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FEMA home repair assistance: how much does it pay?

Yes. FEMA home repair assistance — Federal Emergency Management Agency: “Home Repair or Replacement: Money to help you repair or replace your home damaged by the disaster.” Its cap per household for a disaster declared on or after October 1, 2025: “$44,800 for housing assistance” Federal Emergency Management Agency, read October 29, 2026.

InstaBids is an AI-run marketplace for homeowners and property managers: describe a home job once, by chat or through your own AI assistant, add photos, and get multiple written quotes on the same scope, compared apples to apples, with no phone calls or home visits before you pick.

When it is time to fix disaster damage to your home, you can post the repair job on InstaBids and compare written bids.

By InstaBids editorial team with AI research agents. Statuses last read

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At a glance

  • 18 monthsFEMA assistance period limit from the declaration dateeCFR: 44 CFR 206.110 Federal assistance to individuals and households, read October 29, 2026
  • October 1, 2025Disasters declared on or after this date get the adjusted maximumFederal Register: Notice of Maximum Amount of Assistance Under the Individuals and Households Program (Doc. 2026-19854), read October 29, 2026
  • 2.9 percentCPI increase behind FEMA’s adjusted maximumFederal Register: Notice of Maximum Amount of Assistance Under the Individuals and Households Program (Doc. 2026-19854), read October 29, 2026
  • 1001Ohio disaster DR-4945: applications approvedFederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Ohio disaster declaration DR-4945, read October 29, 2026
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Programs, amounts and status

Individuals and Households Program (IHP): Home Repair or Replacement“$44,800 for housing assistance” Status: open (source read 29 October 2026). “FEMA may provide money and other services to help you recover from uninsured losses caused by a presidentially declared disaster, such as damage to your home, car, and other personal items.” Pays for: “Home Repair or Replacement: Money to help you repair or replace your home damaged by the disaster.”. Who it is for, in the agency's words: “(i) FEMA may provide financial assistance for the repair of an owner-occupied primary residence if: (A) The eligibility criteria in § 206.113 are met; (B) FEMA determines the dwelling was damaged by the disaster; and, (C) The damage is not covered by insurance.” How to apply: disasterassistance.govFederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), read 29 October 2026
Home and personal property loans (SBA disaster loans)“up to $500,000” Status: open (source read 29 October 2026). “SBA is currently offering loans to support recovery from multiple declared disasters.” Pays for: “Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.”. Who it is for, in the agency's words: “If your home or personal property has been damaged in a declared disaster area you may be eligible for low-interest financial assistance from SBA. As a homeowner or renter, you may apply to SBA for a loan to help you recover from the disaster.” How to apply: sba.govU.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), read 29 October 2026

This table as data: data.csv · data.json

Programs by state

Each row is a FEMA major disaster declaration that includes the Individuals and Households Program, with the line its FEMA page showed when we read it: rows marked open show FEMA’s line that federal assistance is available to individuals and families; the other rows show the declaration date. Hawaii, DR-4936: FEMA’s page shows $1,759,597.43 in housing assistance approved and 296 Individual Assistance applications approved. Ohio, DR-4945: FEMA’s page shows $5,893,151.78 in housing assistance approved and 1001 Individual Assistance applications approved. Wisconsin, DR-4949: FEMA’s page shows $269,851.34 in housing assistance approved and 255 Individual Assistance applications approved. West Virginia, DR-4953: FEMA’s page shows $1,339,288.33 in housing assistance approved and 202 Individual Assistance applications approved. The table lists the state declarations we read on fema.gov for this page; a state not listed was not read.
HawaiiFEMA Individuals and Households Program, Hawaii Earthquake (DR-4936-HI) (open, as of 29 October 2026) “Federal assistance is available to eligible individuals and families affected by this disaster.”Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — Sources read: 29 October 2026
OhioFEMA Individuals and Households Program, Ohio Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, And Landslides (DR-4945-OH) (open, as of 29 October 2026) “Federal assistance is available to eligible individuals and families affected by this disaster.”Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — Sources read: 29 October 2026
WisconsinFEMA Individuals and Households Program, Wisconsin Severe Storms And Tornadoes (DR-4949-WI) (open, as of 29 October 2026) “Federal assistance is available to eligible individuals and families affected by this disaster.”Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — Sources read: 29 October 2026
West VirginiaFEMA Individuals and Households Program, West Virginia Severe Storms And Flooding (DR-4953-WV) (open, as of 29 October 2026) “Federal assistance is available to eligible individuals and families affected by this disaster.”Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — Sources read: 29 October 2026
IndianaFEMA Individuals and Households Program, Indiana Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding (DR-4933-IN) “Declaration Date: Aug 25, 2026”Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — Sources read: 29 October 2026
MississippiFEMA Individuals and Households Program, Mississippi Tropical Storm Arthur (DR-4930) “Declaration Date: Aug 3, 2026”Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — Sources read: 29 October 2026
LouisianaFEMA Individuals and Households Program, Louisiana Tropical Storm Arthur (DR-4927-LA) “Declaration Date: Jun 30, 2026”Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — Sources read: 29 October 2026
MichiganFEMA Individuals and Households Program, Michigan Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (DR-4925) “Declaration Date: Jun 30, 2026” Michigan pageFederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — Sources read: 29 October 2026
WashingtonFEMA Individuals and Households Program, Washington Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (DR-4906-WA) “Declaration Date: Apr 7, 2026” Washington pageFederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — Sources read: 29 October 2026
TennesseeFEMA Individuals and Households Program, Tennessee Severe Winter Storm (DR-4898-TN) “Declaration Date: Feb 6, 2026”Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — Sources read: 29 October 2026
AlaskaFEMA Individuals and Households Program, Alaska Severe Storms, Flooding, And Remnants Of Typhoon Halong (DR-4893-AK) “Declaration Date: Oct 22, 2025”Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — Sources read: 29 October 2026

FEMA home repair assistance?

FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program page lists this among the help it may give to households hit by a declared disaster:

“Funds to support the repair or replacement of owner-occupied homes that serve as the household’s primary residence, including privately-owned access routes, such as driveways, roads, or bridges”

It is for losses insurance does not cover, and FEMA states this limit on which home:

“Also, we do not offer housing assistance for secondary or vacation homes, only for your primary residence.”

Where to apply, in FEMA’s words:

“If you think you meet the above eligibility criteria, you can complete an application for FEMA Individuals and Households Program assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov.”

“You can also apply in person, online, or by phone.”

Sources: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Individuals and Households Program, read ; Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Assistance for Housing and Other Needs, read ; Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Eligibility Criteria for FEMA Assistance, read .

Alongside a FEMA request, you can describe the storm or flood repair once on InstaBids and contractors bid on that scope in writing.

How much does FEMA pay for home repair?

For a disaster declared on or after October 1, 2025, FEMA’s Federal Register notice sets the most one individual or household can get as:

“$44,800 for housing assistance and $44,800 for other needs assistance”

The notice says the figure moved with the Consumer Price Index:

“FEMA bases the adjustment on an increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers of 2.9 percent for the 12-month period, which ended in August 2025.”

FEMA’s regulation sets the base figure and the yearly change:

“FEMA will adjust the $25,000 limits annually to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for All Urban Consumers that the Department of Labor publishes.”

An SBA disaster home loan, which is repaid, has its own limit:

“Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.”

Sources: Federal Register: Notice of Maximum Amount of Assistance Under the Individuals and Households Program (Doc. 2026-19854), read ; eCFR: 44 CFR 206.110 Federal assistance to individuals and households, read ; U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): Disaster assistance, read ; Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): FEMA Assistance and SBA Loans, read .

To see what contractors would bid for the repair work itself, you can post the disaster repair job on InstaBids.

FEMA home repair grant eligibility?

FEMA’s eligibility page names these conditions for the Individuals and Households Program, with one more for home repair money:

“You must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien.”

“For Home Repair or Replacement Assistance, FEMA also needs to confirm you owned the residence at the time of the disaster.”

“FEMA cannot provide assistance for disaster needs that have already been met by another source, like insurance or other programs.”

FEMA’s regulation limits how long help runs:

“FEMA may provide assistance under this subpart for a period not to exceed 18 months from the date of declaration.”

Sources: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Assistance for Housing and Other Needs, read ; Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Eligibility Criteria for FEMA Assistance, read ; eCFR: 44 CFR 206.110 Federal assistance to individuals and households, read .

Whatever FEMA decides on your request, you can post the disaster repair scope on InstaBids and read each contractor's written bid.

FEMA home repair?

The repair list in FEMA’s housing assistance rule (eCFR up to date as of 10/27/2026) opens:

“FEMA may provide financial assistance for the repair of the disaster damaged dwelling to a safe and sanitary living or functioning condition including:”

“Windows and doors.”

“The Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning system.”

“Utility systems. This includes electrical, gas, water and sewage systems.”

The same rule sets the standard for that work:

“FEMA financial assistance for the repair of disaster damage will be limited to repairs of a quality necessary for a safe and sanitary living or functioning condition.”

FEMA’s inspection page also asks whether the home’s systems work:

“Does the electricity, gas, heat, plumbing, sewer and septic system function properly?”

Sources: eCFR: 44 CFR 206.117 Housing assistance, read ; Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Home Inspections, read .

For the structural repairs on that list, such as walls, floors or windows, you can post the job on InstaBids for written bids.

How much does FEMA pay for roof damage?

The FEMA pages we read give no separate roof amount: the roof sits in the structural repairs FEMA’s rule lists:

“Structural components of the residence. This includes real property components, such as the foundation, exterior walls, and roof.”

Roof repair counts toward the same household cap, which is $44,800 for housing assistance for a disaster declared on or after October 1, 2025.

FEMA’s inspection page lists the roof among the questions an inspector checks:

“Is the exterior of the home structurally sound, including the doors, roof and windows?”

“FEMA inspectors are trained to recognize damage caused by a disaster, but they do not decide if you will receive assistance.”

Sources: eCFR: 44 CFR 206.117 Housing assistance, read ; Federal Register: Notice of Maximum Amount of Assistance Under the Individuals and Households Program (Doc. 2026-19854), read ; Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Home Inspections, read .

To compare written bids on storm damage to a roof, you can post the roof repair job on InstaBids.

Rebate, tax credit, grant or weatherization: how they differ

FEMA program: money from the Individuals and Households Program, which FEMA describes this way:

“IHP assistance is not a substitute for insurance and cannot compensate for all losses caused by a disaster.”

SBA loan: the Small Business Administration lends to homeowners and renters in a declared disaster area, and FEMA’s SBA page says:

“Any money you get from SBA must be repaid over time.”

“If you are approved for a loan, you do not have to accept it.”

SBA’s own page limits what the loan may pay for:

“You may not use the funds to upgrade homes or make additions, unless required by the local building code.”

Before you apply

Cost, options and related pages

What a roof replacement costs, whether homeowners insurance pays for a roof and paying a contractor with an SBA loan are on the pages linked below.

Sources read:

Related pages

Related pages

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