A post on Facebook claims the $750 in government aid victims of Hurricane Helene are receiving from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is a loan.

Verdict: False

The money that victims receive is in the form of a grant, not a loan.

Fact Check:

FEMA Officials have announced approximately $344 million worth of aid has been distributed to areas affected by Hurricane Helene, according to a press release from the agency. The release touted that the aid has reached the households of 375,000 people, along with 8,000 workers on the ground providing assistance.

Multiple posts on social media claim that the direct financial assistance of $750 is a loan that must be paid back. “I have even worse news, the $750 is a loan,” one post on X reads.

The claim is false. FEMA’s official website states that this money is a grant unless you meet certain criteria. The $750 comes from FEMA’s “Serious Needs Assistance” plan, which allows recipients to buy essential items, including emergency supplies. The funds are an initial payment as FEMA determines eligibility for those applying for larger grants, according to the site.

Other users are claiming that if you do not pay this money back, FEMA will seize your property. According to FEMA’s official website, this is also false.

Pay attention to the fine print before you accept any “help” from @fema if you don’t pay the money back they will cease your property whether it’s for $1 or $750! They aren’t here to help, they are here for land grabs and even more nefarious reasons! Know thy enemy! pic.twitter.com/hiV47nnopI

— eyeoftheSTORM (@eyeoftheSTORMsd) October 7, 2024

If you are in an affected area and need assistance, FEMA encourages you to apply for your grant as soon as possible so funds can be dispersed. This can be done by heading to disasterassistance.gov or by using the FEMA app.

This story was first reported by Lead Stories.