Question:
| What happens after I apply for disaster assistance? |
Answer:
| FEMA will mail you a copy of your application and a copy of “Help After a Disaster: Applicant’s Guide to the Individuals and Households Program” that will answer many of your questions. - If your home or its contents are damaged and you do not have insurance an inspector should contact you within 10 days after you apply to schedule a time to meet you at your damaged home. - If your home or its contents were damaged and you have insurance you need to work through your insurance claim first and provide FEMA with a decision letter (settlement or denial) from your insurance company before FEMA issues an inspection. ***There is an exception for damages caused by flooding; if you have flood insurance, FEMA will issue an inspection before receiving a copy of your flood insurance decision letter to evaluate your eligibility for temporary living expenses because temporary living expenses are not covered by flood insurance. - About 10 days after the inspection FEMA will decide if you qualify for assistance. If you qualify for a grant, FEMA will send you a check by mail or deposit it in your bank account. FEMA will also send you a letter describing how you are to use the money (for example: repairs to your home or to rent another house while you make repairs). - If FEMA decides that you do not qualify for a grant, FEMA will send you a letter explaining why you were turned down and give you a chance to appeal the decision. Appeals must be in writing and mailed within 60 days of FEMA’s decision. - If you get a SBA Disaster Loan application in the mail, you must complete and return the application to be considered for a loan as well as certain types of grant assistance. SBA representatives are available at Disaster Recovery Centers to help you with the application. If the SBA finds that you cannot afford a loan, they will automatically refer you to FEMA’s Individual and Household grant program for help. - If the SBA approves you for a loan, they will contact you. - If the SBA finds that you cannot afford a loan, FEMA will contact you. |
Last Updated: 2007-01-04 14:59:57.0
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