QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT CITIZENSHIP STATUS FOR DISASTER
ASSISTANCE ELIGIBILITY
[https://www.fema.gov/fact-sheet/questions-and-answers-about-citizenship-status-disaster-assistance-eligibility]


Release Date: 
Sep 17, 2024 

_Q: HOW DOES MY CITIZENSHIP STATUS AFFECT MY ELIGIBILITY FOR DISASTER
ASSISTANCE?_

A: FEMA and the state, territory, or tribal government may provide
direct and financial disaster assistance to U.S. citizens, non-citizen
nationals and qualified non-citizens. If an applicant does not meet
the citizenship or immigration status at the time of application, the
household may still apply for certain forms of federal assistance if
the parent or legal guardian of a minor child who is a U.S. citizen,
non-citizen national, or qualified non-citizen applies for assistance
on behalf of the minor child, so long as they live in the same
household. The parent or legal guardian must apply as the
co-applicant, and the minor child must be under age 18 at the time the
disaster occurred.

Even if you or your family do not qualify for financial disaster
assistance, please call FEMA at 800-621-3362 for information and
referral to other programs that can assist you regardless of your
immigration status.

_Q: WHAT KIND OF ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE NO MATTER MY CITIZENSHIP
STATUS?_

A: Available programs vary per disaster. Regardless of citizenship
and immigration status, all individuals affected by a major disaster
may be eligible for crisis counseling assistance, disaster legal
services, disaster case management, disaster supplemental nutrition
assistance program and other non-monetary, in-kind emergency
disaster-relief programs. These include medical care, shelter, food
and water. 

_Q: DO I NEED A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER TO APPLY FOR FEMA ASSISTANCE?_

A: Yes, you, another adult, or a minor child member in your household
must have a Social Security number. If you don't have a Social
Security number, go to the Social Security Number and Card page
[https://www.ssa.gov/number-card] to get instructions on what to do
and what documents you will need.

_Q: WHAT TYPES OF NON-CITIZEN NATIONALS CAN RECEIVE FEDERAL DISASTER
ASSISTANCE?_

A: A qualified non-citizen national includes: 

	* Legal Permanent Residents (“Green Card” holders).
	* Non-citizens granted asylum.
	* Refugees.
	* Non-citizens whose deportation status is being withheld for at
least one year.
	* Non-citizens paroled into the U.S. for at least one year for urgent
humanitarian purposes or significant public benefit.
	* Cuban/Haitian entrants.
	* Certain battered non-citizens or their spouses or children.
	* Certain victims of a severe form of human trafficking, including
persons with a “T” or “U” visa.

If you’re unsure of your immigration status, talk to an immigration
expert to learn if your status falls within the immigration status
requirements for FEMA disaster assistance.

Assistance for eligible individuals and small businesses includes
funds for temporary housing and necessary home repairs, individual and
household grants, disaster unemployment assistance, low-interest
disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration and other
programs.

For those impacted by the May 21-27 severe storms, straight-line
winds, tornadoes, landslides and mudslides in Kentucky, the deadline
to apply for FEMA assistance is Sept. 23.

For the latest information on Kentucky’s recovery from the May 21-27
severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, landslides and
mudslides, as well as news releases, fact sheets and other helpful
documents in multiple languages, please visit fema.gov/disaster/4804
[http://www.fema.gov/disaster/4804]. Follow FEMA at x.com/femaregion4
[https://x.com/femaregion4]and facebook.com/fema
[http://www.facebook.com/fema].