Eligible California wildfire victims can receive a one-time $770 payment. Here's how to qualify.

• You may be eligible for immediate federal aid if you have been impacted by the California wildfires.
• At a White House briefing this week, President Joe Biden announced that individuals affected by the fires would receive a one-time payment of $770.
• Here's what to know about accessing those payments or other federal aid.

This week, President Joe Biden announced that California residents impacted by recent wildfires may be eligible for a one-time $770 payment from the federal government.

FEMA usually provides serious needs assistance, which is called money, to survivors within the first 30 days after a disaster has been declared.

Biden announced that those affected by the wildfires will receive a one-time payment of $770 to purchase necessary items such as water, baby formula, and prescriptions.

Earlier this week, Biden stated that nearly 6,000 survivors have registered and $5.1 million has been distributed.

As natural disasters become more frequent, student loan borrowers have options.

How to know if you qualify

In order to receive serious assistance, you must submit a FEMA application through DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362.

Other criteria include:

• FEMA must also be able to confirm your identity.
• To be eligible for certain benefits or privileges, you or someone in your household must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or a qualified non-citizen.
• You must live most of the year in the area affected by wildfires.
• You must prove disaster damage to FEMA through either a home inspection or documentation.
• You must inform us if you have been displaced, require shelter, or have other emergency expenses.
• You must apply while serious needs assistance is available.

Not everyone who applies will receive the same payment size.

The amount of assistance you receive from FEMA depends on your unique situation, according to their website.

Other federal aid available

Victims of the wildfires may also qualify for other federal aid.

Displacement assistance, another FEMA program, may assist in covering up to two weeks of housing expenses if your home is uninhabitable after a disaster. This money can be utilized to cover the costs of staying in a hotel, with friends and family, or elsewhere.

Federal disaster assistance can provide temporary housing, grants for home repairs and essential household items, unemployment payments, low-interest loans for residential losses not covered by insurance, and crisis counseling.

Beware of scams that promise cash payments from FEMA, warns the agency, as disaster victims should be cautious.