Presidential Declared Disaster Assistance to Individuals and Households – Other Needs

This type of assistance supports disaster recovery by providing financial assistance for Other Needs Assistance to disaster survivors who, as a direct result of a major disaster or emergency, have necessary expenses and serious needs that are unmet through insurance or other means. This assistance is administered by the state, territorial, or tribal government or jointly between the state, territory, or tribe. Performance metrics for this program are established in accordance with the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of 1993, as amended by the GPRA Modernization Act of 2010, to include:
• Goal of 90% applicants satisfied with the simplicity of the Individuals and Households Program
• Goal of an average of less than seven days for the timeliness of providing Individuals and Households Program awards, excluding Critical Needs Assistance and Clean and Sanitize Assistance
• Goal of 68% applicants confident in FEMA Individuals and Households Assistance
• Goal of 70% applicants satisfied with FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program application process
Data gathering methodology for measuring performance and results is conducted through quarterly surveys with disaster survivors.

Individuals and households, in areas designated in an emergency or major disaster declaration under the Stafford Act for Individual Assistance, who have necessary expenses and serious needs they are unable to meet through insurance or other means, may be eligible for Other Needs Assistance. Basic conditions of eligibility include: the individual or a member of the household must be a citizen of the United States, a non-citizen national, or a qualified alien; FEMA must be able to verify the applicant’s identity; the applicant’s insurance, or other forms of disaster assistance received cannot meet their disaster-caused needs; and the applicant’s necessary expenses and serious needs are directly caused by the major disaster or emergency. In addition to this general eligibility criteria, each type of Other Needs Assistance has additional eligibility requirements, like verifiable documentation of the disaster-caused expense. FEMA collaborates with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to determine eligibility for Personal Property, Transportation, and a Group Flood Insurance Policy. Applicants who are referred to the SBA for a disaster loan to cover these types of assistance must complete an application and be denied by the SBA or only receive a partial loan, in order to be considered for these types of assistance from FEMA.

Individuals and households, in areas declared an emergency or major disaster by the President that includes Individual Assistance, who have necessary expenses and serious needs caused by the major disaster or emergency that they are unable to meet through insurance or other means, are eligible for Other Needs Assistance.

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program.
Based on damage assessments and an agreement to commit state funds and resources to the long-term recovery, the state or territorial Governor or Indian Tribal Chief Executive makes a request (through the FEMA Regional Administrator) for a Stafford Act declaration for an emergency or major disaster. Requests for assistance must be made in accordance with 44 C.F.R. Part 206, except as provided in § 206.35(d) for emergency declarations involving primarily federal responsibility. A Stafford Act major disaster or emergency declaration must through first be issued. To receive a grant, the state, territory, or tribe must make an annual submission of its State, Territory, or Tribe Administrative Plan (SAP) through FEMA Form 010-0-11 and other documents as required by 44 C.F.R Part 206, Subpart D.

Funds are allocated from the Disaster Relief Fund for use in a designated emergency or major disaster. Once a major disaster or emergency declaration that includes Individual Assistance is received, individuals and households receive assistance directly from FEMA or the state, territory, or tribe, as stipulated by the State, Territory, or Tribe Administrative Plan (SAP). The state, territory, or tribe has 72 hours from the time the major disaster or emergency is declared to submit changes to its SAP.

The state, territory, or tribe must submit or renew its SAP every three years. The state, territory, or tribe has 72 hours from the time the major disaster or emergency is declared to submit changes to its SAP.