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Los Angeles County Consumer & Business Affairs Logo (White)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Los Angeles County Household Relief Program?
The LA County Household Relief Grant aims to offer immediate financial assistance to impacted households, helping bridge financial gaps and promote the general welfare of affected individuals and families until insurance or government recovery resources become available.

Who is eligible to apply?
Any Los Angeles County resident (homeowner or tenant) who has been physically displaced due to the 2025 Los Angeles County Eaton and Palisades fire and windstorm events and meet any of the following criteria:

  • Your primary residence was completely destroyed by the 2025 Los Angeles County Eaton and Palisades fire and windstorm events.
  • Your primary residence is within the impacted zones for the 2025 Los Angeles County Eaton and Palisades fire and windstorm events and was partially destroyed or severely damaged as a result thereof, making it uninhabitable.
  • Your household experienced a death related to the 2025 Los Angeles County Eaton and Palisades fire and windstorm events.

How is a household defined?
This Program defines household as “All the people who occupy a housing unit (such as a house or apartment) as their usual place of residence.”

Which applications will receive priority consideration?
Priority will be given to the most impacted households based on need, including insurance status, social and economic vulnerability, loss of life, health conditions, and other risk factors.

What can this grant award be used for?
Grant funds can only be used for costs and/or expenses associated with unmet recovery needs arising out of 2025 Los Angeles County Eaton and Pacific Palisades fires and windstorm events and not covered by other forms of assistance.

When can I apply for the Program?
The Application Portal will begin to accept applications for the Los Angeles County Household Relief Grant on February 26, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. PT

How can I apply for the Program?

When does the Program end?
The Application Portal will close and applications will no longer be accepted for the Los Angeles County Household Relief Grant on March 12, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. PT

Are there any additional resources to aid me with completing my application?

  • A local partner is available to assist those unable to apply online with the application process, either by phone or in person.
  • There is in person support available at the following Disaster Recovery Centers:
  • You can also reference the Program and Application Guide provided at lacountyrelieffund.com for step-by-step instructions on the application process. The Program and Application will be available in the following languages:
    • Armenian
    • Chinese (Simplified and Traditional)
    • English
    • Persian
    • Russian
    • Spanish
    • Tagalog

What if my application is deemed ineligible?
If your application is found to be ineligible, you will be notified by email. If there was an error in the information and/or documentation, contact our dedicated Customer Experience Center within 30 days of receiving the decision email. Please note, that this will not guarantee eligibility. Additional information and/or documentation may be requested to further validate an application. If we do not hear from you within this timeframe, the application will remain ineligible.

What happens if the Program runs out of funding, and will I be notified?
Any updates regarding the Program will be shared on our website at lacountyrelieffund.com.

What documents are required to provide with my application?

  • Application Certifications: this is a required document for all applications which will be downloadable and fillable in the application. Click here to download the Applicant Certifications.
  • Proof of Identity: Valid Driver’s License however, there is alternate documentation that can be provided if not available.
  • Proof of Residence: Federal Tax Return however, there is alternate documentation that can be provided if not available.
  • Proof of Household Size: Most Recent Tax Return however, there is alternate documentation that can be provided if not available.

What is the total grant amount I can receive?
The total grant amount is dependent on household size:

  • Household of 2 or less ($6,000): Household consisting of one or two members, including individuals living alone or couples without dependents.
  • Household of Three or More ($12,000): Households with at least three people, where at least one person is a dependent minor or a dependent adult.
  • Multigenerational Household ($18,000): Households with at least 4 people that include dependent minors and/or dependent adults and consist of at least 3 separate generations.

Will my or a household member’s legal status be reported?
No, legal status will not be considered as eligibility, nor will it be reported to anyone.

What if I do not have a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN)?
You can obtain assistance with a FREE application for an ITIN through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program: https://www.freetaxprepla.com/

How will the relief grant be paid out?
Payment will be issued via Automated Clearing House (ACH) to the provided bank account information during the application process.

What if I do not have a bank account?
You can obtain assistance with a bank account through BankOn, a national initiative that connects individuals to safe, affordable financial products with no or low fees: https://dcba.lacounty.gov/bankon/

Will receiving a grant impact my taxes or public benefits?
This Program was designed to provide immediate temporary unrestricted general relief. As such, this grant should not be considered taxable and is unlikely to impact public benefits. However, individual circumstances may vary and applicants should consult with a tax professional, or their benefits provider to understand implications specific to their situation. For questions on how this grant may impact other aid, consult with the agency handling your aid application, seek legal aid, or speak with a tax professional.

How will receiving an LA County Household Relief fund grant affect assistance from other sources like FEMA?
The LA County Household Relief Fund aims to bridge financial gaps and promote the general welfare of affected households until insurance or government recovery resources become available. Grant funds cannot duplicate other assistance received for the same expenses, including FEMA aid, insurance, or other relief programs. Applicants should consult with FEMA, legal aid or a tax professional for any questions regarding how receipt of grant funds under this Program may impact other aid.

What languages, other than English does the Website and Program Customer Experience Center support?

    • Armenian
    • Chinese (Simplified)
    • Chinese (Traditional)
    • Persian
    • Portuguese
    • Russian
    • Spanish

What is the minimum age requirement to apply as the Primary Applicant?
You must be 18 years of age.

Can I apply if I rent a room in a home that was impacted by the Eaton or Palisades fire?
Yes, however, only one grant will be awarded to each address so the primary applicant should include all household members in one application.

Can I include my pet as a household member?
For this program, pets should not be included in the household size.

I am a landlord and my home was impacted, can I apply?
The impacted residence must be the primary residence of the applicant. If the landlord resides in the impacted residence, an application can be submitted. If the landlord rents out the home, the tenants should submit an application.

Does my income impact eligibility?
No, income is not a criteria for this program.

How to obtain a copy of my application?
Please contact the Customer Experience Center at (888) 788-0335 for assistance. Support will be available seven (7) days a week from 7:00 a.m. PT – 7:00 p.m. PT (only from February 26 – March 12 2025) then Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. PT – 5:00 p.m. PT (starting from March 13, 2025 and thereafter).

Why do I need to complete the Application Certification?
As part of the application process, the primary applicant is required to self-certify the truthfulness and accuracy of the information and supporting documentation provided in the application. Click here to download the Applicant Certifications.

When will my application be reviewed?
Applications are being reviewed based on the households that have experienced the greatest impacts from the wildfires. Considerations include insurance status, social and economic vulnerability, loss of life, health conditions, and other risk factors. Applicants have been grouped along these criteria based on the information they included in their application. Once your application is under review, you will be notified accordingly.

I received an email for missing or follow up documentation, is there assistance available?
Yes, there is in-person assistance and the Altadena and UCLA Disaster Recovery Centers. Please visit: https://lacountyrelieffund.com/technical-assistance/ for days and times. There is also phone support available at (888) 788-0335 Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. PT – 5:00 p.m. PT (starting from March 13, 2025 and thereafter).

What happens after my application is approved?
Upon approval, the Grantee Agreement and W-9 will be available as a DocuSign document in the Application Portal. Approved applicants will need to follow the instructions from DocuSign to initial, sign and date both documents.

Has funding for this program started? If so, when did applicants start receiving funds?
Funding notifications for the Los Angeles County Household Relief Grant began on March 28th, 2025, and will continue until funding is exhausted. Please note that funding for this Program is limited and not guaranteed. It is possible that the number of eligible applicants may exceed the funding available. Only eligible applications that have been fully validated and experienced the greatest impact from the Los Angeles County Eaton and Palisades fire and windstorm events, based on the Program’s impact assessment, will be considered for a grant award. All notifications will be sent via email.

Important Note: Your funds will not be released until your Grantee Agreement and W-9 are signed. Awardees who do not execute both of these documents may have their award revoked, Agreement voided, and/or application declined from the Program.