Link:  

Federal Aid Programs for State of Kansas Disaster Recovery

FEMA Disaster Aid Will Not Affect Social Security or Taxes 

Release Date: May 3, 2012
Release Number: 4059-061

» More Information on West Virginia Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, And Landslides
» More Information on West Virginia Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, And Landslides

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — West Virginians who receive disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency after the recent tornadoes and flooding will not pay additional income taxes, see any reduction in their Social Security checks or any other federal benefits.

Disaster assistance for temporary housing, home repair, repair or replacement of personal property or for other needs does not count as income, FEMA officials said. Disaster relief payments from the government or donations from charitable organizations will not affect Social Security payments or Medicare benefits.

Eligibility for assistance is not dependent on income. The determination on the amount of disaster assistance an eligible applicant receives is based on the amount of loss and damages incurred as a direct result of the recent storms and flooding and the amount of their insurance settlement, if any.

Those who have experienced damage from the storms may be eligible for FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program. This may cover expenses for temporary housing, home repairs, replacement of damaged personal property and other disaster-related needs, such as medical, dental or transportation costs not covered by insurance or other programs.

The only way to know if you are eligible for disaster assistance is to register with FEMA. By phone, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Lines are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week until further notice. People with hearing disabilities can use the TTY number, 800-462-7585. Applicants also can register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or with any web-enabled mobile device or smartphone at m.fema.gov. Follow the link to “Apply for Federal Assistance.”

Applicants may visit the Disaster Recovery Center after they register with FEMA. The only West Virginia Disaster Recovery Center currently in operation is in Logan County at the Verdunville Volunteer Fire Department at 2270 Mud Fork Road in the city of Logan. The center will be open until noon, Friday, May 11.

The center is staffed with disaster recovery specialists who can provide information and answer questions about disaster-related assistance, according to FEMA and state officials.

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.

Last Modified: Thursday, 03-May-2012 16:45:45

Taken from:  

FEMA Disaster Aid Will Not Affect Social Security or Taxes

Link to article: 

FEMA Approves Fire Management Assistance Grant for Fire in Jeff Davis County, Texas

Disaster Unemployment Benefits Now Available for Residents of Lincoln and Mingo Counties 

Release Date: April 26, 2012
Release Number: 4061-051

» More Information on West Virginia Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, And Landslides

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — Some residents who are unemployed as a direct result of the March 15-31 storms and flooding in Lincoln and Mingo counties may now apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance program benefits. The deadline for filing a claim is May 23.

“The DUA program extends coverage to self-employed people, farm workers and others who have lost employment as a direct result of the disaster,” Jimmy Gianato, West Virginia state coordinating officer, said. “It is specifically designed to assist those who are otherwise ineligible for state unemployment benefits.”

The availability of benefits extends to those living or working in either of the two added counties eligible for FEMA’s Individual Assistance.

You may be eligible to apply for DUA if:

  • You were injured in the disaster and are unable to work, whether you are an employee or self-employed
  • Your workplace was damaged or destroyed
  • Your transportation to work is not available
  • You cannot get to your job because you must travel through the affected area
  • You were about to begin working, but could not because of the disaster
  • You derived most of your income from areas affected by the storms and flooding and your business is down as a direct result of the disaster

The Disaster Unemployment Assistance program is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but it is administered through the West Virginia Department of Labor.

To apply for DUA, go to your nearest Workforce West Virginia One Stop Office. The offices serving the three counties are in Charleston, Huntington and Logan. Office locations are available at www.wvcommerce.org and www.workforcewv.org. By phone, find your local Workforce office address by dialing 211.

Have your Social Security number, earnings from your most recent tax year and employment history available.

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.

Last Modified: Thursday, 26-Apr-2012 16:18:23

Original link:  

Disaster Unemployment Benefits Now Available for Residents of Lincoln and Mingo Counties

Original article:  

DFW Can Rebuild Safer, Stronger To Reduce Future Tornado Damage

Disaster Unemployment Benefits Now Available for Residents of Harrison, Preston and Taylor Counties 

Release Date: April 26, 2012
Release Number: 4059-050

» More Information on West Virginia Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, And Landslides

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — Some residents who are unemployed as a direct result of the recent storms and flooding in Harrison, Preston and Taylor counties may now apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance program benefits. The deadline for filing a claim is May 21.

“The DUA program extends coverage to self-employed people, farm workers and others who have lost employment as a direct result of the disaster,” Jimmy Gianato, West Virginia state coordinating officer, said. “It is specifically designed to assist those who are otherwise ineligible for state unemployment benefits.”

The availability of benefits extends to those living or working in any of the three added counties eligible for FEMA’s Individual Assistance.

You may be eligible to apply for DUA if:

  • You were injured in the disaster and are unable to work, whether you are an employee or self-employed
  • Your workplace was damaged or destroyed
  • Your transportation to work is not available
  • You cannot get to your job because you must travel through the affected area
  • You were about to begin working, but could not because of the disaster
  • You derived most of your income from areas affected by the storms and flooding and your business is down as a direct result of the disaster

The Disaster Unemployment Assistance program is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but it is administered through the West Virginia Department of Labor.

To apply for DUA, go to your nearest Workforce West Virginia One Stop Office. The offices serving the three counties are in Clarksburg, Fairmont and Morgantown. Office locations are available at www.wvcommerce.org and www.workforcewv.org.  By phone, find your local Workforce office address by dialing 211.

Have your Social Security number, earnings from your most recent tax year and employment history available.

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.

Last Modified: Thursday, 26-Apr-2012 10:02:55

Original post:

See original article here: 

Just Two Weeks Left To Apply With FEMA: Note These Key Points

State Has Two Separate Disaster Declarations In Effect 

Release Date: April 20, 2012
Release Number: 4061-041

» More Information on West Virginia Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, And Lanslides

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – State and FEMA officials moved Friday to limit any confusion that might arise about the recent re-designation of Lincoln County as eligible for the FEMA Individual and Households Assistance Program.

“In essence, West Virginia has had two separate disasters declared by President Obama,” said Deanne Criswell, FEMA’s Charleston-based federal coordinating officer. “The first, declared on March 15, was for damages sustained in the storms from February 29 through March 5. The second, declared on March 22, was for damages sustained in the flooding from March 15 through March 31.” These are called “incident periods,” according to Criswell.

FEMA has applied its system of assigning a number to each declared disaster to these two events. The first is DR-4059 and the second is DR-4061, she said. “In the case of Lincoln County, it has been assigned both numbers, and it is important for survivors to know that registering with FEMA for one disaster does not register you for the other.”

Thus anyone who sustained damages or other losses from the flooding that occurred between March 15 and March 31 will need to register with FEMA under DR-4061, even if he or she had already registered under DR-4059.

People seeking aid or clarity about the registration process need only phone FEMA’s toll-free Help Line at 800-621-3362 to speak to a representative and supply some basic information. Operators are standing by from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time seven days a week, Criswell said. “The process is fast and simple. Even if you are unsure if you qualify, call FEMA and let us determine your eligibility. ”

Registration is also available online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. From a cell phone or other PDA, the address is m.fema.gov. Those with hearing or speech disabilities can use the TTY number, 800-462-7585. For those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362.

Applicants should be ready to supply FEMA with his or her current contact information (mailing address, phone number, e-mail address or that of a friend or relative who can reach the applicant), a Social Security number of any household member, the address of the damaged property, a brief description of the problems and, if appropriate, any information about insurance coverage one might or might not have. The FEMA representative may ask for some other data, like the number of people residing in the property and the family’s gross annual income. All this information is critical to the process and will be kept in strict confidence by FEMA, Criswell said.

After registering with FEMA, applicants will be given a case number so they can follow the progress of their applications and to use when speaking to other FEMA personnel. To check on the status of one’s application, he or she can call the FEMA Help Line or visit the Disaster Recovery Center at 2270 Mud Fork Road in Logan. This information will be available after 24 hours of initially registering with FEMA.

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.

Last Modified: Friday, 20-Apr-2012 16:39:44

Continued here: 

State Has Two Separate Disaster Declarations In Effect

Disaster Unemployment Benefits Deadlines 

Release Date: April 17, 2012
Release Number: 4059-030

» More Information on West Virginia Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, And Lanslides
» More Information on West Virginia Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Mudslides, And Landslides

CHARLESTON, W. Va. — Self-employed residents who are unemployed as a direct result of the recent tornadoes and flooding have only a few days left to file for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program benefits. For the presidentially declared disaster of March 16, the deadline is April 23. For the disaster declared on March 22, the deadline is April 25.

“The DUA program extends coverage to self-employed people, farm workers and others who have lost employment as a direct result of the disaster,” Jimmy Gianato, West Virginia state coordinating officer, said. “It is specifically designed to assist those who are otherwise ineligible for state unemployment benefits.”

The availability of benefits extends to those living or working in any of the four counties eligible for FEMA’s Individual Assistance. They are Marion, Logan, Lincoln and Wayne counties.

You may be eligible to apply for DUA if:

  • You were injured in the disaster and are unable to work, whether you are an employee or self-employed
  • Your workplace was damaged or destroyed
  • Your transportation to work is not available
  • You cannot get to your job because you must travel through the affected area
  • You were about to begin working, but could not because of the disaster
  • You derived most of your income from areas affected by the storms and flooding and your business is down as a direct result of the disaster

The Disaster Unemployment Assistance program is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but it is administered through the West Virginia Department of Labor.

To apply for DUA, go to your nearest Workforce West Virginia One Stop Office. Have your Social Security number, earnings from your most recent tax year and employment history available. Office locations are available at www.wvcommerce.org and www.workforcewv.org. By phone, find your local Workforce office by dialing 211.

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.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 17-Apr-2012 11:28:55

See the original post:

Disaster Unemployment Benefits Deadlines

Make Sure Your Friends and Neighbors Are Getting the Assistance They Need 

Release Date: April 3, 2012
Release Number: 4057-046

» More Information on Kentucky Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding

FRANKFORT, Ky. — FEMA grants are helping thousands of Kentucky families recover from the recent tornadoes, but you may have neighbors, friends or family members who have not registered for federal disaster assistance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Your neighbors or friends may have misunderstandings about registration that may have kept them from getting all the recovery help they need.

“The important thing to tell your friends and neighbors is to register,” said Libby Turner, the federal officer in charge of Kentucky recovery. “That one step may unlock grants, low-interest loans, disaster unemployment assistance, and any other state or federal aid. Registering is as easy as picking up the telephone or going online.”

Your neighbors might say they have not registered with FEMA because they have insurance. Explain they may be eligible for help with uninsured or underinsured losses. Sometimes damage is found that insurance won’t cover but federal disaster assistance may. But your neighbor has to register with FEMA to get the help.

If your friend is still waiting for a visit from an insurance adjuster or for an insurance settlement, tell them to go ahead and register with FEMA because insurance may not meet all their needs. Federal assistance may be able to help solve this problem, but your friend must register with FEMA before the filing deadline of May 7 to be eligible.

Friends or neighbors also should go ahead with necessary repairs to make their house livable, but they must be sure to keep papers and receipts for all work as FEMA may require this documentation.

Some friends, neighbors or family members may think they make too much money to apply for assistance. However, most federal and Commonwealth disaster assistance programs are available to individuals of all income levels. The kind of help provided depends on the applicant’s circumstances and unmet needs.

Sometimes folks think they did not have enough damage to their homes to apply for assistance. The damage caused by high winds or tornadoes and costs associated with repairs or rebuilding, may not be apparent for several weeks. By registering with FEMA now, you may be eligible for assistance if you find damage later.

If you have friends, neighbors or family members who are concerned FEMA disaster assistance will interrupt or interfere with federal assistance they are already receiving, let them know disaster assistance grants are not taxable income and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid, welfare assistance, food stamps, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Aid to Families with Dependent Children.

Residents of Bath, Campbell, Carroll, Grant, Grayson, Kenton, Johnson, Larue, Lawrence, Laurel, Magoffin, Martin, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Ohio, Pendleton, Rowan, Russell, Trimble and Wolfe counties are eligible to register for federal disaster assistance from FEMA.

Emphasize to friends and neighbors the first step toward obtaining recovery assistance for individuals and businesses in the designated counties is to register with FEMA:

  • By phone, call 800-621-FEMA (3362) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Assistance is available in many languages. Those who are deaf, hard of hearing or who have a speech disability may use TTY 800-462-7585. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Service should call 800-621-3362.
  • By computer, go online to www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
  • By smartphone or tablet, use m.fema.gov.

Survivors who have questions about their registration may call the FEMA helpline at the number listed above. Survivors who are having difficulty registering also may go to a recovery center for assistance.

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). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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.

Last Modified: Tuesday, 03-Apr-2012 16:34:38

Link: 

Make Sure Your Friends and Neighbors Are Getting the Assistance They Need

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