FEMA hurricane aid won’t affect other benefits, agency says

HURRICANE HELENE: Latest updates on the recovery — 24/7

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - If you were affected by Hurricane Helene, FEMA urges you to apply for disaster assistance without hesitation, as it will not affect other federal benefits you may receive.

Accepting FEMA funds will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, or other federal benefit programs.

FEMA assistance, including Serious Needs Assistance, is not a loan. Eligible Hurricane Helene survivors don’t need to pay back the grant received from FEMA. Only in rare cases, you may be required to return funds if you receive duplicate benefits from insurance or a grant from another source.

Also, FEMA assistance is not taxable.

I-TEAM: Some say FEMA aid isn’t coming fast enough

More than two weeks after Hurricane Helene, some people are still waiting for FEMA to approve their applications.

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

Homeowners and renters in these counties can apply:

South Carolina: Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Edgefield, McCormick, Orangeburg and Saluda counties.

Georgia: Burke, Columbia, Emanuel, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Screven, Taliaferro, Warren and Washington counties.

Renters in CSRA can apply for FEMA aid after Hurricane Helene

FEMA assistance is available to renters, including students, with uninsured losses from Hurricane Helene in several local counties.

FILE — A "for rent" sign is pictured in this undated file photo. The Biden istration...

The quickest way to apply is to go online to DisasterAssistance.gov. To get in-person assistance, you can visit any Disaster Recovery Center. To find a center close to you, please go to fema.gov/drc or text “DRC” and a Zip Code to 43362.

You can also apply using the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling toll-free 800-621-3362. The telephone line is open every day. Help is available in many languages. If you use a relay service, such as Video Relay Service (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service.

FEMA application denied? Here are the most common reasons

As communities clean up damage in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, officials are explaining why some residents may be told they are ineligible for disaster assistance.

For a video with American Sign Language, voiceover and open captions about how to apply for FEMA assistance, select this link. FEMA programs are accessible to survivors with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.