Homeowners told to repay $6M for alleged Sandy aid fraud

4,500 households under review by FEMA for allegedly double-dipping, other violations

Damaged homes in the Far Rockaways section of Queens
Damaged homes in the Far Rockaways section of Queens

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is calling for the repayment of more than $5.8 million in Hurricane Sandy aid.

The agency is investigating about 4,500 households for allegedly receiving improper funds after the 2012 storm. Of the households, 850 have been asked to return $5.8 million. The remaining households are still under review.

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The residents were largely considered ineligible for funding because their rental or vacation home was damaged instead of a primary residence, the Associated Press reported. In some cases, more than one member of a particular household received payments. Others received funds for property damage that proved to be covered by their insurance, reports said. [AP via Crain’s]Mark Maurer