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If you are receiving assistance for the reconstruction, rehabilitation, elevation, or mitigation of your home after a disaster, you may be allowed to submit an appeal prior to construction to broaden the scope of work or request changes to construction material.

IBTS has processed close to 2,500 homes for programs receiving funding from the the HUD’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program. Below are tips on the appeals process from IBTS case managers.

Consider the delays associated with filing and appeal. 

• The appeals process will delay construction on your home, sometimes by months. Once complete, your home will go to the back of the line.
• If possible, try to sort out your issue with your case manager before making an appeal with your locality or state.
• Programs may allows applicants to do change orders once construction contractors are onsite. Change orders can be more likely to succeed, faster and easier than appeals.

Understand what your responsibilities are in the process.

• Homeowners must provide their case managers with all necessary paperwork and required documentation, such as proof of homeownership, homeowners insurance, income and power of attorney, in a timely manner.
• If you need power of attorney — which often comes up with elderly or homeowners with mental health challenges — make sure you have it notarized ahead of time.

Set your expectations. 

• Each disaster recovery assistance program has an approved list of construction materials, such as counter tops or roofing materials. You will review and select which materials are used in your home from this list during the pre-construction meeting.
• You may be disappointed with the available options. Keep in mind that the goal of the program is to provide homeowners with decent, safe and sanitary housing.
• If you are disappointed with the options, be aware that you are unlikely to win an appeal that asks for materials not on the approved list.
• Disaster assistance funding can only be used to pay for damages caused by the storm. For example, if three windows in your home were damaged by a storm, the program will pay to replace only those three windows; an appeal to replace all windows will be denied.

Read and understand what you are signing during the pre-construction meeting.

• During the pre-construction meeting, you will sign off on the materials that will be used in your home’s construction project. Knowing what you are signing off on during this meeting can save you time and frustration later on.
• Be prepared to ask questions and take notes.
• By the end of the meeting, you should have a good understanding of the construction process, scope of work, and outcome. Ask your case manager for clarification if you don’t understand something.

Communicate with your case manager.

• Your case manager is legally obligated to give you everything you are eligible for under the program. They have nothing to gain personally by issuing denials.
• Stay in regular contact with your case manager. Your case manager can give you updates and answer your questions throughout the process.
• Do not wait for your case manager to contact you. We recommend reaching out to your case manager twice a week during the process.

Have a clear understanding of duplication of benefits.

• A duplication of benefits (DOB) occurs if a homeowner receiving CDBG-DR funds has used flood or homeowners insurance, FEMA aid, SBA loans or any other assistance from any government funded-sources to complete work on the eligible damaged property. You cannot “double-dip” on federal funds; they must be used for different purposes.
• Funding received for contents such as furniture, personal property or cars, or for temporary housing assistance will not be counted as a duplication of benefits.
• Homeowners who have a duplication of benefits should work with their case manager to fix the problem, or else they run the risk of having to pay the money back or becoming ineligible for further federal funding.