Receiving A Denial Letter May Not Be The Last Word
Release Date: May 5, 2009
Release Number: 1834-010
» More Information on Arkansas Severe Storms and Tornadoes
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Some Arkansans who have applied for disaster assistance may have received a letter saying their application is denied: Don't be alarmed. Some denial letters are sent to applicants who simply need to supply additional information, so the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can continue to process their applications.
"A denial letter doesn't necessarily mean that an applicant is not eligible for assistance," said Federal Coordinating Officer Mike Moore of FEMA. "It might mean that FEMA does not have all the information, such as insurance information, needed to make a decision."
There are a number of reasons why those who had damages and losses from the severe storms and tornadoes of April 9 receive denial letters and still may be eligible for assistance.
The applicant may need to:
- Return insurance information;
- Provide information to prove occupancy or ownership of the damaged property; or
- Complete all the paperwork.
By law, FEMA and the state cannot duplicate what insurance covers, so FEMA needs to know what is covered by insurance before making a decision about possible assistance. It's important that applicants file claims with their insurance companies as soon as possible. Applicants have up to 12 months from the date they registered with FEMA to submit insurance information for review and possible approval of disaster assistance.
An applicant also has the right to appeal a denial in writing within 60 days from the date of the decision of the letter. Guidelines for appeals can be found in the Applicant's Handbook that each applicant receives. Applicants can also get guidance on this issue at any Disaster Recovery Center or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Lines are open daily from 8 a.m. to midnight.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terrorism.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 05-May-2009 15:43:13