This document is to provide background information as well as frequently asked questions about the FEMA Individual Assistance Program.

It is important to note the amount of disaster assistance for Wisconsin announced by the President reflects preliminary estimates of how much federal assistance is needed for the disaster in the impacted communities. This is a projected initial figure that may change as recovery costs are finalized. 

What is Individual Assistance

FEMA Individual Assistance provides direct financial assistance to eligible individuals and families who have sustained losses due to disasters. This program directly helps those with uninsured basic critical needs. Through the Individual Assistance program, FEMA provides several types of financial and direct assistance to eligible individuals and families, including both homeowners and renters.

Applicants have 60 days from when a disaster is declared to apply for the program. Their application will still be processed after the application period ends.

Other information on Individual assistance

• FEMA Individual Assistance is a grant and does not need to be repaid.
• FEMA Individual Assistance is not considered taxable income.
• Accepting a FEMA grant does not affect Social Security benefits, Medicare, Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or other federal assistance programs.
• FEMA assistance is not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate for all losses caused by a disaster. The assistance is intended to meet your basic needs and supplement disaster recovery efforts.

What can FEMA Help With:

One of the main programs for homeowners and renters is the Individuals and Households Program. These funds may include:

• Funds or reimbursement for temporary housing while you are unable to live in your home.
• Funds to support the repair or replacement of primary residences, such as:
  • Private roads or bridges that are the only access route to your home.
  • Electrical wiring.
  • Damaged roof or foundation.
  • Mold.
  • Wells, septic systems, and sewer backup.
  • Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
• Money to help you pay for new or increased childcare expenses caused by the disaster.
• Money to help clean and sanitize your home after a disaster to prevent additional loss.
• Money to help pay for funeral or reburial expenses caused by the disaster.
• Funds to help you pay for moving and storage expenses incurred on or after the incident start date to avoid additional disaster damage.

More information on the FEMA Individual Assistance can be found at https://www.fema.gov/assistance/individual.

How to apply for Individual Assistance

Impacted residents can apply online, at Disaster Recovery Centers when they open, and by calling the FEMA helpline at 1-800-621-3362. The website, DisasterAssistance.gov, can be translated into different languages through the dropdown menu above the search bar.

If people use the phone option and use a video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone (CTS), or other service, they should give FEMA their number for that service.

What people need when applying for Individual Assistance

• Contact information, including email address.
• Address at the time of the disaster and the address where they are currently staying.
• Their social security number.
• A general list of damage and losses.
• Annual household income.
• Banking information, if they choose direct deposit.
• If insured, their policy number or the agent and/or company name.

What the disaster assistance process looks like:

1. People apply for disaster assistance by choosing the method that works best for them.
2. After applying, FEMA may verify the damage through an on-site or remote inspection. These inspectors are trained to identify damage caused by a disaster, but do not decide if people will receive disaster assistance.
   
   The inspector will record damage that may be eligible within the Individuals and Households Program and is different from inspections performed by insurance adjusters or other agencies, such as the U.S. Small Business Administration.
   
   You can learn more about FEMA home inspections here: https://www.fema.gov/assistance/individual/after-applying/home-inspections
3. People may be approved based on the information provided, but many times additional information is needed. If additional information is needed, FEMA will call or send a letter asking for specific information.
   
   FEMA will send a decision letter by mail and email explaining the type of assistance people are approved to receive – and any assistance they are not approved to receive. The letter will also include instructions on how to appeal if you disagree with FEMA’s decision.
   
   All FEMA correspondence can also be found through an applicant’s DisasterAssistance.gov account as well.
4. If people are approved for disaster assistance, they may receive a check from the U.S. Department of the Treasury or direct deposit, based on their chosen method.
   
   If people disagree with FEMA’s decision, they can appeal by following the instructions in their FEMA letter. The letter sent from FEMA will provide additional information on the types of documents or information that will need to be provided if people choose to appeal FEMA’s initial decision.
   
   The documents apply specifically to the decision made. For example, if someone is appealing for additional assistance to help repair their home, they will want to provide FEMA with any receipts, bills or repair estimates received for the repairs needed to their home as a result of the disaster.
   
   Appeals must be sent in within 60 days of the date on the decision letter.

What is the difference between Individual Assistance and Public Assistance?

FEMA Individual Assistance provides direct financial assistance to eligible individuals and families who have sustained losses due to disasters.

Public Assistance can reimburse local governments for emergency work, protective measures, and debris removal. It also reimburses for repairs and/or replacement of disaster damaged public facilities and infrastructure.

What if I find mold in my home?

If your home had flood damage, mold could continue growing until steps are taken to eliminate the moisture source. While FEMA may not cover the total cost of mold remediation, they may provide money to assist. Homeowners who received FEMA funds, but have an ongoing mold problem, may appeal for additional damages. The appeal will initiate a second inspection, which will be performed at the damaged home.

The state has resources to understand the impact mold exposure can have on health, how to prevent mold growth, information for tenants, and how to fix indoor mold problems. You can visit the Wisconsin Department of Health Services webpage for additional information.

Frequently Asked Questions – Application Process:

Q: Can people who are not U.S. citizens receive Individual Assistance?

FEMA may provide direct and financial disaster assistance to U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals and qualified aliens.

FEMA uses the following as definitions:

• U.S. citizen – Anyone born in the U.S.; a person born outside the U.S. to at least one U.S. parent; a naturalized citizen.
• Non-citizen National – A person born in an outlying possession of the U.S. (e.g., American Samoa or Swain’s Island) on or after the date the U.S. acquired the possession, or a person born outside of the U.S. and outlying possessions whose parents are U.S. non-citizen nationals. All U.S. citizens are U.S. nationals, but not every U.S. national is a U.S. citizen.
• A Qualified Alien includes:
  • Legal Permanent Residents (“Green Card” holders)
  • Aliens granted asylum
  • Refugees
  • Aliens whose deportation status is being withheld
  • Aliens paroled into the U.S. for at least one year for urgent humanitarian purposes or significant public benefit
  • Cuban/Haitian entrants
  • Certain battered aliens or their spouses or children
  • Certain victims of a severe form of human trafficking, including persons with a “T” or “U” visa
  • Legal residents in accordance with the Compacts of Free Association with the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau

If an applicant does not meet the citizenship or immigration status at the time of application, the household may still apply for certain forms of federal assistance if:

• The parent or legal guardian of a minor child who is a U.S. citizen or qualified alien applies for assistance on behalf of the minor child, so long as they live in the same household. The parent or legal guardian must apply as the co-applicant, and the minor child must be under age 18 at the time the disaster occurred.

When available, life-sustaining resources such as shelter, food and water, crisis counseling, disaster case management, disaster supplemental nutrition assistance program and disaster legal services are available to survivors regardless of citizenship and immigration status.

Q: Can people with insurance apply for FEMA Assistance?

Yes. People may qualify for FEMA disaster assistance even if they have insurance. However, if people have insurance for the cause of damage to their home, they will need to file a claim with their insurance provider and submit the insurance settlement or denial letter to FEMA to determine their eligibility for some forms of assistance. By law, FEMA cannot duplicate benefits for losses covered by insurance.  

Q: Can I receive federal assistance for the damage to my second home?

FEMA disaster assistance is limited to an applicant’s primary home, which is the place you live more than six months of the year. Second homes, vacation homes or homes used as vacation rentals do not qualify for FEMA assistance. If you apply to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), you may be considered for a low-interest disaster loan if the home is used as a short- or long-term rental and the rental income is declared on the owner’s federal tax return. You may also be considered if the second home is being occupied, rent-free, by extended family.

Q: If I received displacement assistance but I still need help with temporary housing, what should I do?

Call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 or visit an open recovery center to request FEMA rental assistance. 

Q: Do I need a home inspection to get FEMA assistance?

Yes. If you reported home damage to your primary residence, a FEMA home inspection may be needed. FEMA inspectors may call from an unknown phone number and make several attempts to discuss your disaster-caused damage. If you do not answer, they will leave a message. If you do not answer the phone or reply, your application will be stalled.

If still cannot reach you, FEMA will send a letter or email to what you submitted for contact information on your application. The letter will state your application cannot be processed further. You must then call the FEMA Helpline to confirm your contact information and verify your need for assistance. DO NOT resubmit or create a new application.

Q: Will I need to pay a fee to receive help with my federal assistance application?

Absolutely not. FEMA and the SBA can help you navigate your assistance process, and they will never ask for money and never require payment in any form. If someone requires payment to help you with your federal assistance application, it is likely a scam. Report it to your local authorities immediately. 

Q: Will FEMA grants affect my Social Security benefits, taxes, food stamps, or Medicaid?

No. FEMA assistance is tax-free and does not affect Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or other federal welfare and entitlement programs.

Q: I’m a farmer who had disaster losses from the storms—am I eligible for federal assistance?

Farmers may be eligible for FEMA assistance to help with serious needs, paying for a temporary place to live, home repairs and other uninsured needs for their primary residence. The SBA also offers low-interest loans to eligible farmers to rebuild or repair their primary home and replace lost or damaged personal property.

Other federal agencies, like the U.S. Department of Agriculture, may also be able to assist. Contact your local Farm Service Agency Office to learn if there are any programs available. You can find your FSA County Office by going to https://www.fsa.usda.gov/fsa-office-locator.

Q: I was relocated and don’t know if my home was damaged. Can I still apply for assistance?

If you were relocated or evacuated and don’t know if your home was damaged, you can visit DisasterAssistance.gov to apply for assistance online. You can also choose to call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 to tell an agent about your current situation. If you use a video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service, or others, give FEMA your number for that service.

Q: Do I have to add a disclaimer on my fundraiser page stating that any money raised won’t go towards to my home cleanup or rebuilding?

By law, FEMA cannot duplicate benefits you receive from another source. However, there are many different types of assistance available through FEMA and they review each application to ensure applicants receive the aid for which they are eligible.

If an applicant receives money from a fundraiser or GoFundMe page for a specific disaster-related expense—such as home repairs, funeral expenses or other emergency needs—they may not be able to receive FEMA assistance for the same expense. For example, if an applicant receives a donation to clean up storm damage to their home, FEMA may not be able to also grant them money for home clean up as this is considered a duplication of efforts.

FEMA encourages those who apply for disaster assistance to notify them about any items or repairs for which they have already received assistance from another source(s), to avoid potential future recovery of any duplicative benefits provided by FEMA.

Q: Can the information I submit to FEMA be shared with other federal agencies?

FEMA complies with all legal requests for information from other federal agencies. To learn more, visit FEMA’s Privacy Policy page.

Frequently Asked Questions – After Applying

Q: What should I do if they miss a phone call or visit from a FEMA inspector after applying for assistance?

For most types of disaster assistance, FEMA must verify disaster-caused damage through an onsite or remote inspection. After you submit your application, FEMA staff or an inspector will attempt to contact you multiple times over several days to schedule a time to complete your inspection. Their number may appear as unknown or as a restricted phone number.

If FEMA is unable to reach you regarding your inspection, you will be sent a letter. Please follow the instructions in the letter for contacting FEMA and scheduling your inspection. Your application cannot be processed further until you take the appropriate steps based on the letter.

Do not re-submit or create a new application during the disaster assistance process. 

Q: Where do I check the status of my application?

To check the status of your application you need to create an account first on disasterassistance.gov, even if you applied in-person. You must have an email address to create your account.

If you already have an account:

1. Click Check Status on the Home page or from the Get Assistance menu.
2. Sign in with your email address and password.
3. You may get a prompt for a secure access code if the email address in your application is different than the one in your DisasterAssistance.gov account.
   
   This will take you to the Application Summary screen.

It is preferred and if you are able, check your application status online. If you are unable to check online, you may call the FEMA Helpline, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, 7 days a week. Times may vary during high disaster activity.

• 1-800-621-3362
• If you use a video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone (CTS), or other service, give FEMA the number for that service.

Q: I received a letter saying I am currently not approved for FEMA assistance. Does that mean I can’t expect any help from FEMA?

Not necessarily. It’s important to read your FEMA decision letter carefully. You may just need to provide additional information—such as your insurance settlement or denial—or other documents to keep your application moving. You can always visit a recovery center or call the FEMA helpline if you need help with the process.

Q: FEMA did not give me enough money. What if I can’t rebuild my house to what it looked like before?

If you disagree with FEMA’s decision, you may appeal within 60 days of the date of the decision letter. To meet the needs of disaster survivors more fully, FEMA partners with other governmental and non-governmental agencies. For example, the SBA offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters and business owners in a declared disaster area. SBA disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance, FEMA grants or other resources. Learn more at www.sba.gov/disaster. 

Q: With multiple ongoing disasters, what happens to my application? Is there a delay in the process of getting help?

FEMA has a lot of experience handling multiple disasters at the same time.  Your application for FEMA assistance will continue to move forward regardless of other disaster activity that may be ongoing. Other disaster activity will not affect the review process of existing applications.

Q: How can I report disaster fraud?

If you suspect that your personal information has been used to file a fraudulent FEMA application without your knowledge or consent, we recommend taking the following steps:

1. Report the Fraud: Contact FEMA’s Investigations and Inspections Division to report the suspected fraud. You can do this by emailing StopFEMAFraud@fema.dhs.gov
2. To report other scams, fraud or unfair business practices, contact the Wisconsin’s Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 422-7128 or email at DATCPHotline@wisconsin.gov

Q:  What is the U.S. Small Business Administration and how can they help me?

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers low-interest disaster loans to homeowners and renters in a declared major disaster area. You don’t need to own a business to apply for SBA assistance.

After applying, you may be referred to the SBA as part of the disaster assistance process.

If you still have unmet needs, SBA disaster assistance loans may help with home repair or replacement, personal property, vehicles, mitigation, business losses, and working capital for small business and most private nonprofits.

There are three types of SBA loans available.

• Business Physical Disaster Loans – Loans to businesses to repair or replace disaster-damaged property owned by the business, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Private, non-profit organizations such as charities, churches, private universities, etc., are also eligible.
• Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) – Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period.
• Home Disaster Loans – Loans to homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged real estate and personal property, including automobiles.

If you are approved for a loan, you are not obligated to accept it.

These loans can be used not only to rebuild, but you can also use the funds to make your home safe, stronger and more resilient to future flooding by mitigating for future events.

Important to note about these loans:

• Homeowners may qualify for up to $500K to repair their home, including wells, sheds, and septic tanks.
• Homeowners and renters may qualify for up to $100K to replace items like clothing, furniture or even a vehicle and other miscellaneous items.
• The loan has low interest rates with no interest accrued and no payment for first 12 months.

Q: Where do I go for assistance if I still have needs or assistance gaps after applying for FEMA Assistance or an SBA loan?

For unmet needs or further assistance, the best resource to reach out to is 211 Wisconsin. By calling 2-1-1, you are connected with trained specialists who provide free, confidential referrals to local resources for relief and long-term recovery after a disaster.