Hundreds of victims of 2012's Superstorm Sandy have been asked by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to return the US$6 million given to them is compensation, and thousands are expected to be asked the same.

In a report released by the Associated Press, it stated that approximately 800 recipients of funds from FEMA have already been asked by to return about US$5.8 million they were given following the superstorm.

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Nearly 3,600 other recipients could be asked to do the same.

"Recoupment" is FEMA's campaign to retrieve the overpaid funds due to missing documentation, bureaucratic mistakes or violations of eligibility rules.

Recipients who were asked to return the money, included those whose damaged properties were vacation houses and not their residential homes.

Others were those who sought compensation when the property turned out to be covered by insurance or those who had multiple household members who were paid.

The average amount demanded for the refund was US$6,987 per recipient, an amount which is difficult to procure for those who applied for aid, since the majority has an annual net income of less than US$30,000.

Thousands of other cases regarding possible recipients to be demanded of a return of payment are currently being reviewed, which is reportedly worth about US$53,000 in aid payments.

According to Ann Dibble, storm response unit director of the New York Legal Assistance Group, it is highly probable that the recipients have already spent the money for the renovation of their properties.

Among those who were requested for a return of payment was Gary Silberman of Lindenhurst, New York.

Silberman received a letter from FEMA, demanding him to return approximately US$17,000.

According to FEMA, Silberman violated their double dipping rules when both Silberman and his father, who were living together, applied for aid.

In addition, FEMA prevented Silberman from receiving aid since he failed to secure flood insurance after receiving US$25,000 from FEMA after Hurricane Irene in 2011.

Silberman appealed, saying he was renting at his father's house and was not living there for free, but FEMA disregarded his appeals.

Meanwhile, FEMA said it has already fixed its system and has since gotten better at making sure that only the right people is given aid.

TagsFEMA, superstorm sandy, sandy 2012, Storm, Society, return FEMA funds