Disaster Assistance Improvement Program (DAIP) Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do disaster victims need to register on DAIP to receive assistance?
A: No-the portal is not mandatory. Applicants may call FEMA's Call Center (1-800-621-FEMA (3362) and/or apply directly to the agencies individually using the current processes in place (phone, mailed application, fax, etc.).
Q: My grandmother is not comfortable with the internet. May I enter the information for her?
A: Per Privacy and Security regulations, the site has built-in identity checking to ensure that the individual applicant is the person entering the information. The assumption is that the applicant will enter his/her own information in this system.
Q: Who can use this site?
A: The site is designed to help those affected by disaster quickly and efficiently identify and apply for federal assistance. Anyone may use this site to find out about disaster assistance programs, but applications should be entered by the disaster victim.
Q: Is the site accessible to non-English speakers?
A: This site is designed to support disaster victims with internet access who speak English or Spanish. An 8th grade reading comprehension is all that is required to use the site.
Q: I am only interested in receiving FEMA Individual Assistance, can I use Disaster Assistance Improvement Program (DAIP) site for this?
A: Yes. The applicant will be given the option to select the program(s) that he/she wishes to apply for, including FEMA's Individual Assistance program. The information is shared only with the agency selected by the applicant.
Q: What if I want to apply for additional disaster assistance after I've made an initial application only to FEMA?
A: During the application process, the user will create an account which will enable him/her to log back in, check status and apply for additional benefits. If the applicant wishes to apply for additional programs after an initial application has been made, the information the applicant entered from the original application (name, address, phone, etc.) will be used to pre-populate the other program applications-thereby saving the user's time.
Q: Will I be able to control which federal agencies see my information?
A: Yes. Applicants must select the agencies and agree to release the information before the data is transferred to a DAIP partner agency.
Q: What if I want to talk to a person? What if I'm not comfortable using the DAIP site?
A: DAIP is designed to supplement the FEMA Call Center and the Disaster Response Centers, not to replace them. The goal of the DAIP is to reduce the time and frustration of having to re-enter the same information over and over again for each agency's application. Due to privacy and security regulations however, the FEMA Call Center may not be able to apply on your behalf to some partner agency forms of assistance. The DAIP Program Management Office will be working closely with the FEMA Call Center and Disaster Response Center teams to make the application process as easy as possible, while still adhering to security and privacy requirements.
Q: I would like to provide feedback on the Disaster Assistance Improvement Program and volunteer to be a beta tester for the new site. Who do I contact?
A: The DAIP team welcomes feedback and we are seeking volunteer beta testers for the Summer/Fall 2008. Please email DAIP@dhs.gov with your name, phone number and summary of your background supporting those affected by disaster. A member of our team will get back in touch with you.
Last Modified: Monday, 05-May-2008 10:20:58 EDT