MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Hurricane Sally survivors receiving Social Security payments or other government assistance have no cause for concern that FEMA disaster assistance might affect their benefits.
If you live in Baldwin, Escambia or Mobile county and have registered with FEMA for federal disaster assistance, you are in no danger of losing other federal benefits to which you are entitled.
FEMA disaster grants are not taxable income. Accepting a FEMA grant will not affect your Social Security benefits, Medicare, Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or other federal welfare and entitlement programs.
Disaster grants help survivors pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs, personal property replacement and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other sources.
Survivors can apply for disaster assistance in the following ways:
- Visit DisasterAssistance.gov.
- Download the FEMA App to your cellphone and click on “Disaster Resources” which will lead to “Apply for Assistance Online.” Click on that button to register for assistance, to find other sources of assistance that may be available to you. If you’ve already registered, you also can check the status of your application by clicking on that button.
- Call 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585). Multilingual operators are available. The toll-free numbers are open daily 6 a.m. to midnight, Central Time, 7 days a week.
When you apply, you will need your Social Security number, information on how to contact you, bank account numbers, as well as information about your homeowners’ insurance and flood insurance, if applicable.
The deadline to register with FEMA is Nov. 19, 2020.
For the latest information on Hurricane Sally, visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4563