Legal Help for Disaster Victims FEMA Assistance€¦ · If you cannot afford to pay the money back,...
Transcript of Legal Help for Disaster Victims FEMA Assistance€¦ · If you cannot afford to pay the money back,...
LegalHelpforDisasterVictims
TranscendTranslations FEMAAssistance PlainEnglishwww.transcend.net
FEMAAssistanceWhatcanFEMAhelpmewith?FEMA’sIndividualsandHouseholdsProgram(IHP)providestwokindsofaid:
1. HousingNeedsAssistance(HNA)can§ payfortemporaryhousing,or§ payyoubackforhotel/motelexpenses,repairs
toyourhome,orhousingconstruction
2. OtherNeedsAssistance(ONA)canpayfordisaster-relatedexpensesanddamages,suchas:§ childcare,medical/dental,moving/storagecosts§ heatingoilorgasforbasicheatingorcooling§ householditems,likebasicfurniture,
appliances,clothes§ neededclean-upitems,likevacuums,
dehumidifiers,acarforneededtransportation,andothers
Whataretherequirements?ToqualifyforFEMAIHPassistance,youmust:§ be(orlivewith)aU.S.citizen,U.S.national,or
greencardholder;§ beabletoverifyyouridentitywithavalidSocial
SecurityNumber;and§ havenecessaryexpensesandseriousneedsdirectly
causedbyadeclareddisasterthatyourinsuranceorotherdisasteraidwillnotcover.
ToqualifyforsomeformsofHNAorONA,youmustalsoprovethatyouownedandlivedinthedisaster-damagedhome.MakesureyouareeligiblebeforeyouapplyforFEMAassistance!Ifyou’renotsure,speakwithaFEMArepresentativeoranadvocatebeforeyouapply.
HowdoIapplyforFEMAassistance?Call1-800-621-3362orvisitfema.gov/apply-assistance.YoucanalsolookforaDisasterRecoveryCenterhere:asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm.
WhatshouldIdoifIapplyandamdenied?Youcanappealinwriting.Youmustdothiswithin60daysofthedateonyourdenialletter.§ Makesureyouunderstandwhyyouare
beingdenied.ThenyoushouldexplainwhyFEMA’sdecisionisnotcorrectandyouareactuallyeligible.
§ Attachasmuchdocumentationasyoucantosupportyourclaim.
§ Labelallpageswithyourname,thedisasternumber,yourFEMAapplicationnumber,yourpre-andpost-disasteraddresses,yourtelephonenumber,andyourdateandplaceofbirth.
IreceivedFEMAassistance.ButnowtheysayImustpayitback.CanFEMAdothat?Yes.That’scalleda“recoupment.”Youcanchooseto: § Paybackthefullamount(within30daystoavoid
extracharges);OR§ AskFEMAforapaymentplanordebtreduction.
Ifyoucannotaffordtopaythemoneyback,callFEMAwithin90days:1-800-816-1122.Theywillsendyouapacketaskingformoreinformationaboutyourfinancialsituation.Youwillhave30daystofillitout;OR
§ Sendanappealwithin60daysifyouthinkyouwereeligible.
Youcanstillappealevenifyou’vepaidoraskedforapaymentplanordebtreduction.Ifyouwintheappeal,you’llgetbackanymoneyyoupaid.DonotignoreFEMA’sletter.After120days,FEMAmaysendyourcasetotheU.S.DepartmentoftheTreasuryforcollections.
Contactusforlegalhelpwithstorm-relatedproblems:
§ Call§ Orvisit:
Thisflyergivesyoulegalinformation,notlegaladvice.Toknowhowthelawappliestoyou,talktoalawyer.