Using crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe may jeopardize your federal disaster aid. Here’s how to make sure you don’t lose out.
ST. LOUIS — Almost a month after an EF3 tornado tore through the St. Louis region on May 16, killing five people and causing over $1 billion in damages, President Donald Trump and the Federal Emergency Management Agency approved a Major Disaster Declaration. The move unlocked $71 million in federal funding for survivors of the storm.
Homeowners and renters in St. Louis, St. Louis County, and Scott County may now apply for FEMA assistance, which includes grants for temporary housing and repairs, low-interest loans for uninsured losses and other recovery support.
If you used GoFundMe, can you still get FEMA aid?
In the wake of the storm, many St. Louisans went to crowdfunding websites, such as GoFundMe, for financial relief to help speed up their recovery process. But will those financial donations make you ineligible for FEMA assistance?
It depends, according to FEMA.
Federal law prohibits FEMA from duplicating benefits received from other sources, according to the federal agency. That means if you used crowdfunding donations for specific disaster-related expenses, such as home repairs, funeral costs or hotel stays, FEMA may reduce or deny assistance for those same, specific expenses.
Avoid specifics when crowdfunding
To avoid losing access to federal aid, FEMA recommended keeping the wording on any crowdfunding campaigns general.
For example, a GoFundMe campaign titled “help with my storm recovery” is unlikely to interfere an potential FEMA assistance. But if your campaign specifically says it’s raising money for your “hotel costs” or “roof repairs,” and you also request FEMA help for those expenses, FEMA may choose to offset or deny that portion of your claim.
Apply for aid anyway
Even if you received crowdfunding donations, FEMA encouraged all survivors to apply for assistance so that your specific case can be reviewed.
Victims of the May 16 storm can apply for FEMA assistance:
Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others can give FEMA the number for that service. For an accessible video on three ways to apply for FEMA assistance, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU7wzRjByhI.
FEMA said people applying for assistance should have the following information ready:
- Social Security number (one per household).
- Address of the damaged home or apartment.
- Description of the damage.
- Information about insurance coverage.
- Telephone number.
- Mailing address.
- Bank account and routing numbers for the direct deposit of funds.
For more information about applying for FEMA disaster assistance, click here.
