As eligible Texas homeowners and renters begin receiving disaster funds from FEMA for rental assistance, home repairs or other categories of assistance, it is important to keep track of your spending. Use the money for the specified reason stated in the FEMA letter.
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Approved applicants in eligible counties for the March 26-28 Texas severe storms and flooding will receive a letter from FEMA that provides information about the types of assistance they are eligible to receive and the amount of money FEMA is providing for each eligible need. Needs may include:
- Home repairs (e.g., structure, water, septic and sewage systems). Homeowners approved for FEMA’s Home Repair Assistance may receive additional mitigation funding for their owner-occupied primary residence to help them rebuild stronger. Mitigation funding addresses items like roof repair to withstand higher winds and help prevent water from seeping into the home.
- Rental assistance for a different place to live temporarily.
- Repair or replacement of a damaged primary vehicle.
- Uninsured out-of-pocket medical expenses for an injury caused by the disaster.
- Increased childcare expenses.
- Repair or replacement of specialized occupational tools.
- Essential educational materials (e.g., computers, schoolbooks, supplies).
- Moving and storage expenses related to the severe storms and flooding and other disaster-related expenses.
You may spend the money you receive from FEMA only for the specified need. For example, home repair money may be used in ways that help make your home safe, sanitary and functional. Home Repair money is not for regular living expenses such as utilities, food, medical or dental bills, or any expenses not directly related to home repair. However, those expenses may be paid using other types of FEMA assistance.
Travel, entertainment or any non-disaster-caused expenses are never an appropriate use of FEMA funds.
If grant money is not used as outlined in your FEMA eligibility letter, you may be asked to repay your grants and could lose your eligibility for further federal assistance. Therefore, please make sure you use the funds for their intended purpose, document how the money was spent, and save your receipts for three years.
In addition, Displacement Assistance is also available. It helps survivors who can’t return to their home following a disaster. Displacement Assistance is a new type of assistance and counts toward the maximum amount of Other Needs. Displacement Assistance is money you can use to stay in a hotel or motel, stay with family and friends, or for any other available housing options.
You may get Displacement Assistance if:
- You or someone in your home is a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified non-citizen,
- FEMA can confirm your identity,
- Your home is in a declared disaster area,
- You live in your home most of the year,
- A FEMA inspection determines your home is not safe to live in, or an inspection can’t be completed because your home is inaccessible.
- You don’t have insurance, or your insurance doesn’t have Additional Living Expense or Loss of Use coverage,
- You apply for FEMA assistance during the registration period.
The amount of money you get is based on 14 days of hotel costs based on a rate chosen by the state, territory, or Tribal Nation impacted by the disaster. Displacement Assistance is a one-time payment. FEMA may provide up to two weeks of funds for temporary lodging at a hotel, motel, or the home of friends or family, for displaced applicants who apply during the registration period.
If you have insurance, please see if you have Additional Living Expenses or Loss of Use coverage on your policy and contact your insurance company. If your insurance denies your claim or you do not have these types of coverage, you may be able to get Displacement Assistance.
If you have insurance and used all of your Additional Living Expenses or Loss of Use benefits, you won’t get Displacement Assistance, but you can get Rental Assistance by sending FEMA documents that show you spent those benefits and still need help paying for temporary housing.
You can request Rental Assistance by:
- Calling FEMA’s Helpline at 1-800-621-3362.
- Requesting it in writing.
- Speaking to a local FEMA representative in your area.
You will not need to provide other documentation to get Rental Assistance.
If you have questions about how your FEMA money should be spent, you may call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. The Helpline is available daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service.
For the latest information visit fema.gov/disaster/4871. Follow FEMA Region 6 on social media at X.com/FEMARegion6 and at facebook.com/FEMARegion6/.