Poor Applicants Were More Likely To Be Denied Financial Assistance Due To ‘Insufficient’ Damage

Disaster survivors can apply for FEMA funds to cover rent, pay for home repairs and replace belongings. From 2014 to 2018, low-income homeowners and renters were more likely to be denied assistance because the agency deems their disaster damage to be “insufficient,” compared with higher-income applicants.

Applicant group Applicant group	Lower income¹ Lower income¹	Higher income² Higher income²	Difference Difference
Owners denied aid for repair/replacement	30%	13%	17 pts.
Owners denied rental aid	30%	13%	17 pts.
Renters denied rental aid	42%	27%	15 pts.
Owners denied aid for personal property	50%	44%	6 pts.
Renters denied aid for personal property	36%	31%	5 pts.

Notes:
1. FEMA classified applicants as having "lower income" if their income was less than 80% of the median income where they lived.
2. FEMA classified applicants as having "higher income" if their income was more than the median income where they lived.