Release Date:
October 9, 2023
FEMA is committed to helping all eligible survivors recover from the Aug. 8 Maui wildfires, including U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals and qualified non-citizens. Survivors who do not qualify for federal assistance may still call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 for referrals to other sources of aid.
- Survivors with losses due to the Maui wildfires may apply for assistance from FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program from anywhere you currently reside.
- You or a member of your household must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or other qualified non-citizen. If you do not meet that legal status, your household may still apply for and be considered for FEMA assistance:
- If another member of your household meets the eligibility criteria and certifies their citizenship status during the registration process or signs the Declaration and Release form.
- If the person with qualifying status is the homeowner, that person may apply for FEMA assistance for the entire household, including housing assistance.
- The parent or guardian of a minor child living in the same household may apply for assistance on behalf of the child who is a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified non-citizen. The parent or legal guardian must register with FEMA as the co-applicant, and the minor child must have been under age 18 at the time the disaster occurred.
- Renters with eligible citizenship status are limited to a federal grant to replace their own disaster-damaged personal belongings or other essential services such as medical and dental bills or childcare needs caused by the wildfires.
Qualified Non-Citizens
- Qualified non-citizens include:
- a legal permanent resident (“green card” holder)
- an asylee, refugee or a non-citizen whose deportation is being withheld
- a non-citizen who enters the U.S. for at least one year under humanitarian circumstances
- a Cuban or Haitian entrant
- certain non-citizens subjected to extreme cruelty or those who have been a victim of a severe form of human trafficking, including persons with a “T” or “U” visa
Non-Citizen Nationals
- A non-citizen national is a person born in a U.S. territory (such as American Samoa and Swains Island) on or after the date the U.S. acquired the territory. This can also be a person whose parents are U.S. non-citizen nationals.
Qualified Minor Children
- The parent or guardian of a minor child living in the same household may apply for assistance on behalf of the minor child who is a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified non-citizen. The minor child must be under age 18 as of the first day of the disaster, Tuesday, Aug. 8.
Resources
- See Citizenship and Immigration Status Requirements for Federal Public Benefits for more information in multiple languages at fema.gov/assistance/individual/program/citizenship-immigration-status.
- If you’re unsure of your immigration status, talk to an immigration expert. You may also call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 to learn if your status falls within the immigration status requirements for FEMA disaster assistance. If you do not qualify for a nontaxable FEMA grant, you may still be able to receive other forms of non-cash assistance. Non-profit organizations offer help without regard to citizenship status.
- Visit nvoad.org/ to learn about other voluntary organizations.
Apply for FEMA Disaster Assistance
- If you were affected by the Maui wildfires, you are encouraged to apply for FEMA disaster assistance. There are several ways to apply:
- Go to DisasterAssistance.gov
- Use the FEMA mobile app
- Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. If you use video relay service, captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service when you apply. Helpline operators are available from 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Press 2 for Spanish. Press 3 for an interpreter who speaks your language.
- For an accessible video on how to apply, go to youtube.com/watch?v=WZGpWI2RCNw
- For the latest information on the Maui wildfire recovery efforts, visit mauirecovers.org, mauicounty.gov and fema.gov/disaster/4724. Follow FEMA on social media: @FEMARegion9 and facebook.com/fema.