How FEMA Individual Assistance Works
Summary
How FEMA Individual Assistance Works
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
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
or
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.