Super Storm Sandy-Relief Assistance

For our members, the following is a listing of relief assistance available to them in the aftermath of the Super Storm Sandy:

• Teamsters Disaster Relief: Up to $500. The form is available from business agents, or can be downloaded here.  Call 202-624 8971.

• Con Edison If you lost food and/or medicines because of the power outage, and you are a Con Ed customer, there is a program to reimburse up to $450. The claims form is available on-line at http://www.coned.com/customercentral/lawclaims.asp. You can reach them by phone at 1-800-75-CONED (1-800-752-6633).

• FEMA: Must register with FEMA to start process for any federal benefits. 

Individual Assistance for losses not covered by insurance. Up to $31,900 in assistance for rental payments for temporary housing; home repairs and replacement and/or replacement of personal property. (It’s up to $31,900 but the average grant is $4,000 or so.) You must file insurance claims first, but you don’t have to wait for the claim to be settled. Call FEMA right after you call your insurance company. You can still get FEMA aid if the insurance settlement is not enough to cover needs.

Housing Assistance (to help identify available rental housing). See FEMA contact info below. To register:

Disaster Assistance Center (in person) located throughout city.
Call 1-800-621-3362 (24/7) or online: www.disasterassistance.gov

Legal Assistance. Some free legal assistance is available for dealing with insurance claims; landlord-tenant issues; consumer protection issues; and replacement of wills and other documents lost in storm.

• Small Business Administration (SBA): Note: assistance is available to individuals as well as businesses through this program. Provides low interest loans. Interest rates range from 1.688 – 3.75%. Three types of programs:

Home Disaster Loans: Homeowners or renters to repair or replace disaster damaged real estate or personal property (including automobiles).

Business Physical Disaster Loans: Repair or replace disaster damaged property including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Businesses of any size are eligible. Non-profits like churches and charities also eligible.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Working capital loans to help small businesses meet ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met because of disaster.

To register:

Apply through FEMA first and they will refer.
By phone: 800-659-2955
E-mail: disastercustomerservice@sba.gov
On-line: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/

• Disaster Unemployment Assistance
  If you live in the five boroughs or Rockland, Nassau, Suffolk, or Westchester Counties and lost your job or income due to Sandy, you may qualify for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. You must file by December 3, 2012.

Call: 888-209-8124 (or if you are out of state: 877-358-5306).

Some circumstances:
Injured by disaster and can’t work.
Workplace was damaged, destroyed or you can’t get there because of disaster
Transportation is not available because of disaster
Former head of household died in disaster
Most of your income derives from areas affected by disaster and business has declined as a direct result of disaster

• Chase Bank
  Chase Bank has a number of programs for members who have a mortgage through their bank, including a 90-day forgiveness period for mortgage payments, pre-storm evictions and renegotiating mortgage rates. Contact your Chase representative for more information. $500 grants are also available to eligible Chase card-holder members.

• Miscellaneous Relief
  
  Insurance Deductibles: Directive to insurance companies to suspend deductibles for hurricane-related claims.
  
  Food Stamps: Extending the deadline for recertification. Call 1-888-NYS DOL (1-888-469-7365)

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