What To Do When Your FEMA Claim Is Denied

When disaster hits, most people look to FEMA for help. But what if your application is denied? That’s where Disaster Case Management comes in.

As an agency of the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) swoops in when disasters are too overwhelming for local and state authorities to handle alone. Need temporary housing or hotel reimbursement? FEMA can provide rental assistance. Looking for home or vehicle repairs? You may be eligible for assistance on uninsured property. FEMA’s scope of help includes everything from furniture to dehumidifiers. Seem too good to be true? Sometimes, it is. If FEMA’s budget is limited, they are only able to accept a certain number of applications and, during an emergency, they are often flooded with requests they have to turn down. So, how do you know if FEMA will help or not? And where do you turn if they can’t?

What does and doesn’t FEMA cover?

FEMA disaster assistance eligibility can be a tricky subject. According to their website, “Individuals and families in a declared area whose essential property has been damaged or destroyed and whose losses are not covered by insurance, are eligible for disaster assistance.” FEMA is adamant that these principles apply to everyone, regardless of where you live— for all survivors and all disasters. However, FEMA doesn’t cover every flood, hurricane, or tornado. In fact, individual assistance is only available for a fraction of the natural disasters that occur in the United States. Also, if FEMA aid is considered “completed” for a particular disaster, aid is no longer available, even if it is needed. This is currently the case for Hurricane Irma (Florida) and Hurricane Harvey (Texas), meaning that FEMA can’t help, even if you still have damage.

What should you do if your claim is turned down?

Thankfully, FEMA isn’t the only option for victims of natural disaster or emergencies. There are options! If you apply (and even appeal your application’s rejection) and still won’t receive help from FEMA, nonprofit organizations like Endeavors® are here to act on your behalf. In fact, our Disaster Case Management (DCM) program was created specifically to help people who need assistance after an emergency! If you contact us about DCM case, we will immediately assign you a caseworker, assess your situation, and get to work connecting you with local and national partners willing to donate time, money, and resources. It is our highest goal to restore our clients’ lives and homes to their fullest potential. If you find yourself facing issues after a disaster or emergency, we urge you to contact Endeavors®! Overall, we want to provide a strong connection between people in crisis and organizations and businesses willing and ready to meet their needs.

Contact Us

If you or a loved one are in need of disaster assistance, we would love to connect with you. We are passionate about serving vulnerable people in crisis, improving their quality of life in innovative, personal ways. Click here to connect with someone from our team and learn more about the many ways Endeavors® can help! In addition to providing Disaster Case Management and Emergency Services, we also help connect military families to clinics, provide emergency staffing services, create long-term recovery plans, and far more.