Stay in Touch
Review Your Application
Identity Verification
Proof of Occupancy
Home Inspection
Submit Documentation
Federal assistance from FEMA only provides funds for the basic repairs to make a home safe, sanitary and livable. Your assistance will be determined by comparing your recorded essential losses and serious needs to the types of assistance available within FEMA programs and services. You may also be referred to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for low-interest disaster loans to further assist with your recovery.
Stay in Touch
- Your application status may change a few times as it is reviewed. You can always check the latest status by logging into DisasterAssistance.gov.
- After logging in, you will see every application you made to FEMA. Select the application you wish to view. Then, select the Status tab.
- When applying, you will have the choice to sign up for email, phone calls, and text updates. You may receive official updates from FEMA through:
- emails from noreply-ecorr@dhs.gov or fema-automessaging@fema.intouchconnections.com or fema-automessaging@fema.dhs.gov
- calls from 1-800-621-3362 or 1-866-863-8673. Sometimes FEMA may call with a recorded voice message to give you information about your application.
- texts from 43362 or 91908.
Remain alert and protect yourself against scams, as con artists are creative and resourceful. Scam attempts can be made over the phone, by mail, email, through the internet, or in-person.
If you receive suspicious emails or phone calls, you can call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362 to verify if a FEMA call or email is legitimate.
- There are many types of assistance that you may be eligible to get. As your application is reviewed, you will see status changes. Sometimes for your application to continue in the review process, FEMA may need more information from you. You can send the documents with your name and application number by:
- Uploading documents online in the Upload Center at DisasterAssistance.gov.
- Mailing to FEMA, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055.
- Faxing to 1-800-827-8112.
- We may reach out to you a few different ways to confirm your eligibility for a type of assistance, such as home inspection or lodging program.
If your application status says, “Not Approved,” this can be for a variety of reasons. Check online for a copy of your determination letter that will explain the specific reasons you are not approved. Many times, we just need some extra information, or you may need to correct information.
Contact us at 1-800-621-3362 or visit us at a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) to make corrections to your application. You can upload documents to your application online.
You can also appeal FEMA's decision.
Review Your Application on DisasterAssistance.gov
You can create an online FEMA Disaster Assistance Center (DAC) account at DisasterAssistance.gov. You will be instructed to create a unique Personal Identification Number (PIN) for secure access to your disaster assistance application information.
Within your online account, you can:
- Review your disaster assistance application information
- Provide updates pertaining to your personal information and needs
- View letters and messaging sent to you by FEMA
- Get details on additional documents that FEMA needs to process your assistance
- Upload documents your file
- Review information that FEMA has received from you
For help to create or sign into your account: Visit the Login.gov Help Center.
NOTE: Login.gov can’t answer questions about your application or information in your account, or questions about other technical issues on DisasterAssistance.gov.
Verify Your Identity
If FEMA is unable to verify your identity during the application process, you will be required to submit supporting documents.
Supporting Documents for Identity Verification
Documentation to verify your identity*
- Documentation from the Social Security Administration, or other federal entity, containing full or last four digits of your Social Security Number (SSN)
- Social Security card if sent with federal or state-issued identification
- Employer’s payroll document containing full or last four digits of your SSN
- Military identification
- Marriage license to confirm proof of maiden name
- U.S. passport
*On a case by case basis FEMA may allow applicants residing in U.S. territories to submit specific identity verification documents, such as voter registration cards, etc.
If you applied for assistance on behalf of a U.S. minor (child) citizen for your household, you must send FEMA the following:
Any of the documents listed to the left, if in the child’s name OR
Child’s birth certificate AND a copy of the child’s Social Security card or documentation from the Social Security Administration, or other federal entity, containing the full or last four digits of the child’s SSN.
Verify Home Ownership/Occupancy
FEMA is required by law to verify an applicant's home occupancy and to verify homeownership if you are applying for certain types of housing assistance.
View Approved Documents
Get a Home Inspection
After you apply with FEMA, your request for assistance is reviewed to determine if an inspection is needed to verify disaster-related damage to your home and personal property.
FEMA home inspections are now being conducted in-person. Disaster survivors’ health and safety remain FEMA’s priority so the agency will maintain the ability to conduct inspections via exterior validation without entering the home when survivors are apprehensive due to COVID-19 uncertainties.
Learn More on Home Inspections
Submit Documentation
You can visit DisasterAssistance.gov to submit documentation and check the status of your application online.
Realizing an online system alone may not meet the needs of survivors, FEMA also set up Documentation Drop-off Centers where survivors can apply for assistance, ask questions, have their documents scanned into their case file and returned to them on-site.
Find a Disaster Recovery and Document Drop-off Center
