FEMA Disaster Grants Won’t Affect Social Security, Other Benefits
WAYNESVILLE, N.C. – Applying for federal disaster assistance from FEMA will not affect other federal benefits that western North Carolina disaster survivors may receive.
Residents in Buncombe, Haywood and Transylvania counties who register with FEMA may have questions about whether funds from FEMA might cause them to lose other federal payments to which they are entitled.
FEMA disaster grants are not taxable income. Accepting a FEMA grant will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and other federal welfare and entitlement programs.
Disaster grants help survivors pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs, essential personal property replacement and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other sources.
You can apply for disaster assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800.621.3362, or by using the FEMA mobile app. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. Lines are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. local time, seven days a week.
The deadline for applications is Nov. 8, 2021.
For an American Sign Language video on this topic, go online to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii7nc94B30c.
For more information about Tropical Storm Fred recovery in North Carolina, visit fema.gov/disaster/4617 and ncdps.gov/TSFred. Follow us on Twitter: @NCEmergency and @FEMARegion4.
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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.