What Hurricane Sandy Victims Should Know Now: Loan Deadlines, Assistance for Renters, Tax Ramifications

Here is some helpful information you should know if as you continue to recover from Hurricane Sandy in South Jersey.

· There are three ways... to reach the Federal Emergency Management Agency in New Jersey:

- Visit online at DisasterAssistance.gov or m.fema.gov with a smartphone.

- Call 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585.

- Visit one of nine disaster recovery centers. Locations can be found by visiting FEMA.gov/DRC.

-Survivors should apply for federal disaster assistance even if they have insurance. Assistance may pay for repairs and temporary housing that insurance doesn't cover.

· The deadline to register with FEMA and return completed SBA loan applications is Monday, April 1.

· Federal disaster assistance can include rental assistance, grants to replace personal property or low-interest disaster home loans from the Small Business Administration.

· Renters and homeowners can apply.

· Only a survivor whose primary residence was damaged and was living in it at the time of the storm is eligible to receive assistance for housing needs.

· FEMA disaster assistance is not income sensitive. Income does not affect eligibility.

· FEMA disaster assistance does not affect other government programs like Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or pensions.

· Accepting disaster assistance does not keep other survivors from receiving it.

· Disaster assistance from FEMA is not taxable.

· Non U.S. citizens may be eligible for FEMA assistance if they are lawful permanent residents or otherwise have legal status.

· Registering with the American Red Cross or calling 2-1-1 is not the same as registering with FEMA. Survivors must register with FEMA to be considered for federal disaster assistance.

· The U.S. Small Business Administration offers low-interest disaster home loans to homeowners and renters to repair or replace disaster-damaged property. SBA also offers loans to businesses to repair and replace disaster-damaged property and offers economic injury disaster loans to assist with working capital.

· The SBA can be contacted by calling 800-659-2955 or TTY 800-877-8339 or emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

· Survivors who have questions about flood insurance claims and the appeals process can call 888-379-9531.