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Financial Assistance Within Designated Natural Disaster Areas | USAGov
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Financial Assistance Within Designated Natural Disaster Areas
Following an event like an earthquake, flood, or tornado, the president may declare an area a natural disaster and allow individual assistance for those affected. Learn how you can qualify for disaster help with food, bills, unemployment, tax relief, and more.
The Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is also known as food stamps for disaster situations. D-SNAP provides one month’s worth of benefits on a debit-type card that you can use at most grocery stores.
Once your state sets up a D-SNAP program, you’ll have about a week to apply.
If you qualify, you’ll receive benefits within three days.
The Small Business Administration provides low-interest loans. These loans can help homeowners and small businesses recover from declared disasters. Find out if you're eligible and apply online.
If you’ve lost your job as a direct result of a major disaster, you may be eligible for disaster unemployment assistance. If you own your own business, you may be eligible too.
You’re not eligible if you qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits.
Eligibility, Benefits, and Filing a Claim for Disaster Unemployment
After you apply for disaster relief from FEMA, you'll go through a series of steps to determine your eligibility. Learn how the process works and how to prepare.
What to Expect After You Apply for FEMA Aid
After you've applied for FEMA aid, you may be asked by the government to also apply for a low-interest, long term SBA Disaster Loan. You don't have to be a small business owner to qualify. Completing the SBA loan application is an important step in finding out what aid may be available to you.
As a homeowner you may borrow up to $200,000 to repair or replace your primary residence and up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property. You are not required to accept the loan to receive FEMA assistance, but it may enable you to be considered for different types of assistance.
After You Apply
An inspector will contact you to schedule a visit.
Be ready to:
Keep your scheduled appointment. Appointments take 30-40 minutes, and you must be present.
Contact your insurance agent if you have insurance
Prove your identity
Show these documents:
Photo ID: driver's license or passport
Proof of occupancy: lease or utility bill
Proof of ownership: deed, title, mortgage payment book, or tax receipts
During the Inspector's Visit
Inspectors will:
Wear official FEMA ID badges
Confirm your disaster registration number
Review structural and personal property damage
Ask you to sign official documentation
Verify ownership and occupancy
Inspectors won't:
Determine eligibility
Charge any money
Ask for credit card information
Take the place of an insurance inspection
After the Inspector's Visit
You will be sent a decision letter.
If you are approved for aid:
You'll receive a check or an electronic funds transfer.
You'll get a follow-up letter explaining how the funds can be used.
If you have questions about the letter, you can visit a Disaster Recovery Center in your area or call 800-621-3362 (711/Video Relay Service). For TTY, call 800-462-7585.
Mortgages for Homeowners Rebuilding After a Disaster
If you lost your home due to a major disaster, you may qualify for an insured mortgage. You can use the mortgage to rebuild your home or to buy another one. It must be a single family home and your main residence.
How does disaster mortgage insurance work?
The mortgage insurance for disaster victims program helps homeowners recover by making it easier to get a mortgage. The program is also known as Section 203(h). It’s offered by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).
You don't have to make a down payment. You do have to pay closing costs and prepaid expenses. Or, the seller can pay them.
FHA mortgage insurance is not free. You must pay a premium upfront and regular monthly premiums with your mortgage payment.
The government sets limits on the amount that may be insured and on the dollar value of the mortgage itself. See the current FHA mortgage limits. These figures vary by location depending on the cost of living and other factors.
Find More Information on the No Down Payment Program
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers special tax help to individuals and businesses hurt by a major disaster or emergency.
Get Your Tax Refund Faster After a Disaster
In a federally-declared disaster area, you can get a faster refund by filing an amended return. You will need to claim the disaster-related losses on your tax return for the previous year.
Several U.S. government programs help people after a disaster or emergency. If you want to file a complaint about a specific program, contact the agency that manages it.
File a Complaint About FEMA Operations and Employees
Contact FEMA if you have a complaint about its work or employees during or after a disaster.
Report Disaster Relief Fraud
Scammers and identity thieves often target people affected by a disaster. Most scams involve some aspect of applying for disaster assistance and can include:
Fraud, waste, abuse, or allegations of mismanagement involving disaster relief operations
Fraud committed by an individual or entity outside the U.S.
