Congress passes bill aligning FEMA disaster assistance deadlines

Key Takeaways

On Monday, March 11, the Disaster Assistance Deadlines Alignment Act (S.1858) was passed out of Congress with robust bipartisan support.

Disaster Assistance Deadlines Alignment Act explained

The Disaster Assistance Deadlines Alignment Act will update the deadline for applying for disaster unemployment insurance, aligning it with the application deadline for other assistance programs under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. By extending the deadline to at least 60 days for both the Individual and Households Program (IHP) and Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) programs, the legislation will minimize confusion among disaster survivors. Presently, the DUA deadline stands at 30 days, while the IHP deadline is set at 60 days following a federal disaster declaration. 

Why the legislation matters to counties?  

NACo Executive Director Matthew D. Chase supported the passage of this legislation, saying, “When disasters strike, county officials and emergency responders play a critical role in the immediate response and longer-term efforts to help our communities and residents recover. Once federal assistance becomes available, our residents often must complete complex applications with inconsistent deadlines. The bipartisan Disaster Assistance Deadlines Alignment Act will align deadlines between two financial lifelines, FEMA’s Disaster Unemployment Assistance and the Individuals and Households Program. We are pleased to see the passage of this legislation and thank Senators Peters, Paul, and Rubio, and Representatives Neguse and Gonzalez-Colon for their leadership.” 

Learn more about S. 1858