Biden $770 Payment: Eligibility Criteria and How to apply?

President Joe Biden announced the one-time $770 payment for the California Wildfire victims this Monday. The California Wildfire that broke out on 07 Jan 2025 possibly in hilly Pacific Palisades has led to people vacating their homes and destroying many properties.

The Biden administration has announced support under the Federal Emergency Management Agency program to help California Wildfire victims get the essential items. The victims looking for more information on federal assistance can check every detail here.

Biden $770 Payment

The California Wildfire destroyed thousands of houses and businesses in  Los Angeles and led many people to evacuate their homes and property to save their lives. The government is trying to save properties and restore the damaged infrastructure.

According to the reports, around 24 people have lost their lives, and 1200 houses, schools, and other buildings and infrastructure in Los Angeles County. Seeing the disaster the wildfire has caused, President Biden has announced one payment of $770 for the victims.

The government announced the one-off payment after they announced the government will support the 100% cost of California management efforts to control or mitigate the effect of the wildfire for 180 days and support the removal of debris for at least 6 months.

The California Wildfire victims can get this payment to buy essential items, like prescription drugs, baby formula, water, gasoline, and others. As many people have evacuated their homes and property, they can use this payment to cover their expenses. The payment will be distributed under the FEMA federal assistance.

How does the Biden $770 payment work?

The US government assists the disaster victims through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s various programs. It will help the victims restore the property or damaged houses, and provide public assistance and grants to deal with the disaster.

The California Wildfire has now become a big disaster. The investigation of the fire’s origin is ongoing, however, billions of assets have been lost or damaged due to this fire as Los Angeles is home to Hollywood and many celebrities. The one-time payment under the FEMA program will help the victims deal with this disaster and survive till it ends.

According to the spokesperson, the victims can receive the payment from more than one FEMA program and start registering for the payment. The victims can easily apply for the FEMA program, the government has decided they would not wait for the Wildfire to end, they would allow the victims to have the payment now to cover their essential items needs.

The reports suggest that around 6000 survivors have already registered for  Assistance and the government has released around $5.1 million in funds to compensate them through the FEMA Critical Needs Assistance program.

Who can apply for the Biden FEMA assistance?

According to the Sunday press release, people who meet the following conditions can apply for the $770 payment:

  • You can apply for FEMA federal assistance if you need to cover certain costs, such as the purchase of essential items like baby formula, gasoline, etc., basic repairs of housing, house damaged due to the fire, replacement of personal effects or for their repairing, cost for temporary housing.
  • The residents should remember that FEMA federal assistance will assist only those people who do not have any insurance or coverage for their basic needs.

How to apply for the Biden $770 payment?

According to the US government announcement, the California Wildfire victims who need FEMA federal assistance can apply through the following ways:

  • Online: You can apply for FEMA assistance online through the disaster assistance official website at https://www.disasterassistance.gov/, you can find the California FEMA assistance on the website and apply for it based on your territory and ZIP code.
  • Mobile App: You can also apply through the FEMA mobile app for immediate assistance from the government. You can download the FEMA app from the Apple Store or Google Play Store easily.
  • Call:  You can also call the FEMA helpline number 800 621 3362 and ask for assistance to help you apply for federal assistance and receive the payment.

The state government has also released a separate website to help the survivors and ensure they receive state and federal aid on time without any delay. The LA governor has released the website, so if you have any query of about wildfire aid you can also visit the state website at https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/01/10/los-angeles-wildfire-survivors-can-apply-for-federal-aid-today-new-website-launched-to-help-californians/ that will direct you to state and federal aid both.

The FEMA assistance program is available in 40 languages, so anyone can easily communicate and get the needed assistance.

What are California Wildfire updates? 

The California Wildfire has spread across acres of land and has killed 24 or 25 people destroying many properties. The largest damage was suffered in the Palisades and Eaton wildfires, and now it continues to spread in Southern California.

According to the latest forecast, the authority has raised a red flag wind situation for Southern California which can raise a dangerous situation as it will favor the fire spread. According to official reports, around 88,000 people have moved from LA County, and the curfew is in effect in Eaton Fire areas and Palisades.

The California Governor and Vice President Kamala Harris had a conference last week on the current wildfire situation and ensured the survivors have enough support and the state has enough support to combat this disaster.

Many celebrities and entertainment companies have come forward to support the victims and save the place. For instance, Beyonce announced a $2.5 million donation to the LA relief fund, Netflix offered a $10 million donation, Comcast Corporation offered $2.5 million, and many more.

California state has raised a high-level fire alert due to the Santa Ana Winds, the residents should be aware of the disaster and immediately contact the state and federal for the needed assistance to fight this disaster.