FEMA Accessible: Individuals and Households Program Assistance

FEMA video about what criteria survivors need to meet to be eligible for the Individuals and Households Program.

[Transcript:]

FEMA is here to support individuals who have been affected by federally declared disasters. One program that may help survivors is called the Individuals and Households Program, or IHP. This program can cover housing and other needs that are a direct result of the disaster.

To be considered for this program, FEMA will need to determine if you are eligible for IHP assistance.

First, you must be living in the affected home at the time of the disaster, meaning the damaged home must be where you live more than 6 months of the year. Second, the home must be located in a declared disaster area. Third, you or at least one member of your household, adult or child, must be either a United States citizen, a non-citizen national, or a qualified alien.

When you apply for assistance, FEMA will try to verify your identity and obtain proof that you live at the address you listed in your application through an automated public records search.

If FEMA is unable to verify your identity, you may be asked to send proof of your identity, such as documents from the Social Security Administration, a passport, or Federal, state, or military-issued ID.

If FEMA is unable to verify that you live at the address listed on your application, you may be asked to submit documents proving you lived there, such as recent water, gas, or power bills; a copy of your lease or rent receipts; a copy of your unexpired driver’s license, ID card, or voter registration card; pay stubs; or other bills or bank statements that include your name and the damaged property address.

Lastly, FEMA will need to make sure your expenses and needs were directly caused by the disaster. In some cases FEMA may ask you send documents such as medical bills or auto repair receipts, depending on your disaster-caused expenses.

FEMA will not provide assistance for disaster-caused damages or needs that are already covered by your insurance company or another source, like a charitable organization.

To learn more about IHP or apply for assistance, you can go online to disasterassistance.gov or call the FEMA hotline at 800.621.3362. TTY users can call 800.462.7585. You can also speak to someone in person at a Disaster Recovery Center in your area. Text “DRC” and your zip code—for example, DRC 01234--to 43362 to find the nearest location.