When you apply for disaster assistance, FEMA must verify your identity to ensure you receive the aid you’re eligible for. If FEMA is unable to verify your identity through public records, you may be required to submit additional documents.
Acceptable Documents to Verify Identity
To confirm your identity, send FEMA copies of:
- A document from the Social Security Administration or other federal entity that shows your full or the last four digits of your Social Security Number;
- Federal or state-issued identification AND your Social Security Card;
- Employer's payroll document containing full or last four digits of your SSN;
- Military identification;
- Marriage license (to confirm your maiden name); or
- U.S. passport.
If applying on behalf of a U.S. citizen child under 18, send FEMA the following:
- Any of the documents listed above if in the child's name; or
- The child's birth certificate AND a copy of their Social Security card, or document from the Social Security Administration or other federal entity that contains the full or last four digits of the child's SSN.
How to Submit Your Documents
All documents can be sent to FEMA in one of these ways:
- Upload to your DisasterAssistance.gov account;
- Mail to: FEMA National Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055;
- Fax to 800-827-8112; or,
- Submit in-person at a Disaster Recovery Center. To find a center near you, visit fema.gov/drc.
FEMA is committed to ensuring disaster assistance is accomplished equitably, without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status. Any disaster survivor or member of the public may contact the FEMA Civil Rights Office if they feel that they are the victim of discrimination. FEMA’s Civil Rights Office can be contacted toll-free at 833-285-7448. Multilingual operators are available.