What LA wildfire victims need to know about applying for FEMA assistance

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has already begun to help Southern Californians with home repairs, property losses or other uninsured disaster-related expenses like childcare, transportation and medical needs. About 60,000 people affected by the L.A. wildfires have registered for assistance, with more than $15.7 million approved as of Wednesday.

As two FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers opened in West L.A. and Pasadena this week, we looked at some common issues people affected by the wildfires can run into.

Brandi Richard Thompson, FEMA public affairs officer, told LAist that a lot of people don’t know how to access resources or what they actually mean, so don’t be afraid to reach out for help.

“Just ask us, because we want people to get all of the assistance that we have that's available to them,” Richard Thompson said. “But we also want them to be smart in the process, and we know this is new, so that's why we're here.”

How to apply and get help

You don’t have to go to the centers to apply for FEMA assistance, but they’ll be able to help with applications, connect you with state or federal agencies and share more about the appeals process.

The centers will be open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily:

• UCLA Research Park West: 10850 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles
• Pasadena City College Community Education Center: 3035 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena. (This is on the satellite Foothill campus, not the Colorado Boulevard campus.)

The fastest way to apply for assistance is online here or through the FEMA app. You can also call (800) 621-3362. If you use a video relay, captioned telephone or similar service, give FEMA your number for those.

You can find FEMA’s most up to date recovery information here. You can find more info on the Region 9 X account, including explainer videos. Your local congressional office should also be able to give guidance.

Pay close attention when you’re filling out the forms, a typo or missed number can cause delays.

The dreaded FEMA letter

Some people have received letters from FEMA that said they were not approved for assistance — but don’t panic. It doesn’t mean you’ve been denied.

The body of the letter will explain the reasoning, so read closely. FEMA may simply need more information, such as the correct Social Security number or what your insurance company can cover (explained below).

“ Unfortunately, that letter can be really misleading, because people assume that they won't receive any kind of assistance from FEMA when that's not necessarily the case,” Richard Thompson said, adding that it’s a challenge they’ve had during other disasters as well.

She described the letter as the beginning of the conversation. Even if you received an ineligibility letter for one type of assistance, others could still be available to you.

Rep. Brad Sherman, who represents areas impacted by the Palisades Fire, commented on the confusion at a news conference Tuesday.

“They are trying to fix it,” he said. “But until they fix it, you will get this misleading letter. ... Don't believe it.”

What about one-time payments?

President Joe Biden said at a White House briefing that “people impacted by these fires are going to receive a one-time payment of $770 ... so they can quickly purchase things like water, baby formula, and prescriptions.”

The one-time payments will be available through the “Serious Needs Assistance” program. When you apply to FEMA, you are applying for all types of assistance it can provide, including that program.

If you are eligible for the $770, the money will be deposited directly into the bank account you put down on the application.

How insurance factors into assistance

You can apply for assistance if you have insurance, but how much it covers matters. Richard Thompson recommends reaching out to your insurer and submitting a claim first.

“They will give you something that specifically says this is what you're eligible to receive,” she said. “We need that letter to determine what we can provide so that we do not duplicate benefits with them.”

Government regulations prevent FEMA from covering costs that have been paid for by another source, including insurance and GoFundMe.

Yes, you can appeal

The FEMA letter will also explain what steps you need to take to appeal the agency’s decision, including what type of additional documents you can provide.

You can find the appeal form here.

Please note: You’ll need to include your application number and disaster number (DR-4856-CA) on every page.

You can submit documents or information in the following ways:

• In-person at disaster recovery centers.
• By fax: (800) 827-8112, Attention: FEMA.
• By mail: FEMA National Processing Service Center, P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville, MD 20782-7055.