Registering for FEMA assistance

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Phebe Morgan
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1 Skagit Cunty Emergency Management Registering fr FEMA assistance What Infrmatin d I Need t Apply? Whether applying nline ( ) OR ver the phne FEMA (3362), yu shuld have a pen and paper and the fllwing infrmatin ready: Yur Scial Security number. Current and pre-disaster address. A telephne number where yu can be cntacted. Insurance infrmatin. Ttal husehld annual incme A ruting and accunt number frm yur bank (nly necessary if yu want t have disaster assistance funds transferred directly int yur bank accunt) A descriptin f yur lsses that were caused by the disaster. (The speech r hearing impaired may call (TTY) ) After yu've cmpleted yur applicatin fr assistance, yu will receive a FEMA applicatin number. Write dwn this number and keep it fr future reference. Nte: FEMA verifies the name and scial security number f thse registering fr disaster assistance. If the name and scial security number n file with the scial security administratin des nt match the infrmatin yu prvide yu will be asked t submit a cpy f an riginal dcument, e.g. marriage license, military ID, tax dcuments, etc., fr prf f identity. A need t review and update identity dcumentatin may cause delays in delivery f assistance. Registering n-line ( ) and having technical difficulties? Call 1 (800) (800) (TTY users please cntact yur TRS t cnnect yu.) Fr mre infrmatin n the prcess and frequently asked questins, visit the fllwing website n line:

2 After 24 hurs yu will be able t check the status f yur applicatin using ne f the methds belw. Online: By Phne: Lg in t the DisasterAssistance.gv site Call: 1 (800) 621-FEMA (3362). Speech r hearing disability? 1 (800) TTY In Persn: Visit a Disaster Recvery Center Please Nte: If yu d nt wait 24 hurs yu may nt see yur registratin. This des nt mean yu are nt registered. It may simply mean that yur registratin has nt been prcessed yet. Registering mre than nce will result in a delay f yur applicatin. Okay, I'm registered, what next? 1. FEMA will mail yu a cpy f yur applicatin an applicants guide that will answer many f yur questins "Help After a Disaster: Applicant's Guide t the Individuals and Husehlds Prgram" 2. An inspectr will cntact yu. What happens at the inspectin? What happens after the inspectin? 3. Yu may need t cmplete additinal frms. Declaratin and Release Frm (Need t prvide t the inspectr) Verifies that a member f the husehld is a citizen, nn-citizen natinal r qualified alien f the United States. (PDF 36 KB, TXT 6KB)

3 If Yu Received Assistance What Can I Spend the Mney On? I ve been tld I need t repay sme f the mney I was given, hw d I d that? If Yu Were Denied Assistance Why am I nt Eligible fr assistance? I Want t Have My Case Reviewed Again What Happens at the Inspectin? If yu d NOT have insurance Wait days after yu apply. An inspectr will cntact yu t schedule a time t review yur damaged hme. If yu have insurance File yur insurance claim first. Prvide FEMA with a decisin letter (settlement r denial) frm yur insurance cmpany An inspectr will cntact yu t schedule a time t review yur damaged hme. If yu have fld insurance File yur insurance claim. An inspectr will cntact yu t schedule a time t review yur damaged hme. Yu d NOT need t prvide a cpy f yur fld insurance decisin letter t us befre FEMA will schedule an inspectin. Since temprary living expenses are nt cvered by fld insurance, an inspectin will be scheduled after yu apply fr assistance.

4 What happens during the inspectin? 1. An inspectr will schedule a time t meet yu at yur damaged hme. Please Nte: In areas where access is still severely limited, it may take lnger fr an inspectin. Inspectrs are cntractrs, nt FEMA emplyees, but yur inspectr will have FEMA identificatin. Inspectrs file yur reprt but d nt determine yur eligibility. There is n fee fr the inspectin. 2. The inspectr will visit yur prperty t assess the damage related t the disaster. During the inspectin: Yu must be present fr yur scheduled appintment and prvide prf f wnership and ccupancy t the inspectr. If yu cannt be present, yu may designate smene (ver the age f 18) t meet the inspectr n yur behalf. Yu may be asked t sign a frm authrizing this individual t meet the inspectr. 3. After the inspectin, yu will be asked t sign a frm authrizing FEMA t verify that the infrmatin yu have given is crrect.

5 Applying fr Assistance Online Hw d I apply fr Disaster Assistance? FEMA ffers tw ways t apply fr disaster assistance. The newest is t apply n-line thrugh the DisasterAssistance.gv website - Register fr Assistance. The traditinal way is t call FEMA, FEMA (3362) and register ver the phne r TTY fr the speech and hearing impaired. What are the hardware (system) and sftware requirements fr accessing and filing a disaster registratin? A cmputer that has access t the Internet and FireFx 1.0, Netscape 8.0, AOL 9.0, Safari, and Micrsft Internet Explrer 6.0 as its Web brwser shuld wrk efficiently with the FEMA Internet RI system. We further recmmend a minimum Pentium III and 128 mb f Ram fr IE 6.0, with an actual minimum requirement f a 486/66 MHZ prcessr, Windws 98, Windws ME, Windws NT 4.0, Windws 2000, r Windws XP. In additin, fr Win 98 we suggest 16 MB f RAM, Windws ME 32 MB f RAM, Win NT 32 MB f RAM, Win MB f RAM, and Win XP 32 MB r RAM. Fr mnitrs, we recmmend a Super VGA (800 X 600) r higher reslutin mnitr with 256 clrs. If I d nt have a cmputer at hme, hw can I apply using the Internet? Yu can apply nline frm any cmputer that uses Micrsft Internet Explrer 6.0 fr access t the internet. If yu dn't have a hme cmputer, yu can check with yur lcal library, cmmunity center, r family/friends fr an available cmputer t access the internet. Des the registratin sftware have a time-ut feature? Yes. The registratin sftware will time-ut after 45 minutes f n activity. If yu timeut during the registratin prcess, yur registratin will nt be saved. If this happens yu have three ptins: 1. When yur cnnectivity is restred, begin yur registratin again, 2. Call the FEMA Technical Helpdesk at , 3. Call FEMA (3362) and cmplete a registratin ver the phne. What if I lse my internet cnnectin during the registratin prcess? There are tw ptins available if yu lse yur internet cnnectin during the registratin prcess: 1. If yur registratin did nt cmplete, when yur internet cnnectin becmes available, start the registratin ver and reenter the infrmatin, 2. Call the FEMA Technical Helpdesk at ,

6 3. Call FEMA (3362) t cmplete yur registratin ver the phne. Where can I btain technical assistance fr filling ut the registratin? If yu need technical assistance cmpleting the FEMA Internet Registratin, yu can call the FEMA Technical Helpdesk tll-free number: This line availability crrespnds with the hurs fr teleregistratin. If I register mre than nce fr a specific disaster will it delay the prcessing f my registratin? Yes, registering mre than nce fr a specific disaster will delay the prcessing f yur registratin because duplicates must be recnciled befre prcessing is initiated. Can I print the electrnic registratin frm, cmplete it, and mail it t FEMA? N. We d nt accept any registratins thrugh the mail. Can I print a cpy f my cmpleted registratin? N. A cpy f yur cmpleted registratin will be sent t yu thrugh the mail within tw weeks alng with a pamphlet titled, "Help After a Disaster, Applicant's Guide t the Individuals and Husehlds Prgram ". This pamphlet shuld answer many f the questins yu may have regarding FEMA's prgram. Hw will I knw if my electrnic registratin was received? At the end f the registratin prcess, yu will receive a cnfirmatin screen infrming yu that yur registratin is cmplete, alng with a 9 digit registratin ID number. Within tw weeks yu will receive thrugh the mail a cpy f yur registratin, and a pamphlet titled, "Help After a Disaster, Applicant's Guide t the Individuals and Husehlds Prgram ". When will I hear abut the status f my registratin and whether r nt I'm eligible fr assistance? Within tw weeks f submitting yur registratin t FEMA, yu will receive by mail a cpy, alng with a pamphlet titled, "Help After a Disaster, Applicant's Guide t the Individuals and Husehlds Prgram ". This pamphlet shuld answer many f the questins yu may have regarding FEMA's prgram. If yur registratin is issued t an inspectr t evaluate yur damages, an inspectr will be in cntact with yu within seven t furteen days f registering. Fllwing the inspectin, yu will receive a letter in the mail advising yu f yur eligibility. If yu are eligible fr assistance, yu will receive the eligible amunt either thrugh the mail by check, r thrugh direct depsit int yur checking r savings accunt, depending n hw yu respnded t the Electrnic Funds Transfer questin during registratin. Hw d I update my applicatin with my new phne number r persnal infrmatin? Call the FEMA Disaster Helpline at FEMA (3362) (hearing/speech impaired ONLY-call TTY: ), r visit a Disaster Recvery Center.

7 What if I frget my registratin number? Yur Registratin ID Number is displayed n all crrespndence sent t yu by FEMA. Hwever, if yu are crrespnding with FEMA and cannt find yur number, yu can call the FEMA Helpline at FEMA (3362). Creating an Accunt D I have t register n-line t be able t create an accunt and access my persnal applicatin infrmatin thrugh the internet? N. T set-up accunt access g t the Online Individual Assistance Center, Select "Review yur Applicatin", then select "Create My Accunt" May a FEMA representative create my persnal accunt access fr me? N,a user must establish their wn accunt. If yu have difficulty setting-up yur Accunt Access call the Technical Assistance Desk at Hw can I create my persnal accunt t access my FEMA applicatin(s) n-line? Frm the "Cnclusin" screen f the n-line disaster assistance registratin click "Create Accunt" r * G click n "Register Online", Select "Review yur Applicatin", then select "Create My Accunt" I changed my address since I registered fr disaster assistance. Can I use a different address t create my persnal access accunt? Yes. When yu create yur persnal accunt access yur PIN will be sent t the address yu identify n yur access accunt creatin. What infrmatin is needed t create my persnal accunt access? Title (Mr/Ms) First and last name Address Cntact phne number address Date f birth Mther's maiden name Scial Security Number (Nte: T access yur FEMA applicatin, the name, address, and persnal infrmatin must be the same as that used t register fr disaster assistance.) Is Organizatin" a required field? What des it mean? It is nt a required field and shuld be ignred by individuals registering t access their persnal accunt infrmatin. The assistance center is als used by grups that are applying fr ther FEMA prgrams. This field prvides a lcatin fr the user t identify the rganizatin they represent.

8 Is an address required t Create My Accunt Access? Yes. Yu must have an address t create yur accunt access. Yur address is the nly way a PIN can be sent t yu; the PIN is required t access yur persnal accunt. Yu may wish t cnsider creating an address thrugh ne f the numerus public prviders. When I gt t the end f my registratin a message said I had nt cmpleted entries in certain fields; I fllwed the instructins and edited the required fields; d I have t g thrugh every screen again t get t the end f my registratin? N. Yu must click n the NEXT" buttn t retain yur entries; this will take yu t the next screen. Frm there use yur Muse" and click n the Incme" tab at the tp f yur screen, this takes yu t the last screen in the registratin; click NEXT" t cmplete the registratin prcess. Hw is a PIN created? The PIN is a fur character cmputer-generated item that is created and sent t the address prvided when yu created yur applicatin access accunt. Hw d I get a PIN and hw lng will it take? Yur PIN is sent when yu register fr access t yur Persnal Accunt r when yu change yur Passwrd. Yu shuld receive yur PIN at the address listed n yur accunt creatin within 24 hurs. Updating Yur Persnal Infrmatin Can I update my infrmatin thrugh my persnal access accunt? Yu can save time and d many f the same things nline that yu can d ver the phne, including: Check the status f yur case View and update yur Electrnic Funds Transfer (EFT) infrmatin View and update yur address and phne number(s) View yur insurance type(s) and plicy number(s) View letters and infrmatin requests sent t yu Verify letters and infrmatin requests sent t yu View letters that yu have sent t FEMA View agency referrals Get updates n the status f inspectins being cnducted by FEMA My address has changed. D I need t update my persnal accunt access? Hw? This is yur chice. The address identified when the accunt was created is used any time yu update r frget yur User ID, Passwrd, r Pin. T change yur address a new Access Accunt will need t be created.

9 Accessing Yur Infrmatin Can I access my FEMA applicatin infrmatin thrugh the internet? Yes. G t the DisasterAssistance.gv website. Frm this site yu will be able t: * Register fr Assistance * Access yur persnal accunt infrmatin Why d I have t wait 24-hurs frm the time I receive my PIN t access my accunt infrmatin? Yu are asked t wait 24-hurs t ensure sufficient time fr all yur applicatin infrmatin t becme viewable in the Individual Assistance Center. Once I have a PIN, what additinal infrmatin is needed t access my file? T access yur persnal accunt infrmatin yu will need: * yur Username (User ID) *Passwrd * PIN *Scial Security Number Can anybdy access my internet persnal accunt? N. T access yur persnal accunt the user wuld need yur User ID, Passwrd, and PIN. The nly way anyne else wuld have this infrmatin is if yu prvide it t them. FEMA will never cntact yu and ask fr yur User ID, Passwrd, r PIN and strngly recmmends they nt be shared. What d I d if I frget my username, passwrd, r PIN? G t click n the Start Registratin," select "Review yur Applicatin", then select "Request Passwrd r PIN" r "Request Username". I created my accunt but can't access my persnal infrmatin, what shuld I d? It may take up t 24 hurs befre yur accunt access is available. If it has been mre than 24 hurs since yu received their PIN, G t "Apply fr Assistance Online ", click n the Register Online," select "Review yur Applicatin", then select "Request Passwrd r PIN". If the prblem cntinues cntact the Technical Assistance Desk at Des the registratin r file access have a time-ut feature? Yes. It will time-ut after 45 minutes f n activity. Entries made befre the system "time-ut" will nt be saved. When yur cnnectivity is restred, yu will need t reenter yur infrmatin. What infrmatin can I see thrugh my persnal accunt access? Yu will be able t see yur * Eligibility status by categry * Payment schedule date and amunt f eligible assistance (if applicable) * Addresses and phne numbers currently in yur file * Insurance types, plicy numbers * Cntact numbers n recrd * Infrmatin requested frm yu by FEMA * Crrespndence received frm yu (the dcument itself will nt be viewable) * Crrespndence sent t yu by FEMA (the dcument itself will nt be viewable) * Agency referrals (all agency referrals fr the disaster will be viewable) * the Status f any inspectins cnducted by FEMA (details f the inspectin are nt viewable)

10 Can I view r print a cpy f letters sent t r frm FEMA? N. At this time yu can nt view r print a cpy f letters frm FEMA r any respnses yu may have prvided. I dn t understand the infrmatin n these pages, is there any help available ffering further explanatins? Yes. When Registering fr assistance Help scripts are available by clicking n the field title. When viewing infrmatin abut yur persnal accunt a Help script is available in the upper left crner f each screen. Sme field descriptins are als available. I was previusly assisted by FEMA. Can I view infrmatin in all the disasters I've applied? N. Online infrmatin is nly available fr disasters declared after Nvember 1, If yu need infrmatin frm yur file fr a disaster declared prir t Nvember 1, 2002 yu shuld cntact FEMA Helpline at FEMA(3362) r TTY Errr Messages I received an errr message stating "Image Identificatin Failed", what shuld I d? Re-establish yur cnnectin and try again. I received a message stating my credentials were nt valid, what des this mean? This message means yu made an errr when entering yur User ID, Passwrd, r PIN. Re-enter the infrmatin and try again Remember the lgin fields are case sensitive. I received an errr message stating "Yur identity cannt be verified", what shuld I d? The system was unable t verify yur infrmatin. Yu will nt be able t access yur persnal accunt infrmatin ver the internet. Fr infrmatin abut yur disaster assistance applicatin call the FEMA Helpline at FEMA (3362). I tried t set-up access t my persnal accunt infrmatin but received an errr message stating I "did nt pass quiz". What des this mean and what shuld I d? This message means yur respnse t the questin asked did nt match infrmatin n recrd. Yu can re-establish yur cnnectin and try again r call the FEMA Helpline at FEMA (3362) fr infrmatin abut yur case. What d I d if I get a different errr message? Fllw the instructins prvided. If the instructins fail, cntact the Technical Assistance Desk at fr help.

Access the site directly by navigating to in your web browser.

Access the site directly by navigating to in your web browser. GENERAL QUESTIONS Hw d I access the nline reprting system? Yu can access the nline system in ne f tw ways. G t the IHCDA website at https://www.in.gv/myihcda/rhtc.htm and scrll dwn the page t Cmpliance