Using Your FEMA Individual Assistance Funds

Do you have questions about spending your FEMA Individual Assistance grant funds? The following answers West Virginians’ frequently asked questions about receiving and spending Individual Assistance grant funds and provides options on how to find information related to your application. 

West Virginia residents, both homeowners and renters, in Logan, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Wayne, and Wyoming counties who experienced losses due to the winter floods from Feb. 15 – 18, 2025 may be eligible for disaster recovery Individual Assistance from FEMA.

Spending FEMA Individual Assistance Funds

Is FEMA Individual Assistance funding a loan that I will have to pay back?

FEMA Individual Assistance grant funds are not a loan. If you use your FEMA grant funds appropriately, the funds do not need to be repaid.

Do I need to keep a record of how I spent my FEMA assistance funds?

It is important to follow any and all instructions that may come with your FEMA grant funding. You should keep receipts for the February storm-related expenses for three years. Receipts may be needed to verify that the grant was used to meet disaster-related needs.

What do FEMA Individual Assistance grants cover? 

FEMA assistance funds can only be used for disaster-related expenses. Your FEMA determination letter will inform you of the types of assistance you are eligible to receive and the amount of assistance provided. Eligible needs may include:

• Repairs to make a home safe, sanitary, and fit to live in.
• Rental assistance to temporarily pay for a place to stay.
• Repair or replacement of a disaster-damaged essential vehicle.
• Medical care for an injury caused by the disaster.
• Replacing clothing, personal property (e.g., TVs, appliances, computers), occupational tools, and educational materials.
• Replacing damaged medical equipment.

You are expected to use FEMA assistance funds for their stated purpose. Misusing FEMA funds can lead to the termination of existing, ongoing FEMA benefits and/or make you ineligible for future federal assistance. If you have questions, reach out to a FEMA representative for help. 

Additional Questions 

Can FEMA take my property or land?

FEMA cannot seize your property or land, even if you are unable to repay the agency for any duplicated benefits (e.g., funds from FEMA and your insurance benefits that reimburse the same thing). Applying for disaster assistance does not grant FEMA or the federal government authority to take ownership of your property or land. 

Am I eligible for assistance from FEMA if I have insurance? 

FEMA cannot provide money for expenses covered by insurance or duplicate benefits from another source. However, FEMA may be able to help with unmet needs, including uninsured or underinsured losses.

What should I do if I receive financial assistance from more than one source?

FEMA funding may only be one type of help you receive after a disaster. By law, FEMA cannot cover expenses that have already been covered by other sources like insurance, crowdfunding, local or state programs, donations, or financial assistance from voluntary agencies.

If you received funds from other sources, send FEMA documentation showing how those funds were used. If your losses were not covered by these other sources, FEMA assistance may be able to fill the gap. For example, if you have insurance, FEMA may be able to cover uninsured or underinsured losses. 

If a private or nonprofit organization tells you that you need to provide them with your FEMA funds or reimburse them for any support they provided, you can report this as fraudulent action by emailing StopFEMAFraud@fema.dhs.gov or using the National Center for Disaster Fraud Complaint Form.

Residents, both homeowners and renters, who sustained losses can apply for FEMA assistance or find for more information regarding their existing applications in several ways:

• Visiting DisasterAssistance.gov.
• Downloading the FEMA App.
• Calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.
  • Phone lines are open every day and help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service such as video relay service (VRS) or captioned telephone service, please provide FEMA your number for that service.
• Speaking with someone in person.
  • Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams will be on the ground in impacted communities, walking door-to-door to share information and help residents apply for FEMA assistance.
  • In coordination with the West Virginia Emergency Management Division (WVEMD) and officials in impacted counties, FEMA has opened Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Logan, Mercer, McDowell, Mingo, and Wyoming counties. At a Disaster Recovery Center, you can get help applying for federal assistance, update your application, and learn about other resources available.

DRCs are open to all, including survivors with mobility issues, impaired vision, and those who are who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

For more information on West Virginia’s disaster recovery, visit emd.wv.gov, West Virginia Emergency Management Division Facebook page, www.fema.gov/disaster/4861 and www.facebook.com/FEMA.

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