Who's eligible for FEMA help?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced last week that it will provide financial assistance to residents living in counties affected by Hurricane Beryl. However, questions remain regarding the process, timeline and nature of the assistance FEMA is offering. Here are the details.

Who is eligible?

Residents in the following counties may apply for assistance: Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto, Walker, Fort Bend and Nacogdoches.

FEMA's aid package is designed to cover losses that are underinsured or uninsured. Residents with property insurance are still eligible, but FEMA will not offer assistance for losses already covered under their policy. However, if an applicant's insurance benefits are delayed for 30 days or more, FEMA may still offer aid to support their immediate needs.

FEMA will also ensure an applicant is not receiving aid from other sources such as nonprofit organizations, donation campaigns and other community support systems.

What kind of aid is FEMA offering?

There are three main categories of disaster assistance currently available under FEMA's Individuals and Households program.

The first is Serious Needs Assistance, which is a one-time payment of $750 per household for expenses related to the purchase or replacement of food, water and other necessities. Residents who lost food or other perishable goods as a result of the blackout should select this option when filling out their request form.

The second is for people who had to seek temporary lodging during or after Hurricane Beryl. Families and individuals who rented hotels during the storm should apply for FEMA's Displacement Assistance program, which offers reimbursement for travel and housing.

Finally, for residents who suffered extensive damage or semi-permanent displacement, FEMA is offering money for rental assistance, basic home repairs, personal property losses and other damage related to Beryl.

How long will it take?

While it's impossible to predict exactly how long it will be before residents see a check from FEMA, eligible residents generally receive payments for Serious Needs Assistance and Displacement Assistance within a month of filling out the application.

Once filed, applicants should expect a reply in roughly a week regarding eligibility. For the May derecho storm, users on social media said they waited anywhere from one week to a little over a month from the date of acceptance before they were paid. Cindy Rivas Alfaro, a student at the University of Houston, said she waited about three weeks for assistance after the derecho.

"So for the derecho, I applied May 22 and then I got the acceptance on the 28th," Alfaro said. "I got the money like two to three weeks later."

Alfaro applied for Serious Needs Assistance and got $750 to replace food and other losses. She applied again after Hurricane Beryl left her family without power for close to a week. This time, she said, the process already feels quicker.

"I think they approved my application within a couple days," Alfaro said. "I applied July 13 and was accepted July 16."

Why are some people receiving assistance before others?

A number of factors can impact an applicants' wait, according to FEMA. Insurance verification is one element, as the agency must ensure any aid it provides does not constitute a duplication of benefits under federal law. While the agency can independently verify applicants' coverage, providing policy documentation can help speed up the process.

Choosing to receive payment through mail can also lead to delays. Direct deposit payments generally post within days of acceptance, while mailed checks can take several weeks.

Additionally, residents seeking assistance for property or other significant damage will likely have to schedule a visit from a FEMA inspector before receiving payment. Depending on the scale of the disaster, the number of applicants and available staff, there may be a wait before an inspector can be dispatched.

Inspectors may not enter or evaluate a property unless the homeowner is present. Property damage, rental assistance and other major relief applicants should be on the lookout for a phone call from FEMA in the days after they submit their application. A representative from the agency will contact them to schedule the inspection ahead of time.

My application was rejected. What now?

FEMA can reject a claim for a number of reasons, but the most common is that the agency found the applicant, or someone in their household, carried an insurance policy that would constitute a duplication of benefits.

Additionally, if an applicant lives in an area where flood insurance is mandatory and their policy lapsed, FEMA may disqualify them for failing to maintain flood coverage. If rejected, the agency will send a letter to the affected household explaining the decision and the appeals process. All applicants have the right to appeal.

Appeals must be filed by mail within 60 days of the date listed on the rejection letter. There is no standardized form for an appeal, residents must simply submit a signed letter explaining why they disagree with the decision.

The letter should also include the following information:

Applicant's full name, current address and damaged dwelling address

Applicant's 9-digit FEMA application number, found at the top of the determination letter

FEMA disaster declaration number, for example DR-4663-KY

Applicant's signature and the date

A third party, such as a lawyer, may also submit an appeal on an applicant's behalf.

Are there any FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers nearby?

Five Houston-area recovery centers offer information about disaster assistance programs and clarify updates on the status of FEMA applications. All are open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Leon Z. Grayson Community Center is closed Wednesdays.

Denver Harbor Multi-Service Center -- 6402 Market St.

Acres Homes Multi-Service Center -- 6719 W. Montgomery Road

SpringSpirit -- 8526 Pitner Road

Leon Z. Grayson Community Center -- 13828 Corpus Christi St.

Thomas A. Glazier Senior Education Center -- 16600 Pine Forest Lane