Duplications of Benefits Victims Relief Act

This bill makes it easier for disaster survivors to get the help they need without getting blocked by “duplication of benefits” rules. It lets the President approve exceptions when a Governor asks on behalf of a person, business, or other group hurt by a declared disaster or emergency, as long as it’s in the public interest and won’t cause waste, fraud, or abuse. The President must decide within 45 days. Loans won’t be counted as duplicate aid if all federal help goes toward the actual loss, and there can’t be income cutoffs for these waivers.

These changes apply to disasters and emergencies declared on or after January 1, 2016. The bill also directs FEMA and other agencies to report within one year on how to better coordinate aid for individuals, lay out the order of programs, use the same rules across agencies, and communicate more clearly with applicants, with an update due in four years.

• Who is affected: People, businesses, and other entities with disaster losses; state Governors; FEMA and other federal agencies.
• What changes: President can waive “duplication of benefits” limits; decision due in 45 days; loans aren’t treated as duplicate aid if used for losses; no income threshold for waivers.
• When: Applies to disasters/emergencies declared on or after January 1, 2016; agency report due in 1 year, with a 4‑year update.