Disaster Relief

[Allitrics]

Can (and how/where) you claim temporary housing payments you made to live while your house was unlivable due to a natural disaster. Yes it was federally declared and I have the fema number. I only see where you can claim property loss not covered by insurance. How do you claim having to pay rent when it was not covered by fema or insurance? We do not pay rent in our home, we own it outright so a remtal expense is above our normal living expenses. Thank you 

[AmyC]

Additional living expenses not covered by your insurance may be submitted to FEMA. They are not part of the Form 4684 Casualty/ Disaster.

There has been some talk lately about these costs since the laws changed in Dec 2024 to make wildfire victims not have to pay tax on compensation for those expenses. See Instructions for Form 4684, Casualties and Thefts

[Allitrics]

Can I get a response in regards to hurricanes in Florida? Turbo Tax help person told me I can claim anything above my normal living costs. FEMA didn’t help me with rental payments, they actually denied me twice stating my insurance pays for it which they don’t. I submitted the claim showing they don’t. I have $6000 in rental payments in order to have a home to live in just last year. We don’t pay rent or have a mortgage payment. 

[Vanessa A]

Hurricanes in FL that have been declared disaster events, you can claim disaster losses, but you cannot claim rental payments.  The loss is the amount that is equal to the devaluation in your property.  Other expenses that are not related to the devaluation of your property are not part of casualty losses for personal property. 

If your property is personal-use property or isn't completely destroyed, the amount of your casualty...

• The adjusted basis of your property, or
• The decrease in fair market value of your property as a result of the casualty