HOW TO APPEAL A FEMA DENIAL OR

PAYMENT OF LESS THAN THE AMOUNT YOU CLAIMED

Request your FEMA file. A request form is attached for your use. If you were denied
assistance or got less than you claimed, you should immediately request your file from FEMA so
you can see what information they used to decide your application. Do this right away - it may
take several weeks. All file copy requests must be in writing, be signed by you, and include your
name, your social security number, the disaster number and the FEMA registration number.
Also include a copy of your state-issued ID (for example, your drivers license). Once the
request is approved, your file will be mailed to you at the current mailing address on your
registration. FAX your request to 1-800-827-8112 or mail it to:
FEMA
National Processing Service Center
P.O. Box 10055
Hyattsville, MD 20782-8055

Respond quickly. You have 60 days from the date of the decision letter you get from FEMA to
respond to a FEMA denial or an inadequate payment. Your appeal letter must be must be
faxed or postmarked within 60 days of the date of the decision letter's date. Dont wait for your
file if the deadline is close.
List all of the documents you are sending and make sure you include them with your appeal
letter.
Include a copy of your state-issued ID (for example, your drivers license).
Include a copy of the page of the eligibility notification that you received from FEMA with the bar
code on it.
Sign the appeal letter. Your appeal letter must be signed by you or an authorized
representative. If you want someone else to sign the appeal for you, make sure to submit an
authorization form with the appeal.
Keep records. Make sure to keep a copy of everything you send and keep a phone log of any
calls or meetings with FEMA. Send your letter return receipt requested.
Appeal again if necessary. FEMA has 90 days to issue a written decision to an appeal but
often responds more quickly, sometimes in 30 days or less. If FEMA denies your appeal, you
can appeal again. It often can take several appeals to obtain the assistance to which you are
entitled. If you have new arguments or additional information or documents to submit, you may
supplement your appeal by sending the information to FEMA in the same manner as you wrote
your first appeal letter.
Ask questions. If you are not sure how to document the loss you have suffered, consult
resources available on DisasterLegalAid.org.

Why you were denied. FEMAs reason will be listed on your decision letter under the heading
"Determinations." FEMA uses codes to explain the reason, such as "IID - Ineligible - Insufficient
Damage". Find the code on your denial letter and look it up on list attached to these
instructions. If you need additional information from FEMA about the decision, you can call the
FEMA helpline at 800-821-FEMA.
Gather information. Gather information to explain to FEMA why the decision was wrong or did
not cover lost property. Gather as much information as possible to explain to FEMA why you
are eligible for what you have claimed.

Document damage to your house or property;

Gather bills, receipts or estimates for repairs;
Document medical needs or expenses;
Get letters from your landlord, neighbors or other persons who can confirm what you are
telling FEMA. It is best if you can get their signatures notarized and/or have them write
that they declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.

Here is a list of the most common reasons that FEMA denies or reduces a claim:

Shared Household Rule: FEMA accepts only one application from a household, so if more
than one member of your household submits an application, FEMA will only consider the
first one it has received. There are limited circumstances where you can convince FEMA
that the household members had to separate or were evacuated to different addresses.

Insufficient Documentation: If this is the reason for FEMAs decision, include with your
appeal letter as much documentation as possible to support your losses and the value of
your losses.

Ineligibility: If your claim is denied because of ineligibility, include as much documentation

as possible to show that you meet the eligibility requirements.

Duplication of Benefits: If you have insurance, FEMA will often automatically deny your
claim. If you find that insurance is insufficient to cover your losses, you should appeal and
include the notice of final loss from your insurance provider with your appeal letter.

Referral to SBA to cover other than housing needs: If you are applying for other than
housing needs and have not applied to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for a loan,
FEMA will automatically deny your application until you do so even if you are not a small
business. If you are low-income (for example, your only income is public assistance or SSI),
you may be able to resolve the issue without a formal appeal by calling the FEMA Service
Center at 800-621-FEMA to explain your circumstances.

REMINDER: FEMA assistance is a program of last resort to meet basic needs of you and
members of your household brought on by the disaster. It is not a program to make you whole
or to improve conditions that existed before the disaster.
Explanation of FEMA denial reason codes (Source: FEMA)
An explanation of the denial reason(s) that are listed under the "Determinations" heading in your
decision letter.

I69B-Ineligible - Signature not Obtained (90-69B): The required signature or documents

requested has not been provided.
IANS - Applicant statement/Authorization (90-69B) not signed: The required signature or
documents requested has not been provided.
IARC-ARC Assisted: Disaster assistance may not be provided when money is available from,
or your needs have been met by, another source.
IAW-Ineligible - Assisted with Household Member: Our records show that another member
of your pre-disaster household applied and received help for your losses.
ICBRA - Damaged Dwelling located in CBRA or OPA: Your home is located in a Coastal
Barrier Resources System (CBRS) area or an otherwise protected area. Under Federal laws
that protect these lands from development, we do not provide Federal assistance to persons
who live in these areas.
IDEA - Ineligible for dental due to previous EAD Award: The maximum amount of money
under this category has been provided.
IDNS-Self-declaration (90-69D) not signed: The required signature or document requested
has not been provided.
IDUPA-Duplicate Application: Our records show that a member of your pre-disaster
household has already registered for help.
IDUPL - Duplicate losses awarded under another application: Our records show that
another member of your pre-disaster household has received help for your households losses.
IID-Ineligible - Insufficient Damage: There was not enough damage to your home or property
for you to qualify for this program.
IINS - Ineligible due to insurance coverage: Your insurance should cover your disasterrelated losses.
IINSI - Ineligible: All categories have appropriate insurance excluding flood, inspection
completed - Your insurance should cover your disaster-related losses.
IINSN - Ineligible due to insurance, no inspection completed: Your insurance should cover
your disaster-related losses.
IISS-Ineligible - Insufficient Substantiation Submitted: You have not provided enough
documentation to support your application for assistance.
IMEA - Ineligible for medical due to previous EAM Award: The maximum amount of money
under this category has been provided.
INC-Ineligible - No change on appeal, original ineligible status stands: You are not eligible
for any further assistance under this category. Your file is now closed.
INDR-Ineligible - Damages Not Disaster Related: The condition of your home was not caused
or aggravated by the disaster.
INFI-Ineligible - Has Flood Insurance: Your insurance should cover your disaster-related
losses.
INI-Ineligible - Ineligible Insurance: Your insurance should cover your disaster-related losses.
INLR-Ineligible - Not Legal Resident: In order to be eligible for assistance from this program,
either you, an adult member of your household, or your child must be a U.S. Citizen, NonCitizen National, or a Qualified Alien.
INO-Ineligible-Other: Your application for assistance is denied. Please see specific reason on
letter.
INP-Ineligible - Not Primary Residence: You have not provided enough documentation to
prove the home that was damaged was the home where you were living at the time of the
disaster.
INS-Insured: Your insurance should cover your disaster-related losses.
INSL-Ineligible - Non-sufficient damages per inspection: There was not enough damage to
your home or property for you to qualify for this program.

INSS-Ineligible - No substantiation submitted: You have not provided enough documentation

to support your application for assistance.
IOR-Other Reason: Your application for assistance is denied. Please see specific reason on
letter.
IOWN - Ownership Not Provided: You have not provided enough ownership documentation to
prove ownership.
ISBA - SBA loan covered losses: Disaster assistance may not be provided when money is
available from, or your needs have been met by, another source.
ISC - Sanctioned Community in SFHA: Your community does not participate in the National
Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or has been suspended from the NFIP; you are not eligible for
disaster assistance. If your community joins the NFIP within 6 months of this disaster
declaration date, we may re-evaluate your need for assistance.
IVINS-Vehicle - No Liability Insurance: Disaster assistance may not be provided for a vehicle
that does not meet the terms of state law.
IVNE-Vehicle - Non Essential: Disaster assistance may not be provided for a vehicle when a
second vehicle is available.
IVNR-Vehicle - Not Licensed/Registered: Disaster assistance may not be provided for a
vehicle that does not meet the terms of state law.
IVRC-Vehicle - Cosmetic Damage: There was not enough damage to your vehicle for you to
qualify for this program.
NCOMP - Non-compliant with flood insurance requirement: Our records indicate that flood
insurance on the damaged home has not been maintained as required. Failing to maintain flood
insurance makes this home ineligible for assistance for damages to the property caused by
flooding.
NPND-NFIRA - Non Compliance: Our records indicate that flood insurance on the damaged
home has not been maintained as required. Failing to maintain flood insurance makes this
home ineligible for assistance for damages to the property caused by flooding.
W69B-Withdrawn - Signature not Obtained (90-69B): Your application has been withdrawn
because we have not received the required signature or documents requested.
W69D-Withdrawn - Signature not Obtained (90-69D): Your application has been withdrawn
because we have not received the required signature or documents requested.
WNC-Withdrawn - No Contact: Your application for assistance has been withdrawn because
we have not been able to contact you.
WNCS - No contact for State IFG: Your application for assistance has been withdrawn
because we have not been able to contact you.
WVO-Withdrawn - Applicant Withdrew Voluntarily: At your request, we have withdrawn your
application for assistance.
WVOA-Voluntary by Applicant: At your request, we have withdrawn your application for
assistance.

Name:
Social Security Number: xxx-xx-xxxx
Birth date:
Pre-Disaster Address:

Disaster Number: 4277

FEMA ID Number: xxxxxxxxx

Date:
FEMA
National Processing Service Center
P.O. Box 10055
Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055
Or: FAX #: 800-827-8112 (Attention: FEMA)

APPEAL OF DENIAL OF ASSISTANCE

Applicant Contact Information:

Name:
Current Address:
Telephone:
Alternate Telephone:
E-mail:
Dear FEMA Appeals Officer:

By this letter I am appealing FEMAs decision on my application for assistance.

Enclosed is a copy of FEMAs eligibility notification letter, dated _________________, and the
FEMA cover sheet (with bar code).
I had the following interactions with FEMA (including visits from inspectors,
conversations with FEMA representatives and correspondence with FEMA) on the
following dates:

I was awarded $0.00 to cover, shelter, property damage, personal property.

FEMA gave the following reasons for its decision:

Referral to SBA to cover other than housing needs: If you are applying for other than
housing needs and have not applied to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for
a loan, FEMA will automatically deny your application until you do so even if you
are not a small business. If you are low-income FEMA gave the following reasons for
its decision:(for example, your only income is public assistance or SSI), you may be
able to resolve the issue without a formal appeal by calling the FEMA Service Center
at 800-621-FEMA to explain your circumstances.

I believe FEMA made this determination in error because:

Additionally, FEMA did not take into account the following damages or expenses resulting
from the disaster.

Name:
Social Security Number: xxx-xx-xxxx
Birth date:
Pre-Disaster Address:

Disaster Number: 4277

FEMA ID Number: xxxxxxxxx

Describe Damage to personal property (not covered or replaced by renters

insurance, public benefits, or private charities):
Describe Damage to home (not covered by insurance or private charities):
Describe cost of temporary or permanent relocation not covered by private charities
or housing assistance
Describe any medical expenses not covered by Medicaid or private insurance

Describe additional receipts, photos, bids for repair, insurance denials or other
documents you will enclose in support of your claim, Enter one per line
Amount of award does not provide adequate resources to restore my home to
livable conditions.

Three quotes received, see below:

Name of Contractor

License #

Quote

I reserve the right to supplement this appeal, including after I receive information
from my FEMA file, which I am formally requesting with the submission of this appeal.
Thank you for your consideration. If you have any questions or need additional
information, please do not hesitate to contact me at the phone number provided above.

I HEREBY DECLARE UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY THAT THE FOREGOING IS TRUE AND
CORRECT.
Sincerely,

Signature:
Date:

Printed Name: