June 5, 2009
Connie Kiefer
External Affairs
Resource Manager Specialist
FEMA

FEMA ineligibility letter may not be the last word

Volusia County residents who have applied for federal disaster assistance should not despair if the first response they receive from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is a letter disallowing the application.

A denial letter does not necessarily mean an applicant cannot receive state-federal assistance. It may simply mean FEMA did not receive all the information the agency is required by law to have before providing financial aid using public funds. In that case, an appeal that supplies the missing information may be successful.

In all instances, the reason for ineligibility is clearly identified in the denial letter. Often, a determination of applicant ineligibility is simply the absence of a signed declaration and release form. Another reason concerns insurance. FEMA cannot provide assistance if it is available from another source, including insurance. Assistance programs are not intended to duplicate insurance compensation for disaster-related loss or damage.

If an insurance settlement does not cover all of the disaster-related losses, applicants have the right to ask FEMA to review the initial decision to determine if other forms of assistance are available.

Other reasons FEMA might send a denial letter could be:

• Failure to provide proof of home ownership at the time of the disaster, which results in an ineligibility for FEMA home repair or replacement help;
• Failure to keep appointments with the housing inspector who must evaluate disaster-related losses;
• Failure to provide proof the damaged property was the
  applicant's primary residence at the time of the disaster. Applicants receiving denial letters may visit either of the two Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Volusia County to talk with FEMA recovery specialists about any reasons cited for ineligibility.

When visiting the center, providing a copy of the denial letter will help the specialist in preparing an update to the initial application.

Current locations are:

• Holly Hill Community Recreational Center
  1046 Daytona Ave.
  Holly Hill, FL 32117
• Dickerson Center
  308 South Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd.
  Daytona Beach, FL 32114

Another source of helpful information is the FEMA Helpline at
800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585 for people with a speech or hearing impairment. The helpline is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time seven days a week. Multilingual customer service representatives are available. Applicants also may register or check the status of their application on the agency's Web site, www.disasterassistance.gov.