FEMA Exclusive: 7NEWS gets answers to all your questions

(WSPA) – Many of you have reached out to us with questions about FEMA Disaster Assistance and rumors spreading online about the agency’s help.

To clarify 7NEWS requested a formal interview with representatives from the agency.

Public Information Officers Gabriel Gonzalez and Hannah Kirschman sat down with 7NEWS Here to Help’s Diane Lee to address your concerns.

If you have any additional questions or need more clarification please email Diane Lee at dlee@wspa.com.

Why are people getting denied?

Q: “Let’s start with that $750 check that some people can get for things like spoiled food, a lot of people have said they’ve been denied. What’s behind that?”

A: “Yes, thank you for asking that because we’ve had a lot of people concerned about those denial letters that they are starting to receive. We encourage you if you receive that denial letter…read through it thoroughly. It will show you exactly why you were denied and a lot of times it comes down to a very simple error on your application.  Was your Social Security number off by one number?  Did you include all of the information that you needed to show proof of residency,” Kirschman said.

***You should note, when you apply, you may get an immediate denial letter because there are several parts that FEMA must consider and you may be denied for one part. For instance, if you do not have damage to your home, you will receive a denial letter for that type of assistance. However, a few days later, you may get approved for assistance for loss of power.***

Q: “Are you more likely to get approved if you do see a FEMA representative in person?”

A: “The questions that are going to be on the application in person are the same that are going to be online. The biggest difference is if you do have the additional questions or points of clarification, you’re going to have a live person there to be able to walk you through that process to make sure you fill out the application correctly,” Kirschman said.

What about private insurance?

Q: “Do you need to apply through your insurance carrier first and get a denial letter in order to be eligible for FEMA assistance?”

A: “Yes, if you have private insurance you apply for your private insurance.  If you are denied or it is not completely covered by your private insurance, we could chip in or complement the other part that your insurance does not cover. The really important thing here is, Diane, is that double dipping does not occur,” Gonzalez said.

Q: “Let’s say your damage is from the power loss for instance where you lost vital groceries or medicine but it is below the amount of your deductible and it wouldn’t make sense to file with your carrier. What do you do then?

A: “You apply to FEMA…The only controversial point here is that you don’t double dip,” Gonzalez said.

***7NEWS got additional clarification on this point, and FEMA said if your deductible is too high for you to file with insurance for losses related to issues like the multi-day power outage, then you do not need to show a denial letter from your insurance carrier, again, as long as you don’t “double dip.”***

Is $750 the limit?

Q: “Politicians have claimed people whose homes were destroyed are only getting $750. Is that true?”

A: “No. The $750 in “serious needs assistance” is for immediate needs for things like essential good and shelter.  FEMA crews will visit the property of homeowners who file for larger damage claims and those people may be eligible for much greater assistance, especially if their private insurance does not cover it.”

Do you have to pay it back?

Q: “A lot of people online are saying that you have to pay back the money you get from FEMA, is that true?”

A: “No. The money that you receive from FEMA is a grant, it is not a loan.  The money that you receive is yours to keep and yours to spend on your personal needs and the needs of your family and it is not money that you will ever have to pay back,” Kirschman said.

Is FEMA money taxable?

Q: “If you receive FEMA disaster assistance, will you have to pay taxes on it?”

A: “No, the grant money is not taxed at the end of the year,” Kirschman said.

Any income limit?

Q: “What about income limits, is there an income limit on the application?”

A:  “There’s no income limit,” Gonzalez said.

What do you need to apply?

Q: “What documents do you need before you call FEMA or show up at a local FEMA Disaster Recovery Center?”

First:

• ID (like a driver’s license, or passport)
• Proof of residency (like a utility bill, mortgage statement, canceled rent check)
• Insurance denial letter if applying for assistance with property damage
• Bank routing number (so the money can be deposited right into your account)

You will also need to know your Social Security number. There are 4 ways to apply.

1. DisasterAssistance.gov
2. 1(800) 621-3362
3. Visit an in-person Disaster Recovery Center in the Upstate
   • Greenville
     • Freetown Community Center, 200 Alice Ave, Greenville, S.C. 29611
     • Open every day from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
4. 711 or Video Relay Service (for the blind or hearing impaired)

Tree removal help?

Q: “So many people have downed trees in their yard, it’s expensive to get those to the curb, does FEMA help cover that if private insurance won’t?

A: “Potentially. It is important that people call FEMA, take as many pictures as possible and upload them to their application and a person who is specialized in providing information on individual assistance can answer any of those questions and get that taken care of if it’s eligible for assistance,” Kirschman said.

Will the money run out?

Q: “There has been some concern that there’s not enough money for additional phases what’s the reality at this point?”

A: “The reality is that we are shoring up to make sure that we give people exactly what they need after this disaster.  The information that FEMA does not have enough funds, or we’re going to run out of funds is not the reality of the situation.  At this point please do not let any of that information prevent you from applying for assistance,” Kirschman said.

**The White House also released a statement Monday stating FEMA “has sufficient funding to both support the response to Hurricane Milton and continue to support the response to Hurricane Helene -– including funding to support first responders and provide immediate assistance to disaster survivors.”**

Is FEMA money going to illegal immigrants?

Q: “There has been a lot of talk on social media and some by a presidential candidate that FEMA money is going to illegal immigrants.  What is the reality?”

A: ” The money that is there for the disaster relief fund, and I cannot stress this enough, is for survivors, is to make sure that people are able to find shelter and afford shelter in the immediate days or weeks following the disaster and to make sure we can get them on the road to recovery as quickly as possible, that is what that money is there for,” Kirschman said.

**FEMA has different funding sources, and any funds that may have gone to municipalities that saw an influx of migrants is a different funding source.**

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