FEMA Public Assistance

Eligibility

Approval for FEMA Public Assistance funding relies on strict adherence to federal eligibility requirements. Every project is evaluated using a mandatory four-part framework. To be approved for reimbursement, a project must satisfy all four criteria; if any single element is ineligible, the project cannot be funded.

There are four distinct components to eligibility: Applicant, Facility, Work, and Cost.

1. Applicant - Who is eligible?

  • State and Territorial Government
  • Tribal Government
  • Local Government
  • Certain private nonprofit organizations

Basic applicant eligibility is outlined  in detail in the PA Program and Policy Guide version 5.

 

2. Facility - What is eligible? 

  • Public facilities
  • Inactive or partially inactive facility
  • Facility scheduled for repair or replacement 

Facilities can include buildings, public works systems, equipment, natural features, etc. Not all facilities are eligible; please refer to the PA Program and Policy Guide Version 5.

 

3. Work - What is eligible?

To be eligible, work must be required as a direct result of the declared incident, located within the designated disaster area, and the legal responsibility of an eligible applicant. 

 Emergency Work (address an immediate threat)  Permanent Work (Restoration of...)
 A - Debris removal

C - Roads/Bridges
 B - Emergency protective measures D - Water control facilities 
  E - buildings/equipment
  F - Utilities
  G - Parks, recreational, and other facilities

 

Category Z - Management Costs

FEMA provides funding to cover the administrative expenses an Applicant incurs while managing their PA awards. Eligible activities include indirect costs, direct administrative costs, and other project management expenses. FEMA reimburses these costs based on actual expenses incurred, up to 5 percent of the Subrecipient’s total eligible project costs.

For more information about Category Z - Management Costs Projects, refer to the PA Management Costs Interim Policy (FP 104-11-12) and/or the PA Program and Policy Guide version 5.

 

Donated Resources Projects

If an Applicant receives donated resources (labor, equipment, or materials) to assist with an incident, FEMA allows the value of those resources to offset the local non-federal cost share of the eligible work.

For more information about Donated Resources Projects refer to the Donated Resources Can Help Offset Public Assistance Project Costs and/or the PA Program and Policy Guide version 5.

 

4. Cost - What is eligible? 

  • Cost must be tied to the performance of eligible work. 
  • Costs and work must be adequately documented (see the FAQs for more information) 
  • Costs must be reduced by all applicable credits (e.g., insurance payouts) 
  • Costs must be authorized under Federal, State, and local laws.
  • Costs must be consistent with the applicant's internal procurement policies and apply uniformly to both Federal and non-Federal activities.
  • Costs must be necessary and reasonable to accomplish the work properly and efficiently 

How much is eligible? 

The PA program is subject to a cost share to ensure local financial participation. 

  • The federal share is strictly no less that 75 percent of the eligible costs 
  • FEMA may increase the Federal share up to 90 percent if actual Federal obligations meet a qualifying threshold 
  • For Emergency Work, the Federal costs share is sometimes increased to 100% for very limited, specific timeframes immediately following the disaster. 
  • For specific eligibility requirements, please refer to the PA Program and Policy Guide version 5.