Hurricane Katrina/Rita Student Recoupment Modification
Release Date: May 8, 2007
Release Number: FNF-07-023
FEMA has reviewed and modified its guidance for recoupment of funds from students who resided in university or college-owned dormitories affected by Hurricanes Katrina or Rita. As a result, students are eligible for assistance if they can demonstrate that they were housed in dormitories for the major portion of the school year. This new policy applies only to students impacted by Hurricanes Katrina or Rita.
Students residing in a university or college-owned dormitory will be eligible for, and are not required to repay, Expedited Assistance, Emergency Transitional Housing assistance and eligible personal property assistance if they provide written documentation to FEMA from a university or college that they were housed at that institution for at least six months of the twelve months preceding the date of the disaster declaration.
Dependent student status also is a factor in determining eligibility for Housing Assistance. A student may become eligible by providing evidence that he or she meets the definition of an “independent” student. To be considered as an independent student, the student must provide evidence in the form of a pre-disaster “Student Aid Report” or any other official documentation from the U.S. Department of Education showing their independent status. Once a student proves they are an independent student, the recoupment for housing assistance (ie, expedited and transitional housing assistance) is canceled.
Personal property assistance for students residing in a university or college-owned unit was initially disbursed using expedited methods designed for single or multi-family homes. A review of such assistance will be limited to certain items not furnished by the school but found in a typical dormitory room.
Students residing in a university or college-owned dormitory will only be eligible for personal property assistance for the following items: electric fan, computer, clothing, television, microwave, school books, telephone, radio, carbon monoxide detector, and bathroom and kitchen items. Any additional FEMA personal property assistance must be returned.
FEMA has also established a special group of caseworkers designed to help students with their specific questions and what steps they can take to appeal the process. Those applicants who identify themselves as students when they call the FEMA Helpline (800) 621-FEMA (3362) will be directed to this special group of caseworkers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many students has FEMA identified for recoupment from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita?
That’s a really hard question to answer because identifying yourself as a student is not a requirement for the disaster assistance application process. Therefore, it’s impossible to distinguish which applicants in our database are students unless they offer us that specific information by calling the helpline or sending a letter in writing for our records.
The only number of students we have readily available now is the number of students who’ve called or written us and identified themselves as students. As of April 25, 2007, we have sent approximately 900 letters to applicants identifying themselves as students. The amount identified for recoupment for this specific group represents just over $3 million.
How is FEMA reaching out to these students to make them aware of the new guidelines?
We are in the process of doing something we’ve never done in past disasters. We are building a database of all US Department of Education recognized universities and colleges with dormitories in the declared disaster areas. Then we are comparing those physical addresses of dormitories to those damaged addresses claimed by applicants in our system. When we determine a match, we will rescind or reduce the amount of debt a student owes based on the new guidelines. We will notify the students by mail, with the address we have on record, if their balance changes as a result of this new guidance.
Why did FEMA decide to modify its existing guidance on recoupment to specifically help students?
In evaluating the types of claims students were submitting, it came to our attention that many students were receiving the same amount of benefits as those who lived in a personally furnished one bedroom apartment due to the geo-spatial technology used in lieu of inspections in certain areas. Because the schools’ insurance typically covers most of the furnishings of a basic dormitory room, we are not allowed to duplicate benefits provided by insurance. However, we realize students have some personal belongings which were not insured by the school. This new guidance makes some of those previously ineligible items now eligible for disaster assistance.
How do students prove they had the personal property items that are eligible for federal assistance? You state that if the school provides written documentation showing the student lived there for 6 of the previous 12 months, then they don’t have to pay back the housing assistance. What do they have to do so they don’t have to pay back all of the personal property assistance?
The student does not need to provide anything to FEMA. The dollar amount of the personal property award will automatically be adjusted to include all of the eligible items. The student will then repay the difference.
How can a student find out if this new guidance applies to his/her specific situation?
FEMA has also established a special group of caseworkers designed to help students with their specific questions and what steps they can take to appeal the process. Those applicants who identify themselves as students when they call the FEMA Helpline (800) 621-FEMA (3362) will be directed to this special group of caseworkers.
Last Modified: Tuesday, 08-May-2007 15:26:19