Insurance Deductible Assistance Program

A complete application will include, at minimum, the following:

• Application (5 pages): Must be completed by the Head of Household.
• Release of Information form: For all household members 18 years of age or older.
• Government issued Picture ID: For all household members 18 years of age or older.
• Social Security Card: For all household members 18 years of age or older.
• Benefit letter(s): Includes Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Veterans’, Long-term Disability, Unemployment determination (1099 forms are not acceptable)
• Income:
  • One month of pay stubs. If self-employed, must provide the last two years of tax returns along with a year-to-date profit and loss statement.
  • One month of current bank statement for all accounts (Checking, Savings, Money Market), (include ALL pages)
  • Most recent quarterly statement for 401k, pension, IRA/Investment account, etc. (Include ALL pages)
• Notice for Collection of Social Security Numbers form
• Disaster Self-Certification form
• Proof of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) application filing and result
• Proof of property insurance filing and result (adjustor report)
• Affidavit of Insurance-Disaster Recovery
• Duplication of Disaster Benefits Affidavit- Signed and Dated
• Signed and Dated State Housing Initiatives Partnership program (SHIP) Disaster Assistance Written Agreement
• Current Homeowners Property/Flood Declaration of Insurance page(s)
• Insurance Claim Report
• Proof of deposit(s) paid to contractor (canceled check or credit card statement)
• Proof of Insurance claim and payment(s)
• Proof of advance payment(s) from applicant’s insurance company, if applicable
• Contractor Estimate (Agreement)
• Contractor Invoice

No. The deductible will be paid to the contractor.

Collier County received $334,700 in November 2022 to be used for the Insurance Deductible Assistance program. Funding is available on a first-come, first-qualify (complete application) basis until funds are exhausted.

Yes. This is an allowable expense. The county will only assist with the structure deductible (not the content deductible).

If the claim is less than the deductible, you will not qualify for assistance. The State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program funds cannot be used to pay for repairs that are less than the deductible amount.

The Insurance Deductible Assistance Program will only pay the deductible amount.

The Insurance Deductible Assistance Program will only pay for insurance deductibles; therefore, you would not qualify for the program.

This is provided as a grant, just like many other forms of State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program disaster assistance. Grants do not need repayment.

The county can only pay up to the maximum award of $20,000 towards the deductible.

No. The SHIP funds are paid at the end of the project within 60 days of the final inspection and/or permit is closed and final accepted by the Collier County Building Department and/or third-party inspector.

Yes. Both scenarios are acceptable. However, final State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) approval for the program cannot be made until the insurance company has provided a final decision on the claim. It is important to note that only applications that are complete at time of submission will be reviewed by the county.  If you do not have this document, your application is not complete.

Each adult household member/owner must sign the Duplication of Benefits (DOB) affidavit (form). The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) does not cover insurance deductibles, but other funding sources may.

Other than the Duplication of Benefits form, you will sign a Release of Information form, and you must provide proof of the FEMA decision.

Only those applicants who meet the income limit and other qualifications and have a complete application will be considered to receive funds.

Below are definitions of the statuses:

• Processors: This is your main point of contact; they are reviewing your application for eligibility and all documents. The processors will email you if there are any questions
• Reviewer: County staff validating all documents are in the file and the file is complete to move forward.
• Fiscal: The County’s fiscal staff are validating your file
• Management Review: Your file is under its final review with County staff
• Incomplete: Pending final decision on insurance claim and issue of check. If you do not have a final decision from the insurance company your application is not complete and may be denied.
• Pending: Your file is under review for payment with the Clerk of Courts.
• Clerk Payment: The Clerk of Courts has issued payment to your contractor.

It could take up 120 days to process an application. It may take longer if your application is missing information.

Multiple bids are not required if the homeowner has selected a contractor at the time of application.

The program can pay the deductible so long as a contractor is involved in the repairs. The program does not reimburse homeowners.

The owner of a manufactured home built in June 1994 or later may receive deductible assistance even if the home is located on leased land, like in a mobile home park.