Disasters Declared After March 22, 2024
FEMA partners with other agencies to help meet the needs of disaster survivors. 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.
You may have been referred to SBA after applying for FEMA disaster assistance. If you still have unmet needs, loans may help with home repair or replacement, personal property, vehicles, mitigation, business losses, and working capital for small business and most private nonprofits.
For disasters declared on or after March 22, 2024, you may choose to complete an SBA disaster loan application and it will not impact your eligibility for FEMA assistance.
If you are approved for a loan, you are not obligated to accept it.
Funds you get from SBA must be repaid over time.
For questions about the SBA disaster loan program, please call the SBA at 800-659-2955 (TTY: 800-877-8339). SBA information is also available at www.SBA.gov/disaster or by email at disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
Survivors who have questions for FEMA or need information can always call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.
Disasters Declared Before March 22, 2024
If you were affected by a disaster declared before March 22, 2024, and are referred to the SBA, you must complete an SBA disaster loan application to be eligible for Personal Property Assistance, Transportation Assistance and/or Group Flood Insurance Policy (GFIP).
You can complete an application on the SBA website or at a Disaster Recovery Center.
FEMA is not allowed to provide money for these losses to people who may qualify for an SBA loan. FEMA will automatically refer you to SBA to be considered for a disaster loan if you meet SBA’s income standards. FEMA will use your household annual gross income and number of dependents to determine if it will refer you to SBA.
If you are approved for a loan, you are not obligated to accept it. If you apply and are not eligible for a low-interest disaster loan, this may open the door to an additional grant from FEMA. However, if you are approved and you do not accept it, you will not be referred back to FEMA for additional assistance.
If the SBA does not offer you a loan or only offers a partial loan, SBA will notify FEMA. We can review your application to see if you qualify for additional disaster assistance.
FEMA may be able to help with the following even if you don’t apply for a loan from the SBA:
- Home Repair or Replacement
- Rental Assistance
- Medical
- Dental
- Serious Needs
- Child Care
- Funeral
- Clean and Sanitize
- Moving and Storage
- Miscellaneous Items