Got questions? This page offers a list of frequently asked questions where you may be able to find answers. Just click on a question to see the answer. If you can’t find the answer you're looking for, please Contact Us.
We have contacts for different kinds of help for the site:
You must keep a constant link to the internet when you apply. If it cuts off, that may stop your session and mean you need to log in again or start your application over.
You should try to check your internet strength before you start.
ReCAPTCHA is a simple puzzle to make sure a person is filling out the application and not a robot. (It works with screen-readers.)
If you have trouble with the pictures, you can do one of the following:
If you still have problems, be sure to check your internet strength. Close your browser and re-open it to ensure the webpage is updated.
You must have an account to do any of the following:
You can read Create your Login.gov account or follow the steps below:
That’s it! You have an account now.
To link other application(s) to your account, if asked, just enter your Date of Birth and Social Security Number, then click Submit. You will go to the Registration Summary screen.
If you have questions or need help to create or sign in to your account, visit the Login.gov Help center. You must contact Login.gov directly. (If you get an error, click skip verification to go to the page.) You must contact Login.gov directly. The FEMA Internet Help Desk and FEMA Helpline can’t answer questions or assist with these issues.
To comply with the Privacy Act, Login.gov staff can't create an account for you. Neither can the FEMA Internet Help Desk or FEMA Helpline.
You must contact the FEMA Helpline or visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) for help with your application or information in your account.
When you create or sign in to your Login.gov account from your application, it will link right away.
If you create or sign in to your account for the first time from Check Status on the Home page or the Get Assistance menu, you must enter your Social Security number (SSN) and date of birth (DOB) to link your account. After this, all applications with your SSN and DOB will link to your account.
Note: Please double-check your SSN and DOB to make sure they’re correct. You’ll get an error and won’t be able to link if those fields don’t match in both your application and account.
Yes, you can use your current Login.gov account. You can sign in when you click Sign In or Create an Account from the account screen on the application.
Or just click Check Status from the Home page or Get Assistance menu to sign in. Follow the prompts to link to your account.
Nothing has happened to your account. Only the way you sign in to your account has changed. You’ll only see Login.gov screens during sign-in.
All of your past information and other account functions are still the same.
When you create an account, you should create a strong password that meets these rules:
If you need help to create or sign in to your account: Visit the Login.gov Help Center.
Login.gov can’t answer questions about your application or information in your account or questions about other technical problems on our site.
For help to create your account: Visit the Login.gov Help Center. You must contact them directly for account help.
Neither the FEMA Helpline nor the Internet Help Desk can answer questions about how to create or sign in to your account.
Login.gov can’t answer questions about your application or information in your account or questions about other technical problems on our site.
FEMA’s Internet Help Desk can’t answer questions about account creation or sign-in or questions about your application or information in your account. You must contact the FEMA Helpline or visit a DRC for account or application help.
The FEMA Helpline can’t answer questions about account creation or sign-in or questions about other technical problems on the site.
For help to sign in to your account: Visit the Login.gov Help Center. You must contact them directly for account help.
Neither the FEMA Helpline nor the Internet Help Desk can answer questions about how to create or sign in to your account.
Login.gov can’t answer questions about your application or information in your account or questions about other technical problems on our site.
FEMA’s Internet Help Desk can’t answer questions about account creation or sign-in or questions about your application or information in your account. You must contact the FEMA Helpline or visit a DRC for account or application help.
The FEMA Helpline can’t answer questions about account creation or sign-in or questions about other technical problems on the site.
A secure access code is a way to prove you’re the person asking for access to an account. It’s a 6-number code the system sends out and you can only use it once.
But you’ll only need one if the email address in your application doesn’t match the one in your Login.gov account.
To skip this step next time, update the email address in your application to match the one in your account. You must get a new code each time you sign in if the email addresses don’t match.
You can select how you want to get the code – by text, email, or voice call. We pull the phone number(s) and email address from your application. The code will change each time you get a new one.
You only need a secure access code if the email address in your application doesn’t match the one in your Login.gov account. But you must get a new code each time you sign in if the email addresses don’t match.
To skip this step, update the email address in your application to match the one in your account.
No. When you call the FEMA Helpline, we use other information to confirm your identity. The agent must confirm your identity before they can give you information.
With the move of DisasterAssistance.gov accounts to Login.gov, we no longer use PINs. And you will only need a secure access code if the email address in your application doesn’t match the one in your Login.gov account.
You will need a new secure access code each time you sign in if the email addresses don’t match. But to skip this step later, update the email address in your application to match the one in your account.
If you need help to create or sign in to your account: Visit the Login.gov Help Center.
Login.gov can’t answer questions about your application or information in your account or questions about other technical problems on our site.
To apply for assistance, the president must make a major disaster declaration for your state. The declaration must also name the county or place you live in for Individual Assistance.
To find out if your area is declared:
The assistance for each disaster may vary.
FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance
The COVID-19 national emergency ended on May 11, 2023. But this date does not affect the application period for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance or related expenses if you qualify.
FEMA will provide COVID-19 funeral assistance until September 30, 2025. This is the date set by Congress in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
The Application Period for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance is now open. To apply, and for ALL other questions and concerns about this program, call 1-844-684-6333, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET. Do not call the normal FEMA Helpline for help with this program.
If you use a video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone (CTS), or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
You must apply by phone for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance. FEMA will not accept online applications. Before you call, visit the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance page for more details.
Do you have damage from a disaster but your county or area isn’t declared for Individual Assistance?
Sometimes other areas are added to the declaration later. You can come back and check to find out if your area has been added. You can also visit FEMA's Disaster Declarations page.
You may also contact your state emergency management agency to find out if other help is available.
You can search for disaster assistance in two ways:
Answering the questionnaire should only take a few minutes. The types of questions will vary. Most relate directly to disasters, while others use your answers to suggest other types of assistance you may qualify for.
You don’t have to answer all of the questions, but you’ll get a better list of results if you do. And it’s anonymous, so we don’t save your answers or share them with any federal agency.
The questionnaire helps to narrow down your search for possible assistance. If you choose to answer it, your answers do not guarantee that you qualify for assistance. It’s only intended as a reference.
To apply for assistance other than FEMA’s, you’ll need to follow the instructions provided for each program. This may require going to another agency’s website.
Yes. You may qualify for FEMA assistance even if you have insurance. By law, FEMA can't provide benefits for losses covered by your insurance. So, you need to file an insurance claim as soon as possible.
Maybe. If there's a delay in your settlement, more than 30 days from the date you filed your claim, you may apply for assistance from FEMA. You'll need to explain the reason.
You must provide proof that you filed the claim. If you filed online or over the phone, you must provide the claim number, the date you applied, and an estimate of how long it may take to get your settlement.
Any funds you then get from FEMA will be an advance and must be repaid when you get your settlement.
FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance
The COVID-19 national emergency ended on May 11, 2023. But this date does not affect the application period for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance or related expenses if you qualify.
FEMA will provide COVID-19 funeral assistance until September 30, 2025. This is the date set by Congress in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
To apply for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance, and for ALL other questions and concerns about this program, call 1-844-684-6333, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET. Do not call the normal FEMA Helpline for help with this program.
If you use a video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone (CTS), or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
You must apply by phone. FEMA will not accept online applications. Before you call, visit the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance page for more details.
Yes. You may apply for FEMA assistance if you still have unmet disaster-caused needs after your final insurance settlement.
FEMA will ask for copy of the claim settlement record and ask you to describe what you still need. You must qualify to get assistance.
If you applied for help from FEMA because of your deductible, FEMA does not cover insurance deductibles.
If you have any questions, call the FEMA Helpline, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (in your time zone), 7 days a week. Hours may be longer during high disaster activity.
FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance
The COVID-19 national emergency ended on May 11, 2023. But this date does not affect the application period for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance or related expenses if you qualify.
FEMA will provide COVID-19 funeral assistance until September 30, 2025. This is the date set by Congress in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
To apply for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance, and for ALL other questions and concerns about this program, call 1-844-684-6333, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET. Do not call the normal FEMA Helpline for help with this program.
If you use a video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone (CTS), or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
You must apply by phone. FEMA will not accept online applications. Before you call, visit the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance page for more details.
It’s very important that you be as honest and accurate as possible with the information you submit on your application. It helps if you can gather as much as you can and have it ready when you apply.
If you’re unsure about something, please don’t guess or enter information you know is not correct.
If you don’t think you have everything you need, you may be able to save an incomplete application and finish it later. You’ll just need to either create an account or call the FEMA Helpline to finish it.
If you need help, you can call the FEMA Helpline, COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline, or go to a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) to ask questions.
Please read the application questions and your entries carefully as you proceed. Once you click “Submit,” you can only make limited changes online. To change some information after you submit it, you must call the FEMA Helpline.
It’s very important to know that your application becomes a legal document as soon as you send it. FEMA may use outside sources to verify the information you enter.
If you knowingly make false statements or hide information to try to get assistance, it violates federal and state laws. This can carry severe criminal and civil penalties. Penalties may include a fine of up to $250,000, imprisonment, or both (18 U.S.C § 287, 1001, and 3571).
How to Contact the FEMA Helpline
Call 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (in your time zone), 7 days a week. Hours may be longer during high disaster activity.
General questions or comments about FEMA disaster assistance for individuals and families can be emailed to:
FEMA collects, maintains, uses, retrieves, and shares the personally identifiable information (PII) of people who apply for FEMA disaster assistance under the following authority:
To get case-specific information, we must confirm your identity before we can tell you anything. Please provide the following ONLY if you want to get information about your case:
FEMA may keep emails sent to the AskIA email address for quality assurance purposes or to update your file, if needed. You don’t have to provide the information we requested. But if we can't confirm your identity, we won’t be able to tell you anything by email. We will ask you to call the FEMA Helpline.
When you email us, please include your name and the location of the disaster (city and state).
How to Apply for FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance
The COVID-19 national emergency ended on May 11, 2023. But this date does not affect the application period for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance or related expenses if you qualify.
FEMA will provide COVID-19 funeral assistance until September 30, 2025. This is the date set by Congress in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
To apply for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance, and for ALL other questions and concerns about this program, call 1-844-684-6333, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET. Do not call the normal FEMA Helpline for help with this program.
If you use a video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone (CTS), or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
You must apply by phone. FEMA will not accept online applications. Before you call, visit the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance page for more details.
How can I find a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC)?
There are two ways to find a DRC near you:
You can go to a DRC to learn about FEMA’s or other assistance programs. You may also ask questions about your case or seek guidance on other disaster-related issues.
The services offered at each DRC may vary.
You may apply for assistance in two ways:
How to Apply for FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance
The COVID-19 national emergency ended on May 11, 2023. But this date does not affect the application period for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance or related expenses if you qualify.
FEMA will provide COVID-19 funeral assistance until September 30, 2025. This is the date set by Congress in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
To apply for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance, and for ALL other questions and concerns about this program, call 1-844-684-6333, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET. Do not call the normal FEMA Helpline for help with this program.
If you use a video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone (CTS), or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
You must apply by phone. FEMA will not accept online applications. Before you call, visit the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance page for more details.
Yes, you must have an email address to create an account. You need it to confirm your Login.gov account. Email is also a way we can notify you when you get a new message from FEMA.
There are many email providers to choose from. If you’re not sure how to get an email account, we suggest you talk with a family member or friend.
If you send more than one application for a disaster, it may take longer to process your case.
If you have damage or losses caused by two or more disasters, you need to apply separately under each disaster.
Be sure you choose the correct disaster on your application. Enter only the damage and losses that are for that disaster.
For questions about the application or the assistance FEMA offers, call the FEMA Helpline, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (in your time zone), 7 days a week. Hours may be longer during high disaster activity.
You can also visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC). DRCs are set up in accessible areas to make them easier to find.
At a DRC, you can meet with FEMA staff to learn how you can get help or to ask questions about your application.
There are two ways to find a DRC:
You can email general questions or comments about FEMA disaster assistance for individuals and families to:
FEMA collects, maintains, uses, retrieves, and shares the personally identifiable information (PII) of people who apply for FEMA disaster assistance under the following authority:
To get case-specific information, we must confirm your identity before we can tell you anything. Please provide the following ONLY if you want to get information about your case:
FEMA may keep emails sent to the AskIA email address for quality assurance purposes or to update your file, if needed. You don’t have to provide the information we ask for. But if we’re not able to confirm your identity, we won’t be able to tell you anything by email. We will ask you to call the FEMA Helpline.
When you email us, please include your name and the location of the disaster (city and state).
Your application session times out if there is no activity for 10 minutes. At that point, you won’t be able to move on and you will lose any data you didn't save before the timeout.
You must re-enter any data you didn’t save before the timeout.
To qualify for assistance from FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program (IHP), you or a member of your household must be one of the following:
A qualified non-citizen includes:
If you don't know what your immigration status is, talk to an immigration expert to learn if your status falls under qualified non-citizen.
Qualified Minor Child
If you don’t qualify under one of the three categories above, even if you’re undocumented, you can apply for a minor child who qualifies and has a Social Security number. The child must live with the parent or guardian who applies for them.
FEMA or the Social Security Administration (SSA) can help you get Social Security Numbers for Children (PDF, 885 KB).
We will not ask any questions about citizenship status.
FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance
Before you apply, visit the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance page for details.
The COVID-19 national emergency ended on May 11, 2023. But this date does not affect the application period for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance or related expenses if you qualify.
FEMA will provide COVID-19 funeral assistance until September 30, 2025. This is the date set by Congress in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Other Programs
Other assistance programs are available, whether you’re a citizen or not. Programs like the Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP) and Disaster Legal Services (DLS). You may also be able to get other short-term, free emergency help, like mass shelters.
Voluntary Organizations
Voluntary organizations also offer help whether you’re a citizen or not. The resources below can help you find organizations in your area:
To apply for FEMA assistance over the phone, call the FEMA Helpline, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (in your time zone), 7 days a week. Hours may be longer during high disaster activity.
To find assistance from other agencies and learn how to apply, you have two options
To apply to other agencies, you must follow the each program's instructions. This may mean you need to go to other agency websites.
FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Helpline
The COVID-19 national emergency ended on May 11, 2023. But this date does not affect the application period for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance or related expenses if you qualify.
FEMA will provide COVID-19 funeral assistance until September 30, 2025. This is the date set by Congress in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
To apply for COVID-19 Funeral Assistance, and for ALL other questions and concerns about this program, call 1-844-684-6333, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET. Do not call the normal FEMA Helpline for help with this program.
If you use a video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone (CTS), or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.
You must apply by phone. FEMA will not accept online applications. Before you call, visit the COVID-19 Funeral Assistance page for more details.
To check the status of your application you need to create an account first.
To create an account:
Read How do I create an account to get instructions.
You must have an email address to create your account.
If you already have an account:
If you aren’t sure if you finished your application, call the FEMA Helpline, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (in your time zone), 7 days a week. Hours may be longer during high disaster activity.
Benefit amounts and lengths of time vary by agency and program. You can click Find Assistance on the Home page or Get Assistance menu to answer the questionnaire. This will help you find out what’s available.
Limits
All agencies have terms or limits to the amount of assistance they can offer.
FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program (IHP) may be able to give you money or direct services for vital needs not met through other means. IHP sets a yearly limit and not everyone qualifies for the highest amount.
IHP is extra aid meant to help you make your damaged home clean and safe to live in. It does not take the place of insurance and will not restore it to the state it was in before the disaster.
Proper Use
All money FEMA offers is tax-free and you must use it as required by your award letter. This may include renting another place to live, making home repairs, or for expenses to repair or replace personal property.
If you fail to use the money as required, that may disqualify you from other assistance.
Insurance
By law, FEMA can’t provide benefits for losses covered by your insurance. We can only help with certain losses your insurance didn’t cover. FEMA’s programs do not replace insurance and don't cover as much as an insurance policy. We can’t cover all disaster-related losses.
Assistance Periods
Repair and Replacement Assistance is a one‐time payment.
Temporary Housing Assistance is for a starting period of one, two, or three months.
If you need more help, you must prove you’ve spent any other FEMA money as required. And you must show you’ve made efforts to get permanent housing.
If longer Temporary Housing Assistance is approved, it will be for one, two, or three months at a time.
The longest period for IHP assistance is 18 months.
Yes. You do have the right to appeal if you don’t agree with FEMAʹs decision or the assistance you got. But you must appeal within 60 days of the date on your notification letter.
You may also call the FEMA Helpline, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (in your time zone), 7 days a week. Hours may be longer during high disaster activity.
It depends on the type of assistance you get.
You don’t usually have to repay assistance from FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program (IHP). But if you tell FEMA there's a delay in your insurance settlement, any money we pay you would be an advance. You must repay this when you get your settlement.
IHP only helps with vital needs. So most disaster help from the federal government is through low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). You must repay those loans.
If you want to report suspicious activity or disaster fraud, you can find contacts under the Disaster Fraud section of our Contact Us page.
If your area was hit by a disaster, but it hasn’t been declared for Individual Assistance yet, you may be still able to start an application now. We call this Early Registration.
Click Let’s Get Started or Apply Online on the Home page or Get Assistance menu. Then enter your location to find out if Early Registration is open for your area. If it is, you may start an application.
You may also find a special alert posted on the Home page to let you know it’s open and for which areas.
Early Registration lets you enter your application after a disaster hits, but before it gets declared for Individual Assistance.
At this point, you may be able to add details about damage and losses to your home and personal property. But the system will hold your application and send it through if the disaster is declared and includes your county or area.
Click Let’s Get Started or Apply Online on the Home page or Get Assistance menu. Then enter your location to find out if Early Registration is open for your area. If it is, you may start an application.
You may also find a special alert posted on the Home page to let you know it’s open and for which areas.
You must create an account to get back to your application later. Once you have an account, you can sign in, add to or finish your application, and check your status if it goes through
You can create an account during the application process. Or you can click Check Status from the Home page or Get Assistance menu to create your account.
Click Let’s Get Started or Apply Online on the Home page or Get Assistance menu. Then enter your location to find out if Early Registration is open for your area. If it is, you may start an application.
You may also find a special alert posted on the Home page to let you know it’s open and for which areas.
If your area isn’t currently open for Early Registration, or no alert is posted, check back again later. Not all disasters are opened for Early Registration.
When you start your application, you will be asked to create or sign in to a Login.gov account. You need an account to be able to get updates.
At the end of the process, you can choose to get email updates. Just select Yes and enter your email address. We will notify you if the disaster is declared.
If you don’t have an account or an email address, you’ll need to check back later to see if the disaster is declared and includes your area.
n some cases, yes, the system will submit your application for you from Early Registration. But the declaration must name your county or area for Individual Assistance.
When will the system submit my application for me?
The system submits your application if you finished it in Early Registration and your area is included in a federal declaration.
What can I do if I can’t get online?
If you can’t create or access an online account, you must call the FEMA Helpline to finish your application, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (in your time zone), 7 days a week. Hours may be longer during high disaster activity. You need your Application ID.
If you can't sign in to your account or have a lost or forgotten password, visit the Login.gov Help center, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
FEMA Help desk staff can’t help with your account or application. You must contact the FEMA Helpline or visit a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) for help with your application.
What if my county isn’t declared?
If the disaster declaration doesn’t name your county or area for Individual Assistance, your state emergency management agency or office may be able to offer other help.
But your area could also be added to the declaration later. So you can always come back to check again to find out if it’s been added.
You can also review your state website or FEMA's Disaster Declarations page.
If you have questions about Early Registration, you can call the FEMA Helpline, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (in your time zone), 7 days a week. Hours may be longer during high disaster activity.
What if my county isn’t declared?
If the disaster declaration doesn’t name your county or area for Individual Assistance, your state emergency management agency or office may be able to offer other help.
But your area could also be added to the declaration later. So you can always come back to check again to find out if it’s been added.
You can also review your state site or FEMA's Disaster Declarations page.