WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today announced the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) release of legal guidance needed to implement the duplication of benefits (DOB) fix for 2016 Louisiana flood victims passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump in October 2018.
“I’m glad to report that duplication of benefits is fixed,” said Dr. Cassidy. “I’ve urged HUD to minimize restrictions on which flood victims receive Restore Louisiana grants. HUD is allowing state officials to determine who qualifies. I urge the governor to make as many flood victims as possible able to receive the resources they need to recover.”
The guidance stipulates that those who make below 120 percent of the area-median-income (AMI) will be immediately eligible for the Restore Louisiana grants. Those making above 120 percent AMI will be able to apply for an exemption to receive the grants. An early draft of the guidance would have likely restricted those who qualify for the exemption to only victims eligible for a hardship waiver (death in the family, loss of job, loss of income, etc.) which would have greatly limited the eligibility for victims. Cassidy pressed HUD to open up the eligibility and they agreed to let Louisiana define the qualifications for the waiver.
Click on the links below for the guidance:
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