The President may authorize emergency aid to affected claimants of disaster following the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. If this occurs, expect that the President may declare many locations (counties, parishes, etc.) as disaster areas. A list of declared disaster areas will be available on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) website: http://www.fema.gov .

Special income and resource exclusions apply to presidential-declared disaster areas as explained in Disaster Assistance – Presidentially-Declared Disaster, SI 00830.620 and Disaster Assistance, SI 01130.620. For information on living arrangement changes for victims of presidentially declared disasters, see SI 00835.050.

Interviewers should advise individuals contacting SSA to register for assistance with FEMA to qualify for their expedited assistance program and other disaster related assistance. They may register by telephone 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Hearing or speech impaired (TTY) individuals may call 1-800-462-7585. Individuals with access to email and the Internet may apply online on the FEMA website: http://www.fema.gov .

SSA offices may assist claimants to obtain state-issued identification (ID) cards, i.e., driver’s licenses or ID cards. Maintain a list of state agencies and their contact information for your state or jurisdiction.

If you receive calls from employees who are trying to contact their office or manager, provide the special toll free number issued by the CO or your RO. When using the special toll free number, employees should provide their name, office, and where they can be reached.