Homeowners and renters in South Carolina who can’t return to their home because it was damaged by Hurricane Helene may be eligible for FEMA Displacement Assistance.
Displacement Assistance is money survivors can use to stay in a hotel or motel, stay with family and friends, or stay in any other available housing option.
Who can get Displacement Assistance?
Survivors may be eligible for Displacement Assistance if:
- The impacted home was a primary residence that is lived in most of the year.
- FEMA can confirm the applicant’s identity.
- The home is in a declared disaster area. This includes Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Cherokee, Chester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Kershaw, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Union and York counties and the Catawba Indian Nation.
- A FEMA inspection determines the home is not safe to live in, or an inspection can’t be completed because the home is inaccessible.
- The homeowner is uninsured, or their insurance doesn’t have Additional Living Expense or Loss of Use coverage.
- The applicant or someone in the household is a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national or qualified non-citizen.
How much Displacement Assistance can you get?
The amount of money provided for Displacement Assistance is based on 14 days of hotel costs at a rate chosen by the state, territory or Tribal Nation impacted by the disaster. Displacement Assistance is a one-time payment. If you have used your Displacement Assistance and still have housing needs, you may be eligible for FEMA Rental Assistance.
What if you are insured?
Those who are insured may have Additional Living Expenses or Loss of Use coverage on their policy and should contact their insurance company. If the insurance denies a survivor’s claim or the survivor does not have these types of coverage, they may be able to get Displacement Assistance.
Once Additional Living Expenses or Loss of Use benefits have been exhausted, applicants cannot get Displacement Assistance, but may get Rental Assistance by sending FEMA documents that show they spent those benefits and still need help paying for temporary housing. Survivors should be aware that FEMA needs to see insurance documentation because the agency cannot pay for costs covered by another source.
How To Apply
If you have not applied for FEMA assistance yet, there is still time to submit your application. You can apply in several ways:
- Online at DisasterAssistance.gov.
- In person at any Disaster Recovery Center. To find a center close to you, visit fema.gov/DRC, or text DRC along with your Zip Code to 43362 (Example: “DRC 29169”).
- On your phone using the FEMA mobile app.
- By calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in many languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. For a video with American Sign Language, voiceover and open captions about how to apply for FEMA assistance, select this link.
FEMA programs are accessible to survivors with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.