FEMA Awards Won’t Affect Other Benefits

Release Date Release Number
DR-4635-WA NR-031
Release Date:
February 28, 2022

Lacey, Wash. – Applying for federal disaster assistance from FEMA will not affect other federal benefits that Washington disaster survivors may receive.

Survivors in Clallam, Skagit and Whatcom counties, including the Lummi Nation, the Nooksack Indian Tribe and the Quileute Tribe and other tribes in the declared area may apply for FEMA assistance without concerns that funds from FEMA might cause them to lose other federal payments they are entitled to.

FEMA disaster awards are not taxable income. Accepting a FEMA grant will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or other federal benefit programs.

Disaster assistance helps survivors pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs, essential personal property repairs and replacement, and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other sources.

Apply for assistance in the following ways:

  • Visit DisasterAssistance.gov.
  • Download the FEMA App.
  • Call 800-621-3362. Multilingual operators are available. The toll-free numbers are open from 6 a.m. to midnight Central Time, seven days a week. Those who use a relay service such as a videophone, InnoCaption or CapTel should provide FEMA with their specific phone number assigned to that service.
  • Visit a state/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center. To find the nearest center, go online to FEMA.gov/DRC or call 800-621-3362.

The deadline to apply is March 7.

For more information about the recovery from the Nov. 5-Dec. 2 floods and mudslides in Washington, visit fema.gov/disaster/4635. Follow the FEMA Region 10 Twitter account at twitter.com/femaregion10.

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