Bipartisan legislation wants to simplify FEMA applications

 After multiple complaints that recovery applications from last month’s wildfires were being denied, Rep. Robert Garcia (CA-42), along with Rep. Chuck Edwards (NC-11) and Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), announced the introduction of the Fair Disaster Assistance Act. 

The bipartisan legislation will protect federal disaster assistance applicants by ensuring the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) does not issue premature denial notices before making a final decision regarding their insurance claim for disaster-related losses.

Last month, Los Angeles Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents Altadena, said in a conference that LA County would help reduce the bureaucracy and remove red tape to help survivors rebuild their homes faster. She encouraged people to fill out their FEMA application and showed concern about those being denied.

“It is completely mind-boggling to me that people who have lost everything are filling up a form as told and then are getting an immediate denial,” said Barger. 

Garcia said disaster survivors cannot be left in the dark or forced to navigate complex red tape during their most vulnerable moments. 

“That’s why we’re making sure FEMA no longer sends premature and confusing denial notices, allowing families to better focus on their recovery,” said Garcia. “In the aftermath of the wildfires in California, Hurricane Milton in Florida, and Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, we’ve seen how these letters unnecessarily complicate things when folks are trying to rebuild their lives. We must make this process easier.”

Chu said she heard from several residents of Altadena and Northern Pasadena that they not only have to grieve the loss of loved ones, homes and/or businesses, but they also have to deal with FEMA notices indicating they were not approved for disaster assistance.

"In many of these cases, FEMA simply needed more information from them to process their application,” said Chu. “That’s why I’m joining Reps. Garcia and Edwards in introducing the Fair Disaster Assistance Act, which will protect survivors against receiving premature denials and instead provide them with clarity so they can focus on healing and rebuilding without facing unnecessary stress and confusion.”

Currently, applicants for FEMA assistance who have pending insurance claims for their disaster-damaged properties may receive denial notices before insurance companies finalize their claims, causing potential delays and distress as victims navigate the recovery process. 

 FEMA process

A FEMA spokesperson told CALÓ News they do not comment on proposed legislation. However, their website explains that after someone applies for assistance, FEMA staff reviews the request to determine if a property inspection is needed to verify disaster-related damage. Once this happens, FEMA staff and inspectors may contact the owner to discuss disaster-caused damage. FEMA may send a letter requiring more information to support eligibility for assistance or information related to specific needs. The letter may say the applicant is ineligible or that the application was not approved or denied. However, FEMA states this could mean they need more information. 

The applicant may receive a “denial” letter for a few common reasons. This includes the lack of proof of insurance, identity documents, proof of occupancy, ownership, or a contractor estimate. Also, if the applicant misses the appointment with the FEMA damage inspector, the application may not move forward. Therefore, they encourage availability or communication with FEMA if the scheduled time doesn’t work. 

If none of these reasons are part of your denial, FEMA encourages applicants to take their letters to the Disaster Recovery Center to review them. 

The Center in Altadena is located at 540 W Woodbury Rd Altadena, California 91001, open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.