How to apply for help with your deductible for Ian recovery

If you live in Lee, Charlotte, Collier or DeSoto counties, your piece of $5 million could soon be headed your way.

The money is to help pay your homeowner’s insurance deductible.

But so far, only one county has an application ready to go.

In Charlotte, the application is 10 pages long. There are a number of other documents to sign and a list of personal paperwork you’ll need to attach to the application.

A Charlotte County spokesperson told WINK News that 40 people applied within the first two hours they were open. And they are expecting many more.

The Ian recovery is a marathon, not a sprint.

But Sara Parfitt hopes some money for her insurance deductible shortens the race to getting her house in order.

She said part of her ceiling is falling off.

“Since my deductible is high, I cannot afford this time to spend that kind of money,” Parfitt said.

She spent the first couple of hours of her morning applying for Charlotte County’s disaster assistance program in person.

“It’s going to help me, whatever the insurance is going to provide me the money. This is going to help me too because after that you have to paint and pay people to do the stuff so I think they will really help me,” Parfitt said.

The application can be picked up in person or downloaded from the website.

Either way, make sure you have a valid ID for every adult in the house and birth certificates for any kids, proof of income and proof you live there full time.

Parfitt said it sounds like a lot but the application is easy and worth it to get her home and the community back to normal.

“Have patience,” she said. “We, as a community, we have to come together and have that patience and help each other.”

You can drop your application off in person or email it.

Lee and Collier counties are still working to get more information on their process.

DeSoto County said they are working on it but you can walk in and apply in person.

Where to find information on applications:

Lee County said: “Income-eligible households whose primary residence sustained damage as a result of Hurricane Ian may qualify for assistance with paying their insurance deductibles. Limited information about this assistance is currently available. To be put on a list to be notified when an application for assistance is available, please email SHIPhousing@leegov.com or call 239-533-8585.”

Charlotte

DeSoto