Federal Emergency Management Agency - Appeal | Federal Emergency Management Agency

Everyone under one roof can apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance. Typically, FEMA allows only one applicant per household or address to apply for Housing Assistance. If FEMA says you are ineligible for assistance because someone at your address has already applied, you can appeal. Tell us you need your own application. If you appeal, it won’t take help away from someone else. Ask FEMA for help when writing your appeal. Call or speak to FEMA as a Disaster Recovery Center. Send FEMA a signed letter explaining that your damaged home was your primary residence during the August 8, 2023 wildfires. Also explain that your application represents a separate household from the original applicant using the same address. Deadline to apply for the Maui wildfires has been extended to December 11, 2023. --Understanding your FEMA Letter-- Hawaii residents who registered for FEMA assistance for the wildfires that began sweeping across Maui August 8, 2023 will receive a determination letter from FEMA. In some cases, the letter may say you are ineligible for assistance. This is not a denial. It is important to read the letter carefully. It will include the amount of assistance FEMA may provide and information on how you can use your disaster assistance funds. The letter will also explain your application status and it will give you information about what to do to appeal FEMA’s decision. Your letter might also ask you to send additional information or supporting documentation for FEMA to continue reviewing your application. For example, you may be asked to send one or more of the following:

• Proof of insurance coverage
• Settlement of insurance claims or denial letter from insurance provider
• Proof of identity
• Proof of occupancy
• Proof of ownership
• Proof that the damaged property was the applicant’s primary residence at the time of the disaster.

If you are one of multiple families living in the same residence, each family within the household may be eligible for assistance. Your landlord will be required to provide a written statement or agreement that clearly says you had a lease agreement in place before the disaster. You can also provide old rent receipts, bank transactions or checks showing you paid rent to the landlord. These receipts must be dated within three months of the fires. In other words, they must be dated between May 8, 2023 and August 8, 2023. If you have questions about your FEMA determination letter, call the FEMA Helpline at (800) 621-3362. Specialists are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Help is available in most languages. If you use a relay service such as Video Relay Service, captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service when you apply.