California residents impacted by the recent wildfires may qualify for a one-time payment of $770 from the federal government.
This financial aid, known as severe needs assistance, is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is typically available to survivors within the first 30 days following a disaster declaration.
Affected individuals will receive this payment to help them quickly acquire essential items such as water, baby formula, and medications.
✅ Eligibility criteria include the following:
To be eligible for severe needs assistance, applicants must complete a FEMA application, which can be done online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362. Additionally:
- FEMA must verify your identity.
- You or a member of your household must be a U.S. citizen, a national of another country, or a qualified non-citizen.
- You must reside primarily in the area impacted by the wildfires (California).
- FEMA must confirm that you have experienced disaster-related damage through a home inspection or relevant documentation.
- Your application should indicate that you have been displaced, require shelter, or face other emergency expenses.
- It is advisable to apply while severe needs assistance is still available.
It is important to note that not all applicants will receive the same amount of assistance. As stated on FEMA‘s website, “Your particular situation determines the amount of assistance you may receive.”
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Additional Federal Assistance Options
The Displacement Assistance program from FEMA can help cover shelter costs for up to two weeks if your home is deemed uninhabitable due to the disaster.
This funding can be utilized for expenses related to staying in a hotel, with friends or family, or in other accommodations.
Federal disaster assistance can provide support for temporary housing, grants for home repairs and necessary household items, unemployment benefits, low-interest loans for residential losses not insured, and crisis counseling services.
The agency cautions disaster victims to be vigilant against potential scams that may falsely advertise access to FEMA cash payments.