reviewed the appeal and additional documents provided and were still not able to verify  that the applicant lived at a different address than the person who applied.  As a result, ... contact the applicant to schedule an appointment.  The applicant contacted the FEMA  www.fema.gov 23 Helpline and another inspector was assigned to assess the home.  After repeated  attempts, that inspector has been unable to reach the applicant to schedule an  inspection.  As a result, we will not be able to assist the applicant further.     A INFI ‐ Appeal – Ineligible – Missing Flood Insurance Settlement or Denial Letter:   In a previous letter, we explained that the applicant was not eligible for FEMA home ... Moving and Storage:  Money to address the costs of moving and storing personal  property from the disaster damage dwelling to avoid additional disaster related  damage.  www.fema.gov 7 Other:  Money to address the cost of other specific disaster related needs approved for  the disaster.   Permanent/Semi Permanent Housing:  Due to a lack of rental resources, the infeasibility  of home repair and replacement housing assistance and the lack of available building ... A IOVR ‐ Appeal ‐ Ineligible – Over Program Maximum:  In a previous letter, we  explained that the applicant was not eligible for further assistance from FEMA because  the maximum amount of FEMA financial assistance had already been provided for  housing and/or other disaster needs.  We have reviewed the appeal and additional  documents provided.  Our records still show that the applicant has reached the FEMA  maximum financial assistance limit.  Therefore, we are unable to provide the applicant ... Emergency Assistance: Emergency food, clothing, shelter, and medical assistance may  be provided to individuals and families having such needs as a result of the disaster.    The American Red Cross (ARC), the Salvation Army, church groups, and other  voluntary organizations can provide assistance.    Financial Counseling: Provides financial and economic guidance and assistance to individuals and small businesses affected by disasters.  Hope Coalition America offers  . Disaster Awards:FederalEmergencyManagementAgency(FEMA) WhatisFEMA?FEMAis the FederalEmergencyManagementAgency,whichis responsibleforprovidingandcoordinatingemergencyservicesinPresidentially declared disaster areas.FEMAworksas a partnerwithotherpartsof the Federal governmentandwithStateandlocalgovernmentsandvoluntaryorganizations. Whattypesof disaster assistanceprogramsareavailablein a disaster? Therearetwo primaryFederalprogramsthatoffer disaster assistance: •. Disaster specifiedclean‐upitems(wet/dryvacuum,airpurifier,and dehumidifier). • A vehicledamagedby the disaster.  • Movingandstorageexpensesrelated to the disaster (movingandstoring property to avoidadditional disaster damagewhile disaster related repairsarebeingmade to the home). •