To receive Mortgage & Rental Assistance, you must meet each of the following eligibility criteria:

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1 Mortgage & Rental ssistance (MR) uestions & nswers Website What is Mortgage & Rental ssistance? FEM s Mortgage & Rental ssistance (MR) Program is designed to cover rent or mortgage payments for those who have suffered a financial hardship as a result of a major disaster declared by the President. Persons suffering financial hardship who are unable to pay their rent or mortgage, and are facing eviction or foreclosure, may be eligible for this program. What Eligibility Criteria must I meet to receive assistance? To receive Mortgage & Rental ssistance, you must meet each of the following eligibility criteria: 1. You must be a United States citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien and you must sign a self-declaration form attesting to your citizenship/qualified alien status. If you have a child who is a United States citizen, you may apply for Mortgage and Rental ssistance on his or her behalf. 2. Your household must have suffered at least a 25% loss of income as a result of the September 11 th disaster. Your disaster-related income loss must fit into one of the following categories: Your employer or your own business is located in Manhattan and has suffered financially due to the WTC attack. You lost your job, or significant income, because your employer or your business, while not located in Manhattan, has or had a significant business relationship with a firm in Manhattan You live in Manhattan, but commute to work outside of the borough, and have suffered financially due to travel restrictions and station/road closures post-september 11 th. 3. You must have received a late payment notice (or notice of eviction, foreclosure, or termination of lease) on your primary residence to demonstrate that you are in danger of possible eviction, dispossession, or foreclosure. Note: lthough we are prohibited from providing Mortgage & Rental ssistance until after you have received a late payment notice, we will expedite this assistance once you have forwarded your late payment documentation to us. How do I register for Mortgage & Rental ssistance? To register for Mortgage & Rental ssistance, call between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Translation services are available to accommodate the needs of all language groups. Those with a hearing or speech impairment may call TTY: The Registration Deadline has been extended to January 31, MR &s ( 1

2 Mortgage & Rental ssistance (MR) uestions & nswers Website MR & Categories: US Residency Status uestions Disaster-Related Loss of Income uestions Housing Payment Delinquency uestions Registering for ssistance uestions Geographic Boundaries uestions Documentation Requirement uestions Relocation uestions ssistance ward uestions Continued Mortgage & Rental ssistance uestions US Residency Status uestions & nswers: What documentation is required to certify my US citizenship or qualified alien status? To certify your U.S. citizenship or qualified alien status, you must complete the Declaration of pplicant form (90-69D). If I am not a citizen or qualified alien, but my children are citizens, may I qualify for Disaster ssistance? If you are not a United States citizen or qualified alien, you are not eligible for FEM cash assistance, but you may qualify for FEM non-cash assistance. However, your children may be eligible for both cash and non-cash FEM assistance if they are US citizens and meet the other program criteria. Disaster-Related Loss of Income uestions & nswers: What documentation must I provide to show a disaster-related 25% loss of household income? To show a disaster-related 25% income loss, you must complete the Certification of Household Income form. Will I have to provide my Pre-September 11 th income information to be considered for Mortgage & Rental ssistance? Yes, we do require that you provide information regarding your household s pre-disaster & post-disaster income, to establish that you have sustained a 25% loss of income. How can I demonstrate a 25% loss of income if I receive my salary in cash? You may be considered for Mortgage & Rental ssistance if you are able to verify your employment and income loss with a written statement from your employer MR &s ( 2

3 Mortgage & Rental ssistance (MR) uestions & nswers Website Disaster-Related Loss of Income uestions & nswers (Continued): Will there be assistance available for me if I am unable to provide documentation reflecting a 25% loss of income? FEM caseworkers will assist you in your efforts to provide documentation that demonstrates a 25% loss of household income. However, if you are unable to demonstrate a 25% loss of household income, you will not be found eligible for Mortgage & Rental ssistance If you are not found eligible for Mortgage & Rental ssistance, there may be help available to you through one of your local voluntary agencies. For a listing of voluntary agencies in your area, call our Helpline number at Disaster-Related Housing Payment Delinquency uestions & nswers: What specific documentation must I provide to show a disaster-related housing payment delinquency? To demonstrate a disaster-related housing payment delinquency you must complete FEM s Delinquency form, which must be signed by your landlord or mortgage holder. dditional cceptable Documentation: You may also forward any of the following documents (instead of the Delinquency form): Written statements from your landlord. Delinquency or Late Notices. Notice of Termination or Tenancy. Notice of Eviction. Notice of Foreclosure. If you have questions regarding acceptable documentation, please call our Helpline number at or visit our Disaster Recovery Center at 141 Worth Street in Manhattan from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Can I receive Mortgage & Rental ssistance if I used credit cards or loans from family/friends to pay my housing payment delinquency? Yes, if you submit a late housing payment notice along with documentation demonstrating what resources were borrowed to address the delinquency, you may be found eligible for Mortgage & Rental assistance. What documentation will FEM accept if I have a roommate and my name is not on the lease? If you are unable to complete the Delinquency form because your name is not on the lease, but you are able to prove the home is your primary residence and that you pay rent to your roommate, FEM caseworkers will assist you in your efforts to provide documentation reflecting a housing payment delinquency MR &s ( 3

4 Mortgage & Rental ssistance (MR) uestions & nswers Website Disaster-Related Housing Payment Delinquency (Continued): Can I receive assistance if I pay my housing payment in cash and have no written lease/rental agreements? FEM caseworkers will work with you and your landlord to assist you in your efforts to provide documentation reflecting a housing payment delinquency. However, if you are unable to demonstrate a housing payment delinquency, you will not be found eligible for Mortgage & Rental ssistance. If I have a 25% income loss and I have received a late housing payment notice, do I have to wait until I am in the process of being evicted or foreclosed upon to request assistance? No, we only require that you provide us with a late housing payment notice. We do not require that you submit eviction or foreclosure documentation. If you have received a late housing payment notice and meet the other eligibility criteria outlined, please call us at between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday to register for assistance. If you have already registered for assistance and have questions about your registration, please call our Helpline number at or visit our Disaster Recovery Center at 141 Worth Street in Manhattan from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. If I had a pre-disaster housing payment delinquency, is it possible for FEM to provide assistance for my post-disaster rent/mortgage only? FEM is prohibited from assisting you with your post-disaster housing payment delinquency if your housing payment was not current at the time of the disaster. However, if you are able to pay your pre-disaster housing payment delinquency, FEM can provide assistance with your post-disaster rent or mortgage payments. You may be able to receive assistance with your pre-disaster housing payment delinquency through local voluntary agencies. For a listing of voluntary agencies in your area, call our Helpline number at Registering for ssistance uestions & nswers: Who should register for Mortgage & Rental ssistance? ny person living or working in the borough of Manhattan who has suffered at least a 25% disaster related loss of household income and who is unable to pay their monthly housing payment should register for possible assistance MR &s ( 4

5 Mortgage & Rental ssistance (MR) uestions & nswers Website Registering for ssistance uestions & nswers (Continued): What will happen when I call FEM s Registration number ( )? When you call FEM s Registration number, you will hear an automated message asking that you to select Spanish or English as your preferred language for the interview. If you speak a different language, stay on the line and our Service Representative will connect you with a language line translator who will help you complete the registration. It generally takes minutes to complete the registration interview. What information will I need to register for assistance? When you call us, please have the following information available: The street address of your damaged property. Your current mailing address. Your phone numbers. Your Social Security Number Your household's approximate gross income at the time of the disaster. listing of any insurance coverage you have. Do I call the Registration number if I have already registered for assistance? No, if you have already registered for assistance and you have questions about your existing registration, please call our Helpline number at or visit our Disaster Recovery Center at 141 Worth Street in Manhattan from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Geographic Boundaries uestions & nswers: Did FEM redefine the boundaries associated with Mortgage & Rental ssistance, such as the south of Houston boundary that was formerly used? Yes, FEM will provide assistance to anyone who either lived or worked in the Borough of Manhattan and who meets the stated eligibility criteria. In addition, individuals may be eligible for MR due to their business relationship with Manhattan. Will residents who reside in any section of Manhattan be considered for Mortgage & Rental ssistance? Yes. Will residents who live in the outer boroughs, but worked in Manhattan, be considered for Mortgage & Rental ssistance? Yes, if they can trace (or connect) their loss of income to a business located in the Borough of Manhattan. Will residents who lived in the other declared New York Counties be eligible for Mortgage & Rental ssistance? Yes, if they derived significant income from a business located in the Borough of Manhattan MR &s ( 5

6 Mortgage & Rental ssistance (MR) uestions & nswers Website Geographic Boundaries uestions & nswers (Continued): Will commuters who worked in Manhattan, but live in surrounding states be eligible for Mortgage & Rental ssistance? Yes, if they meet the stated eligibility criteria of the program. Documentation Requirement uestions & nswers: What documents will I need to send in to be considered for Mortgage & Rental ssistance? The documentation needed to determine eligibility is as follows: Declaration of pplicant Form (FEM Form 90-69D): Declares that you are a US citizen, non-citizen national, or a qualified alien Note: If you are NOT a US citizen or qualified alien, but you are the parent or legal guardian of a US citizen, you will not sign the Declaration of pplicant Form. You will instead provide documentation reflecting the citizenship status of your child (birth certificate or US passport). Certification of Household Income Form: Certifies a 25% household income loss. Delinquency Form: Demonstrates housing payment delinquency. pplicant Statement/uthorization (FEM Form 90-69B): Includes the Privacy ct Statement and authorization, which allows FEM to verify certain information regarding your application for assistance with other entities. Proof of Occupancy: Demonstrates that the home is your primary residence. Before You Send Us Your Documentation: If you have not already registered with FEM, please call to complete a FEM registration, before sending this documentation to us. Where do I send these documents? Please mail all documentation to: National Processing Service Center P.O. Box Hyattsville, MD Fax# Important Note: Please clearly print your Name and Registration ID number on each document you send to us MR &s ( 6

7 Mortgage & Rental ssistance (MR) uestions & nswers Website Relocation uestions & nswers: Will applicants who have moved from their pre-disaster residence be assisted? Individuals who have moved from their pre-disaster residence will not be eligible to receive Mortgage & Rental ssistance, which is designed to keep the applicant in their pre-disaster dwelling. However, other forms of assistance may be available to these applicants. Will applicants who receive Mortgage & Rental ssistance be permitted to move to more affordable housing? Yes, some applicants will be allowed to move from their pre-disaster dwelling to more affordable housing. These registrations will be handled on a case by case basis. ssistance ward uestions & nswers: What is the maximum amount of monthly MR assistance available? If approved, FEM s Mortgage & Rental ssistance (MR) award will cover the entire monthly housing payment amount. If I am eligible, how many months assistance will I receive with the first award? If approved, the initial award will cover the delinquency, plus 1 month s rent or mortgage payment in advance. Do I have to repay FEM awards? No, FEM does not require that you repay assistance awards. Do I need to report Mortgage & Rental ssistance awards to the IRS? No, you do not need to report Mortgage & Rental assistance to the IRS. If I am approved for assistance, how will I receive my assistance award? If you are found eligible, your MR award will either be mailed to you in the form of a check, or electronically transferred (direct deposit) to your bank. Continued Mortgage & Rental ssistance uestions & nswers: Once I ve been found eligible, how do I qualify for continued MR assistance? If you have not recovered from your income loss, complete the Request for dditional Mortgage & Rental ssistance form included with your eligibility letter & return it. FEM will review & verify the information on your form to determine eligibility for continued MR. During the verification process, we may ask for additional documentation from you MR &s ( 7

8 Mortgage & Rental ssistance (MR) uestions & nswers Website Continued Mortgage & Rental ssistance uestions & nswers (Continued): How many months assistance will I receive each time I go through the Recertification process? The period of assistance for continued Mortgage & Rental ssistance will be 1 to 3 months of rent/mortgage, paid in advance, plus the amount of your current housing payment delinquency. FEM will continue to assist applicants with monthly housing payments until the household can become financially stable, or up to 18 months from the first payment delinquency, whichever comes first MR &s ( 8