Understanding the FEMA Eligibility Letter

RIDGELAND, Miss. – All applicants receive letters from FEMA explaining the status of their applications and whether or not they are eligible for assistance from FEMA. Some may receive text messages about their application.

Take the time to read the document thoroughly. Sometimes people do not immediately qualify for financial help and the reason may be fixed simply. The following are some common reasons for not qualifying:

• The applicant did not sign the required documents;

• Proof of ownership or occupancy was not supplied;

• No proof the damaged property was the primary residence at the time of the disaster.

• Someone else in the household may have applied and received assistance.

• No paperwork showing the damaged property was the primary residence at the time of the disaster.

If questions arise, call the FEMA helpline (voice, 711 or relay service) at 800-621-3362. (TTY users should call 800-462-7585.) The toll-free lines are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. You also can take the letter to a visit a disaster recovery center and talk with staff individually. To locate the nearest center, visit FEMA.gov/DRC or call the FEMA helpline.

FEMA can never duplicate insurance benefits or other government sources, but if insurance is not enough to cover all the eligible damage, FEMA’s initial determination of ineligibility may change.

Every applicant has the right to file an appeal. The original letter provides an explanation of what steps need to be taken to appeal FEMA’s decision. Bring the letter to a disaster recovery center for help with the appeals process or call the FEMA helpline. Appeals must be filed in writing within 60 days of the date of the determination letter. The letter must explain why the initial decision was wrong and provide any new or additional information.

Appeals can be mailed to:

FEMA – Individuals & Households Program

National Processing Service Center

P.O. Box 10055

Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055

For more information on Mississippi’s disaster recover, visit FEMA.gov/Disaster/4268 and MSEMA.org.

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). If you are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability loss and use a TTY, call 800-462-7585 directly; if you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 800-621-3362.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is the federal government’s primary source of money to help business of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners and renters rebuild and recover after a disaster. SBA low interest disaster loans repair and replace property losses not fully compensated by insurance and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.