How FEMA Individual Assistance Works

Updated May 29, 2025 (IG10024)

Summary

FEMA's Individual Assistance (IA) program provides financial and direct assistance and services o disaster

survivors when the President authorizes such assistance pursuant to a declaration of emergency or major disaster

under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act; PL. 93-288, as amended).

WHAT IS

INDIVIDUAL

ASSISTANCE

HOW IS IA

FUNDED?

Incident

Individuals and Households Program (IHP)

Disaster Case Management

Crisis Counseling Assistance & Training Program

Disaster Unemployment Assistance

Disaster Legal Services

Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) Appropriations

The source Of funding for Stafford Act assistance.

FEMA provides assistance for housing

and FEMA or STT provides assistance for

other needs to disaster survivors

SLTTs and NGOs administer programs

and provide services to support disaster

survivors

ABA Young Lawyers Division provides

free legal services to disaster survivors

Federal

cost share

100%

for most IA

The federal

government provides

costs for IHP-ONA

HOW IS IA AUTHORIZED AND WHAT FACTORS ARE CONSIDERED?

Federal and SLTT officials

conduct Joint Preliminary

Damage Assessment (PDA)

Governor Or Tribal

Chief Executive submits

declaration request

President issues declaration

or denies the request

STT may appeal decision

regarding declaration, eligible

counties, and types of work

Local Assessment

PDA Findings

FEMA evaluates declaration

request and makes

recommendation to President

STT may request

additional eligible counties

and types of assistance

There is no automatic threshold for authorizing a request for IA.

FEMA evaluates different factors for the states/territories and tribes, as well as other relevant information:

State/Territorial Governor's Request for IA

• State Fiscal Capacity and Resources Availability*

• Uninsured Home and Personal Property Losses*

• Disaster Impacted Population Profile

• Impact to Community Infrastructure

• Casualties

• Disaster Related Unemployment

Tribal Chief Executive's Request for IA

• Tribal Nation Capacity and Resources to

Respond to the Disaster

• Uninsured Home and Personal Property

Losses and Pre-Existing Condition

• Disaster Impacted Population Profile

• Impact to Community Infrastructure

and Cultural Facilities

• Disaster Related Unemployment

• Displaced Households and Availability

of Housing Resources

• Unique Conditions That Affect Tribal Nations

• 36-month Disaster History or Recent Multiple

Disasters That Impacted the Nation

• Other Relevant Information

HOW DO IA APPLICANTS RECEIVE FUNDING?

FEMA provides

written approval/ Notice of Award

SLTTs/NGOs

(administer programs

and provide services

to support disaster

survivors)

Individuals/

Households

(request IHP

assistance for their

disaster-caused

Meet eligibility Complete needs Submit federal

denial and

conditions

award application

justification

assessment

0000

and Conditions

of Award

Conduct work/

satisfy award

requirements

Meet eligibil•ty Submit application

criteria online, phone, or Disaster

Recovery Center (DRC)

housing and other needs)

FEMA verifies

disaster-caused

losses

May appeal

FEMA provides

Eligibility Letter and FEMA's determination

financial assistance

Complete federal

grant closeout

Use assistance

for disaster

recovery

HOW DOES FEMA RECOUP Il-IP FUNDING?

FEMA is required by law to identify and recover improper payments

(overpayments, payments made to ineligible recipients, payments used for ineligible services, duplication of benefits)

FEMA Appeal

Determination:

or Does not Appeal

FEMA Provides

Written Notice

of Potential Debt

to IHP Applicant

If they appeal

• submit written appeal

or request oral hearing

If they do not appeal

• debt becomes final

FEMA Grants Appeal:

Reason for Debt

• FEMA terminates debt and

returns money

FEMA Grants Appeal: Amount

• FEMA returns excess money or collects

remaining portion of reduced debt

FEMA Denies Appeal

• debt becomes final and must be paid

IHP Applicant Pays Debt

or FEMA Waiver

IHP Applicant pays debt in

full or debt compromise

• unpaid debts are referred

to Treasury for collection

FEMA must waive recoupment

if the IHP assistance:

(1) was distributed based on an error

by FEMA and such debt shall be

construed as a hardship; and

(2) is subject to a claim Or legal action.

Abbreviations: ABA: American Bar Association, DRC: Disaster Recovery Center, NGOs: Nongovernmental Organizations, ONA: Other Needs Assistance (i.e., IHP assistance

for "other needs"), SLTT: State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial, STT: State, Tribal, Territorial.

*Indicates principal factor for determining the need for the IHP.

Sources: CRS's interpretation of Stafford Act Sections 408 (42 U.S.C. 55174): 410 (42 U.S.C. 55177); 426 (42 U.S.C. 5518%); 416 (42 U.S.C. 55183);

41 5 (42 U.s.c. 55182); (42 U.S.C. 42 U.s.c. 551 74a: Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations, including Subchapter D,

part 206, Subparts B, D, and F; 44 CER. 5206.48(b); FEMA, Tribal Declarations Interim Guidance, FP 104-009025-001 , December 2024; and FEMA,

Individual Assistance Program and policy Guide (IAPPG), v. 1.1 , FP 104-009-03, May 2021.

Information as of May 29, 2025. Prepared by Elizabeth M. Webster, Specialist in Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery; and Brion Long,

Visual Information Specialist. For more information, see CRS In Focus 1 1298 (https://www.crs.gov/Reports/lF1 1298).

—CRS

Individual Pays Debt

Payment Options

• Pay in full

• Request payment plan

• Request full/partial debt compromise

Individual Requests Debt Waiver

• Debt was the result of FEMA error and

• Applicant must show:

(1) They were not at fault

(2) Collection would be against "equity and good conscience"

*Abbreviations: ABA: American Bar Association, DRC: Disaster Recovery Center, IHP: Individuals and Households Program, NGOs: Nongovernmental Organizations,

ONA: Other Needs Assistance (i.e., IHP assistance for "other needs"), PDA: Preliminary Damage Assessment, SLTT: State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial.

**Appeal Note: The state/territory/tribe may appeal the decision regarding the declaration, eligible counties, or categories of work.

***Indicates principal factor for determining the need for the IHP.

Sources: CRS's interpretation of Stafford Act Sections 408, 426, 416, 410, and 415 (42 U.S.C. §§5174, 5189d, 5183, 5177, and 5182); 44 C.F.R. Part 206, Subparts B, D, and F; 44 C.F.R. §206.48(b); FEMA's Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide (IAPPG), v.1.1, FP 104-009-03, May 2021; and FEMA's "Instruction 116-1-2: Individuals and Households Program Recoupment," v. 2.0, May 2019.

Information prepared by Elizabeth M. Webster, Analyst in Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery, Federalism and Emergency Management Section; and Brion Long, Visual Information Specialist. For more information, see CRS In Focus IF11298.