Individuals and Households Program

Conditions to Receive Assistance

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FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program (IHP) provides financial and direct services to eligible individuals and households affected by a disaster, who have uninsured or under-insured necessary expenses and serious needs. IHP assistance is not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate for all losses caused by a disaster. The assistance is intended to meet your basic needs and supplement disaster recovery efforts.

IHP Assistance may include:

• Funds for temporary housing while you are unable to live in your home, such as rental assistance, or reimbursement for hotel costs
• A temporary housing unit, if approved for the disaster, when you are not able to use rental assistance due to a lack of available housing resources
• Funds to support the repair or replacement of owner-occupied homes that serve as the household’s primary residence, including privately-owned access routes, such as driveways, roads, or bridges
• Funds for other uninsured or under-insured disaster-caused expenses and serious needs, such as repair or replacement of personal property and vehicles, or funds for moving and storage, medical, dental, child care, funeral, and other miscellaneous items approved by your state, territory, or tribal government

Each type of assistance within the program requires verification of the specific unmet need and that it is caused by a disaster declared for Individual Assistance. However, these general conditions must be met for an applicant to receive any assistance within the Individuals and Households Program.

• Complete an application for FEMA Individuals and Households Program assistance
• Confirm you are a United States citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien
• Pass an identity verification check
• Have unmet needs, after receiving assistance from insurance benefits or other forms of disaster assistance services
• Necessary expenses and serious needs must be directly caused by a declared disaster

Download the Individuals and Households Program Fact Sheet to learn more.

Before you apply for assistance, below are the steps you need to take to start your recovery process:

Step One: Take photos of your damaged home and belongings

Step Two: Make a list of damaged/lost items

Step Three: Save yourself time. If you have insurance, you must file a claim with your insurance company.

• If You do not have insurance skip to step 4

Step Four: Now that you're ready to apply now for disaster assistance or you would like more information on the types of assistance available, please utilize one of the following methods:

Internet or Smartphone Application

You may apply for the Individuals and Households Program or check your application status at DisasterAssistance.gov. You may also access FEMA via a smartphone by downloading the application from our website or through your mobile provider’s application store.

By Phone

You may call FEMA toll-free at 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362) to apply for assistance or check your application status.

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability and use a Text Telephone (TTY), you may call 800-462-7585.

If you use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), please use the standard toll-free FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362).

In Person

You may visit a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC). To look up DRC locations:

• Visit DisasterAssistance.gov
• Check FEMA’s mobile app
• Or call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362)

Disaster Survivor Assistance team members may also visit door-to-door in your area. They will have official FEMA photo identification.

• Insurance determination letter
  • Special Note: FEMA cannot provide assistance for losses that are covered by insurance.
• Proof of occupancy or ownership
• Proof of ID