Filing a late application for federal assistance

Release Date Release Number
DR-4676-IL NR-025
Release Date:
January 11, 2023

ST. CLAIR COUNTY, IL. – For homeowners and renters who sustained damage from the July 25-28 floods in St. Clair County, the deadline to apply for federal assistance has passed. In rare cases, though, you may be eligible to submit a late application to FEMA.

ELIGIBILITY FOR LATE APPLICATION 

FEMA may consider a late application if extraordinary circumstances kept you from applying before the Dec. 22 deadline and you send the following documents:

  • A signed letter of explanation; AND
  • Supporting documentation that clearly confirms why you were unable to apply during the application period. These include:
    • Record of hospitalization, illness, disability of the applicant or an immediate family member;
    • Death of an immediate family member;
    • Proof of personal or business travel that kept the applicant out of the area for the full application period; OR
    • Evidence of unique disaster specific circumstances

LATE APPLICATION PROCESS

You have 60 days from Dec. 22, 2022, which was the FEMA application deadline, to complete a late application. There are several ways you can submit a late application for FEMA disaster assistance:

  • Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov
  • Download and use the FEMA mobile app to apply
  • Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 to apply
  • If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service. The Helpline is open seven days a week, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Press 2 for Spanish or 3 for an interpreter who speaks your language.

MAIL, FAX OR UPLOAD YOUR LATE APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

You must submit valid documents within 60 days from the date the late application was completed. Be sure to sign and date your documents. Include your nine-digit FEMA application number and the disaster number (DR-4676-IL) on all supporting documents.

Mail to: FEMA National Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055

Fax: 800-827-8112, Attention: FEMA

Upload documents: An easy way to provide any additional information needed is to set up an online account and upload documents there. To set up or upload documents, go to www.DisasterAssistance.gov, click on “Check Your Application and Log In” and follow the directions. Be sure to sign and date your appeal. Include your nine-digit FEMA application number, the disaster number (DR-4676-IL) and documents to support your appeal.

NON-FEDERAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE

Local non-profit and private organizations may be able to offer additional assistance if you’re ineligible for federal assistance or if you didn’t receive enough assistance to cover your disaster related expenses. The United Way of Greater St. Louis, Inc. helps connect flood survivors to resources that will help with the recovery process.

You can call 2-1-1 if you need help with

  • Childcare
  • Employment
  • Food
  • Healthcare
  • Housing
  • Insurance
  • Transportation, and
  • Other basic needs

Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 833-285-7448. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. Multilingual operators are available (press 2 for Spanish and 3 for other languages).

For disaster updates from FEMA, follow @FEMAregion5 on Twitter, and turn on mobile notifications. Visit the disaster webpage at fema.gov/disaster/4676.

For disaster updates from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), follow @ReadyIllinois on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and turn on mobile notifications. http://www.illinois.gov/iema/ continues to be a go-to, single source to help Illinois residents easily find information and disaster-related resources.

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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.

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