re: High credit score = no assistance from FEMA

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I think it's wrong that the people who work and pay for the so called "handouts" can't get them. My thing is I work I pay my taxes for FEMA to operate but when u need it they give your money to people who invested 0 to taxes and offer you a loan. That shite ant right!

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The federal government rewards irresponsible behavior: this is just another example, just like the "mortgage crisis." Be patient, student loan forgiveness is next.

I rented, lost everything but my car..and got $0.00 from them. Nothing but a nice pre recorded message telling me I can get an sba loan.

I'm probably fricked due to renting and income. Whatever. People with kids and a house probably need it more...

and people in Iraq, Syria,afghanistan, whatever other 3rd world hellhole we arm for oil

No inquiries showed on my credit report so I'm skeptical any type of hard inquiry was done

Eta: I see id need to app first and potentially get rejected, which I wouldn't, to get a grant.

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Do you have flood insurance? If you do and you flooded, you are NOT qualified for a grant.

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so being responsible is penalized?

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I hope I'm not and he is wrong though...

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No, sadly for many good citizens, I believe that the OP has the correct information.

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, I believe that the OP has the correct information.

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He doesn't. Having a high credit score DOES NOT mean you won't get FEMA assistance.

FEMA grants are relatively small, averaging $8000. So while that would help it wouldn't begin to cover the damage done to many peoples homes. You can get up to a $33,000 but that is the max and hardly anyone gets that much. Consider yourself fortunate you have good credit and can get a low interest loan to pay for repairs. The poor people with bad credit will not be able to repair their houses from the grant money.

Second, Congress often passes bills providing more grant assistance. Remember Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast? Congress provide $51 billion more in assistance separate from FEMA. But, some of Louisiana Republican Reps voted against that Bill and d'em yankees are laughing at y'all now.

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Additional Disaster Assistance Program Information: "Money is awarded for necessary assistance and serious needs caused by the disaster. This includes medical, dental, child care, funeral, personal property, transportation, and moving and storage that are authorized by law.

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None of those are housing assistance, which is income and credit blind.

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Q: Does my income need to be under a certain dollar amount to qualify for disaster aid?

A: FEMA’s Housing Assistance program is available, regardless of income, to anyone who suffered damages or losses in disaster-declared counties. However, aid for other losses such as personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses is income-dependent and officials make decisions on a case-by-case basis. To be considered for a grant for these types of losses, the applicant must complete an application for an SBA loan.

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Champagne, not trying to be a dick but where in that passage is free money to fix your home located?

OP is just hugely misunderstood and getting people fired up over misinformation. Credit rating has absolutely, 100%, zero to do with this.

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can you please show me where it says "High Credit Score= No Assistance from FEMA"

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Here's my exact situation and exactly what I was told on the phone:
- I rent in Baton Rouge (not in a flood zone)
- I do not have flood insurance.
- My apartment flooded (several inches) and my car was damaged.
- My apartment manager has been Johnny on the spot and has already begun work to repair the damage.
- Because one of my bedrooms is higher and didn't flood, and because I have utilities, my apartment is (by FEMA standards) still habitable, never mind the smell, and therefore I do not qualify for rental assistance or assistance to move.
- I applied for FEMA assistance, was denied and referred to the SBA for a loan to cover the replacement of my possessions and repair of my car.
- I had to sign a form to allow the SBA to check my previous few years tax returns.
- I was contacted and my damaged was appraised.

WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH SOMEONE FROM FEMA
- I was told that they would check my credit and my situation to determine my eligibility for a loan.
- If my credit was good then I'd have to get a loan from the SBA; if my credit wasn't good enough for a loan THEN I would be kicked back to FEMA for a grant.

The man on the phone said that most people want the grant but that you have to check to see if you can get a loan first. He explained that they don't want to give a "millionaire money when other people need it."

So, at least as it applies to my situation, the OP is correct. Good credit = no grant. I have been approved for a loan and have been assigned a loan officer who "will contact [me] in the next couple of days."

I don't know how much I've been approved for or even how they determined the cost of my damages (was told there's a formula they use that is based on number of rooms and what they've decided the average person's value of contents per room). I'm sure I'm going to get screwed there because I lost a large number of pricy books, an antique china cabinet and several high-ish end electronics.

Now I'm waiting for the stories of someone being ineligible for an SBA loan for some snag, but they have too high of a score for FEMA'a litmus.