What are the New FEMA Individual Assistance Program Reforms to Help Survivors?

FEMA has announced reforms to the Individual Assistance (IA) Program which will go into effect for all disasters that occur on or after March 22, 2024. With the increased frequency of some extreme weather events fueled by climate change, these reforms will help provide flexible funding directly to survivors when they need it the most. Reforms include:  

• Replacing the Critical Needs Assistance program with Serious Needs Assistance will provide a cash payment of $750 to individual survivors for immediate expenses.
• Creating a new benefit called Displacement Assistance, will provide survivors with upfront funds to assist with immediate housing needs. 
• Eliminating the SBA loan application requirement as a condition of certain assistance eligibility. 
• Allowing up to the $42,500 Individual Assistance cap for expenses not reimbursed by insurance (including deductibles and underinsured losses). 
• Expanding habitability criteria to include repair needs that existed before a disaster 
• Allowing assistance for rebuilding to cover accessibility upgrades. 
• Simplifying the application processes to remove barriers for late applicants, reducing the documentation required for temporary housing assistance, and making the appeals process easier.

The new reforms were developed based on feedback from survivors and in response to threats the U.S. faces due to climate change.

Attend Upcoming Virtual and Instructor-led Trainings

The National Center for Disaster Preparedness, through its FEMA training grants, will be offering the following free upcoming trainings. The training hosts are in the locations below; however, learners throughout the FEMA regions are also welcome to attend. In addition, we have pilot trainings where we will debut and test our new climate change curriculum. FEMA-certified climate change trainings will be available in late spring.

Live Virtual Learning (March 2024 - May 2024)

• March 6, 2024 - Connecticut, FEMA Region 1
• PER-409-V: Pandemic Planning – Mental Health and Behavior Health
• May 1 and 2, 2024 - New York, FEMA Region 2
• Register on the NY Homeland Security and Emergency Services Portal for PER-409-V: Pandemic Planning – Mental Health and Behavior Health
• May 7, 2024 - Wisconsin, FEMA Region 5
• MGT-477: Roles for State, Tribal, and Territorial Governments in the Implementation of Disaster Housing Programs
• May 28, 2024 - Ohio, FEMA Region 5
• MGT-477: Roles for State, Tribal, and Territorial Governments in the Implementation of Disaster Housing Programs

Instructor-led In-Person or Hybrid Learning (February 2024 - May 2024)

• February 20, 2024 - Texas, FEMA Region 6, In-Person Delivery (PILOT)
• PER-420: Understanding Climate Risk - Hazard, Vulnerability, and Community Resilience (Pilot Training)
• March 13, 2024 - Oregon, FEMA Region 10, In-Person Delivery (PILOT)
• MGT-491-S: Climate Change & Equity - MGT-491 Seminar (Pilot Training)
• March 26, 2024 - Makah Tribe, Washington, FEMA Region 10, Hybrid - Virtual and In-Person Delivery
• MGT-477: Roles for State, Tribal, and Territorial Governments in the Implementation of Disaster Housing Programs
• April 2, 2024 - Alaska, FEMA Region 10, Hybrid - Virtual and In-Person Delivery
• MGT-488: Pandemic Planning – Emergency Management and Public Health Coordination
• April 4, 2024 - Missouri, FEMA Region 7, In-Person Delivery
• MGT-487: Mass Care – Shelter and Relocation Coordination
• April 17, 2024 - Illinois, FEMA Region 5, In-Person Delivery
• MGT-477: Roles for State, Tribal, and Territorial Governments in the Implementation of Disaster Housing Programs
• April 25, 2024 - California, FEMA Region 9, In-Person Delivery
• MGT-477: Roles for State, Tribal, and Territorial Governments in the Implementation of Disaster Housing Programs
• May 16, 2024 - Cumberland County, PA, FEMA Region 3, Hybrid - Virtual and In-Person Delivery
• MGT-487: Mass Care – Shelter and Relocation Coordination
• May 21, 2024 - Lincoln County, OR, FEMA Region 10, Hybrid - Virtual and In-Person Delivery
• MGT-487: Mass Care – Shelter and Relocation Coordination

Increase Your Professional Knowledge:

Take Free On-Demand Web-based FEMA Trainings 

Web-based trainings are currently available for housing and economic disaster recovery, pandemic planning and response, and mass care and sheltering. These free, web-based trainings can be completed on your own time and provide knowledge geared for your job role. 

Trainings are available for individual learners or can be incorporated into the curriculum for volunteer groups, university courses, healthcare and hospital systems, and more. To learn about and register for trainings, please visit our training portal at https://training.ncdpcourses.org/. 

Learn more about NCDP FEMA trainings offered.

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This project is supported by Cooperative Agreements EMW-2020-CA-00064, EMW-2021-CA-00092, EMW-2021-CA-00093, EMW-2022-CA-00037, and EMW-2023-GG019446 administered by the

U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Points of view or opinions expressed in this document are those of the author and do not represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.