NY Rising Housing Recovery Program
Home Elevation Design Guidance
12/11/2014
The following provides construction related information to a Homeowner and/or Design Professional for
designing and elevating a dwelling in the 100-year flood plain using funding provided by the NY Rising
Program.
Basic Elevation Requirements of the NY Rising Program
The Program will assist you to elevate your home if it is within the 100-year flood plain as identified by
the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Map or by the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). If your home
was substantially damaged, as determined by your municipality, you MUST elevate your home; others
in the flood plain may elevate. The elevation must be to a height of the Base Flood Elevation plus two
feet, although some municipalities may statutorily require a higher elevation. If so, and the requirement
is in writing from the municipality, the Program will fund the additional height.
1. Hiring a Designer - Because elevating a home is complicated and technical, Homeowners must work
with a licensed Design Professional (designer) to develop the best alternative for their specific
project. A designer, which could be an architect or engineer, is able to coordinate the architectural,
foundation design and structural, lifting and setting of the dwelling, site work as well as the
mechanical, electrical, plumbing and HVAC design requirements of the project. A contractor is not
authorized to complete all the forms that the Program requires prior to approving the elevation
scope of work (see #4 & 5 below).
2. Environmental Risk Assessment Surveys - Before you begin your elevation work, you should
schedule an environmental risk assessment survey(s) to identify the possible presence of asbestos
(for all homes) and lead-based paint (for homes built before 1978) that may be disturbed by the
elevation and therefore require that special mitigation measures be taken during construction. The
Program will conduct this inspection for you at no cost, but you must call the Program at (516) 8303560 to arrange for the survey prior to beginning elevation. If asbestos or lead-based paint
mitigation measures are needed, the Program may adjust your award to reflect the estimated cost of
these measures. You should also review your Tier 2 environmental site assessment, which can be
viewed by logging into your IntelliGrants account on your computer, to determine if you require
other permits prior to starting construction.
3. Beginning the Design Process – It is recommended that your designer conduct a site visit before
commencing any design work. If the designer determines that pre-design investigative services, such
as those described below, are necessary to assist in evaluating the existing conditions of your home,
the costs for these services are eligible Program expenses up to certain maximums:
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a.
Pre-Construction Elevation Certificate - The Program requires that you submit this document,
which is typically prepared by a surveyor. It will identify which flood zone your home is in, the
current height of your home, the adjacent grade (the ground) and the height of Base Flood
Elevation. If you are also doing a land survey, the surveyor can prepare this document
simultaneously.
b.
Land Survey – A survey performed by a licensed professional land surveyor will provide property
boundary information as well as the location of the existing home on the site and other
important information necessary to complete your project.
c.
Soil Boring Report – In some cases, a soil boring report might be necessary to determine how to
design the best and most cost effective foundation for your home. This process involves drilling
a small hole to a depth identified by your designer.
4. Documenting the Scope of Your Elevation Work - At the time of the initial inspection of your home,
the Program prepared an initial Estimated Cost of Repair (ECR) for elevation using the Program’s
established unit-pricing methodology, which uses the footprint of the home times the estimated
required elevation height. However, the required design documentation which your designer must
submit to the Program will allow us to adjust the elevation estimate (up or down) to reflect the
actual height. If you want the Program to do a full re-evaluation of the initial elevation estimate to
incorporate additional foundation or other costs, please follow the instruction in section #5 below”
a. Required Height – The designer should use required elevation height from the Elevation
Certificate (Base Flood Elevation plus 2 ft. and any additional height required by code) and align
the height (up or down) with the height provided in the Program’s initial estimate of ECR for
elevation.
b. Foundation Elements – This includes walls, piers, grade beams and piles. Please refer to the
Program Maximum Design Criteria for Structural Elevation for detailed guidance relating to
these elements.
c. Stairs – Based the height of the elevation, the designer must determine the height of the stairs.
The Program provides a cost per vertical foot for stairs. The designer should also look at the stair
design to determine where the stairs will “land” on the ground. The survey will identify any
setbacks or non-buildable areas, on which the stairs cannot be constructed. If the stairs must
turn 90 or 180 degrees in order to avoid the setback, this will require an additional landing and
should be accounted for.
d. Landings – The Program provides a cost for a landing at each exterior door of your home
according to minimum code requirements. The designer should align the number of door exits
of the dwelling with the number provided in the initial ECR for elevation plus any that may result
from the stair alignment.
e. Utilities – The Program provides an allowance for the disconnection, raising and reconnection of
utilities based on the square footage of the home and the vertical elevation. Based on the
elevation height, the designer should include any necessary extensions for the reconnection of
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December 12, 2014
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utility lines. The General Contractor will coordinate with licensed electricians, plumbers and
HVAC sub-contractors to disconnect and reconnect the utilities.
f.
Pre-Design Investigative Services – Services such as elevation certificate costs, surveys and soil
tests are eligible for inclusion in the elevation estimate up to certain maximums, and these costs
must be documented with paid invoices. The Program will cover up to $8,000 of the actual costs
of these services up to the following maximums for each service: $1,000 for a land survey by a
licensed surveyor, $750 for a pre-construction elevation certificate, $750 for a post-construction
elevation certificate, and up to $5,000 for an engineer’s geotechnical investigation including
borings, testing, lab results and final report.
g. Other - In addition to the above items, the designer should also consider other items that may
be applicable to the project, such as ramps or lifts for accessibility to persons with Special
Needs, removal of existing concrete walls or slabs, structural beams that may be required, the
resetting of electrical-mechanical equipment or backfill and leveling of crawlspaces or basement
areas.
5.
6.
Requirements for Program to Re-evaluate the Initial Elevation Estimate: If you want the
Program to re-evaluate your elevation estimate because you think the original estimate was too
low, your designer must submit the Design Request for Change Form and two versions of the
Scope of Work Change Itemization Form – 6100, one stamped by your designer and another in a
Microsoft Excel version and a set of schematic plans. (See section #1 of the Design Document
Checklist below). Please refer your designer to the Program Maximum Design Criteria for
Structural Elevation, which can be found, like all other Program documents, on the website at
http://stormrecovery.ny.gov/homeowner-resources-and-forms, for guidance on designing your
elevation project. Within these guidelines, the Program will use the designer’s specifics of size,
depth, linear feet, and quantities to determine the final approved cost. Any additional funds due
to the homeowner based on an increased estimate, will be released per the payout schedule
described in #12 below.
How to Submit a Scope of Work Change Itemization Form - 6100: The designer must evaluate
all of the items listed in #4 above and compare these to the initial ECR for elevation on the
Scope of Work Change Itemization Form – 6100. This form and all other required Program
forms are available on the Program website. Please also keep in mind that:
a. Your designer is not required to provide costs for scope items requested in the scope
change, only scope descriptions, quantities and unit of measure.
b. If you have opted to do any additional optional work, such as bulkhead repair or optional
mitigation measures, or if you have acceptable evidence that you require Special Needs
accommodations, your designer should document this work on the same forms in a
comparable manner.
7. Elevation Permit – An elevation permit must be applied for and secured from the local municipality
before construction starts. Homeowners who have opted in for optional elevation must submit the
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Elevation Permit and a copy of their final elevation plans, stamped by their designer, in order to
receive the first payment towards elevation construction costs.
8. Engaging a Contractor - After completion of design documents by your design professional, he or
she can assist you to engage a construction contractor.
9. Post-Construction Elevation Certificate and Certificate of Occupancy or Completion – A postconstruction elevation certificate and a Certificate of Occupancy (COO) or Certificate of Completion
(COC) must be obtained from the municipality and submitted to the Program in order to receive
final payment towards elevation costs, after all construction work has been completed.
10. Submitting Required Materials – A checklist of all the materials the Program requires is found at the
end of this document. These materials must be emailed to review@recreatenys.org.
11. How Your Award will be Determined – Before the final elevation payment is released or upon
submission of the Scope of Work Change Itemization Form – 6100, the Program will re-evaluate the
elevation estimate for your home based on the standards outlined in the documents “Program
Maximum Design Criteria for Structural Elevation” and the Program’s established unit-pricing
methodology which uses the footprint of the home times the required elevation height plus the cost
of piles. Permitting, pre-design investigative services and design costs will also be included. After
this calculation has been done, any elevation duplication of benefits (DOB) that you have received
will be deducted to compute your final elevation award.
12. Payment Schedule –
a. For Optional Elevation Applicants: Payment for design costs (calculated at 10% of the Program’s
initial elevation estimate) is released after the applicant opts in. If the applicant chooses to
submit a 6100, schematic plans, and other documentation required for Program re-evaluation of
the estimate (see #1 on Required Elevation Design Documents below), and the estimate
increases as a result of this re-evaluation, then additional design funds due will be released once
estimate has been adjusted. The first 50% payment towards elevation construction work will be
issued after the program has reviewed and approved the pre-construction elevation certificate
and permit/application (see #2 in Required Elevation Design Documents below). All payments
are made after any deductions for elevation DOB.
b. For Required Elevation Applicants: Because the first 50% payment towards elevation
construction costs is issued “up front” with the applicant’s first home repair award payment, reevaluation and re-sizing of the elevation estimate can happen at any time following initial
payment and before final payment. If the applicant submits Scope of Work Change Itemization
Form – 6100 and the elevation award increases as a result, any additional payment due will be
issued at that time. All payments are made after a deduction for any elevation DOB.
c. For All Applicants: The final payment of the elevation award will be paid after the submission of
the Post-Construction Elevation Certificate, a COO or a COC (see #3 in Required Elevation Design
Documents below) as well as compliance with any other Program requirements and after a final
inspection has been conducted.
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Design Document Checklist
Required Elevation Design Documents
All of the following must be submitted for the Optional Elevation Initial Construction
Payment
1. Pre-Construction Elevation Certificate prepared by the surveyor;
2. Elevation permit from your local building department (or submitted permit application);
3. Plans (Construction Documents) stamped by your designer;
Additional Documents Required to Re-evaluate the Elevation Estimate
1. Design Request for Change Form properly executed by the designer;
2. Completed Scope of Work Change Itemization Form 6100 in PDF format, signed, dated and
professionally sealed by your designer;
3. Completed Scope of Work Change Itemization Form 6100 - in Microsoft Excel file format.
4. Schematic Plans
5. Land survey, as necessary;
6. Subsurface soil report, as necessary;
7. Photographs/sketches, as necessary;
8. Documentation of any municipality requirements for Higher Regulatory Standards (i.e.
additional elevated height).
Documents Required to Receive Final Elevation Payment
1.
Post-Construction Elevation Certificate;
2. Certificate of Occupancy or Completion.
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NY Rising Housing Recovery Program
Program Maximum Design Criteria for Structural Elevation
December 12, 2014
The following design criteria is provided by the NY Rising Housing Recovery Program as guidance to
Design Professionals for the maximum level of construction elements, material types, and finishes
related to structural elevation design that will be funded by the Program.
Any request for deviation from these criteria or design elements above basic Program compensable
requirements must be supported in writing from the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). It is the
responsibility of the Design Professional to select and provide the most cost efficient design alternative
that complies with the minimum standards of the building code and Program requirements. All designs
are subject to Program approval, and may be evaluated by a feasibility study to determine cost
reasonableness. The Program may also require proof of actual expenditures for elevation and any
associated award will be adjusted accordingly.
Designers and builders are reminded that designs should reflect the conditions at the specific project
site and not rely on regional projects as a basis of design, or basis of details.
Definitions






Code: NYS Building Code
Design Professional: A person with an active registration with the New York State Department of
Education to practice architecture or engineering in NY State
Foundations: Below Grade Structural System
Piers and Walls: Above Grade Structural System not enclosing habitable space
Floor System: Framing and Decking Comprising the structural system below and supporting
habitable space
Fill Material: Select Granular Material
Sieve
Sieve Size
2 inch
1/4 inch
No. 40
No. 200
Size opening (mm)
50.8
6.35
0.425
0.075
Percent Passing
100
30-65
5-40
0-10
12/12/14
Program Maximum Design Criteria for Structural Elevation
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Example Relevant Standards
Standards: Comply with provisions of the following standards, except where more stringent
requirements are indicated.
 FEMA P-550, Second Edition/ December 2009, “Recommended Residential Construction for
Coastal Areas”
 FEMA Technical Bulletin 2, “Flood Damage – Resistant Materials Requirements”
 ASCE/SEI 24-05 - Flood Resistant Design and Construction
1.0 Foundations
a. An investigation of the soil conditions by a Design Professional must be performed at the
specific site to classify soil types and provide foundation recommendations.
b. Replacement, new and/or remediated foundations shall be designed by a Design Professional
and appropriately sized in accordance with the results of the soils investigation and the
applicable Code requirements.
c. Deep foundations (piles) or shallow foundations (spread footings) are acceptable foundation
techniques under the Program.
d. Foundation systems using piles shall have cast in place pile caps (or equivalent) around the pile,
reinforced concrete grade beam spanning between pile caps, and a wall or pier system spanning
between the top of the elevation of the top of grade beams and the floor system of the
habitable space.
e. Monolithic concrete slabs with concrete infill or “mud slabs” under the dwelling, serving as a
floor surface for non-habitable space are not compensable under the Program.
f. Deep Foundations (piles) shall be specified by the Design Professional, appropriately sized and
spaced, with a recommended depth in accordance with the results of the soils investigation and
Code requirements to adequately support the axial and lateral loads imposed by the entire
structure.
g. Design Professionals are directed to utilize pile materials that represent the most cost efficient
solution when considering site and soil conditions.
h. Design professional will include a comparison of foundation systems if other types of deep
foundations are specified over helical pile. The intent of this review is to determine the most
cost effective solution.
2.0 Piers and Walls
a. Pier and wall supporting systems must be designed by a Design Professional and appropriately
sized in accordance with the Code.
b. Pier and wall design materials shall be of reinforced concrete masonry unit (CMU), reinforced
cast in place concrete, or treated (preservative) wood posts, reinforced appropriately in
accordance with applicable code requirements. The use of Spiral Wound Forms for cast in place
concrete is acceptable.
c. Perimeter walls and interior piers shall be of a design to meet the building code minimum
requirements to account for all axial and lateral design forces. Regardless of perimeter wall
material type, no more than 20% of the perimeter length of the dwelling shall be enclosed. Full
perimeter walls enclosing the entire lower non-habitable space area, beyond the minimum
requirements of the Code, are not compensable under the Program.
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Program Maximum Design Criteria for Structural Elevation
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d. Sills and joists shall be sufficiently anchored to their supporting foundation component to resist
all lateral design forces and any net uplift in accordance with the building code.
e. Aesthetic finishes to piers and walls and are not compensable under the Program.
3.0 Floor Systems
a. The repair or replacement of a floor system is largely dependent on the type of existing
foundation (crawlspace or slab on grade) and the structural lifting technique directed or
employed by the elevation contractor. Design Professionals are directed to use the most cost
efficient repair technique when repairing floor systems above an existing foundation or in the
replacement of a floor system when a slab on grade dwelling is disconnected from the existing
slab foundation and is elevated.
b. When repairing or replacing a floor system (depending on the foundation type and lifting
technique noted above), graded dimensional or engineered lumber shall be used in the most
cost efficient manner to support the dwelling in accordance with the building code, except that
engineered lumber that contains laminated elements shall only be used in a framing system that
is completely protected from the elements.
c. Scabbing or sistering of floor joists and sills is allowed if specified by a Design Professional in
accordance with the Code.
4.0 Utility Extensions
a. Existing utility lines (water, sewer, gas, electric, phone, etc.) shall be disconnected and
lengthened or repositioned, prior to being reconnected in accordance with the governing
code(s), and in accordance with the written recommendations of a Design Professional.
b. Any replacement or additions of utility lines must either be required by the Code or expressly
required in writing from the municipality in order to be considered for compensation under the
Program.
c. Upgrades to services above the existing damaged utilities (capacity) are not covered. Example
100 Amp 20 space breaker cannot be replaced 200 Amp 40 space breaker panel.
5.0 Access
a. Access to the dwelling will be in the form of treated (preservative) softwood stairs with a 25 sf
landing (standard size) with softwood safety rails to all exterior doors designed in accordance
with the building code. For existing door width, landings shall be 5 feet deep by the width of the
door plus 1 foot on either side. After structural elevation and when applicable, all existing doors
elevated to a 2.5 story height shall only receive an exterior landing with protective perimeter
railings.
b. Stair height shall be calculated from the lowest adjacent grade to the eligible required height of
the finished floor.
6.0 Fill Material
a. To facilitate positive drainage, fill material shall be placed under the dwelling, used for backfill of
new foundations and finished up to 5 feet outside the perimeter of the dwelling at the level of
the immediate adjacent grade.
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Program Maximum Design Criteria for Structural Elevation
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b. Fill material to infill abandoned spaces underneath the dwelling shall only be placed and
compacted in accordance with the Code, upon successful removal of any existing hardscape that
may be located below the proposed fill material.
c. Fill Material will be sourced from a local source (less than 75 miles)
7.0 Additional Foundation Support
a. Many existing concrete footings and longitudinal foundations were not necessarily designed to
perform as grade beams to span between piles. If proposing to supplement the existing
foundation with additional supporting elements (such as helical piles), then the existing
foundation to be incorporated within the remediated foundation system shall be analyzed and
evaluated by a New York Licensed professional.
8.0 Area Paving
a. Off-street parking areas that may be required by local ordinances (as applicable) will be 12' x 20'
(or 240 SF) unless required to be greater. Decorative paving, stamping, coloring or texturing
cannot be compensated under the program.
9.0 Eligible and Non-eligible Foundation Items - Maximum Design Criteria
Includes crawlspace, slab separation or split level home types elevation components.
Eligible
Lift / Lower House
Disconnect / Reconnect Utilities
Utility Extensions
Piles
Pile Caps
Not Eligible
Flood Vents
Garage Doors
Additional Exterior Doors
Protection Doors
Veneers on Exterior Walls (Aesthetics)
Grade Beams
Piers
Foundation Walls (<20% perimeter)
Joist / Sill Connectors
Floor Joists
Sills
Flooring System
Floor Insulation
Decks (>25 square foot landing)
Elevation above BFE + Statutory FB
Monolithic Slabs Under Crawlspaces
Perimeter Wall Enclosure (>20%)
Bathrooms below BFE
Non Flood Resistant Material below BFE
Partially Attached Garages (breezeways)
Sillcock valves (or similar), Wall Faucets, and drain
down lines under BFE
Floor finishes
Foundations built for future projects
Paving under building
Furniture and Appliances
Windows and doors
Foundations built for future projects
Non-structural foundation components
Stairs to levels other than the entry level
Transfer switches and generators below BFE
Floor Enclosure / Bottom
Stairs
Landings
Ramps
Chairlift / Wheelchair Platform
Siding
Porches (if integral to dwelling)
Steel / Laminated Beams
Termite Shields
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Program Maximum Design Criteria for Structural Elevation
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NY Rising Housing Recovery Program
After Opting-In
December 12, 2014
The following describes the process required both to receive funding for and to begin construction of
optional items including elevation, bulkheads and optional mitigation under the Program guidelines.
Optional items are intended to increase the resiliency of homes participating in NY Rising.
Program funds for these items are available only to applicants whose homes sustained
damage in one of the eligible storms. If you decide to implement any optional work and
you receive Program funds to do so, you are obligated to complete all repair work on your
home which was included in the Estimated Cost of Repair (ECR) prepared by the Program.
This is true even if you received no funds from NY Rising to complete the repair work due to
Duplication of Benefits (DOB). In addition, receipt of any NY Rising Program funds for any
purpose – even only for a designer – obligates you and your successors to retain flood
insurance on your property in perpetuity, if you live in the 100-year flood plain.
1. Initial Payment for Design Fees - Once you have submitted your Opt-In Form to the Program indicating
which optional item(s) you are interested in, and providing the name and license number of the designer
or engineer you will be using, you will receive an acknowledgement of receipt by the Program. If you
opted for elevation or requested design advance funds for bulkhead or optional mitigation and your
remaining Duplication of Benefits (DOB) does not exceed the increased Award you are entitled to,
then the Program will issue payment.
a. Elevation - If you opted for elevation, the Program will first issue payment for 10% of the
elevation estimate. This payment is intended to cover your cost of hiring a designer to prepare
the necessary design documents. For more information about the Program design
requirements for elevation, please see the documents: “Home Elevation Design Guidance” and
“Program Maximum Design Criteria for Structural Elevation”, which like all Program
documents can be found on our website at : http://stormrecovery.ny.gov/homeownerresources-and-forms.
b. Bulkhead and/or Optional Measures - If you opted for these items, the Program will issue
payment of $2,500 for each item, to cover your cost of hiring a designer to prepare the
necessary design documents. These documents include a “Designer Request for Scope Change”
form and a “Scope of Work Change Itemization 6100” form. Two versions of the Itemization
(6100) form should be prepared and submitted, one with the designer’s stamp on a pdf version
and a second version in an excel format. These design forms can be found on our website at:
http://stormrecovery.ny.gov/homeowner-resources-and-forms. If you opted for bulkhead
December 12, 2014
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repair, your engineer will also need to produce all the elements necessary for a complete design
package, detailed in the “Bulkhead Design Guidance” document.
2. Signing a Grant Agreement or Amendment - Before the Program will issue any payment, including
for design fees, you must sign a Grant Agreement or Amendment. (It should also be noted that the
amount of your actual award for design fees or any other Program payment, will always be subject
to a reduction by the amount of “Duplication of Benefits” or DOB that you have remaining.)
3. Clarifications - Based on regular Program practice, if you have already filed or if you file a
clarification of any kind requesting a review of your award amount or your eligibility, you will receive
no Program funds, including for optional items, until that clarification has been completed and you
have accepted the clarification determination.
4. Designers - You must engage an engineer to prepare the scope of work for the repair/replacement
of a bulkhead. Either an architect or engineer may prepare the scope of work for the other optional
items.
5. IMPORTANT - If you opted in for bulkhead repair, you may not perform any construction work on
that bulkhead under any circumstances until the program has completed the federally required
environmental review process and has received an approved Tier II report for your bulkhead
project.
6. Design requirements – Before you receive funds for the actual implementation of any optional
item, your designer or engineer must submit the following documents:
a. Elevation–Your designer must submit a preconstruction elevation certificate, a set of final
stamped plans, and a copy of the elevation permit application that you will submit to your
municipality (or you may submit the actual permit). If additional pre-design investigative
measures such as soil tests or surveys are necessary, these costs are also eligible under the
Program, up to an overall cap of $8,000, but must be documented with actual receipts. Based
on a review of these documents, the Program will release the first construction payment equal
to 50% of design estimate. All documents must be submitted electronically to
review@recreatenys.org.
If you wish the Program to re-evaluate your elevation estimate because it did not accurately
reflect the projected costs of your elevation work, your designer must prepare and you must
submit the “Designer Request for Scope Change” and two versions of the “Scope of Work
Change Itemization - 6100” form to the Program to document the proposed work and a copy of
the schematic plans. Upon submission of these documents and all the other elevation design
documents mentioned above and after review in accordance with Program design criteria, the
Program will re-evaluate your elevation estimate. If any additional payment is due to you based
on the new estimate, it will be released to you.
b. Bulkhead and/or Optional Mitigation - With regard to Bulkhead Repair or Optional Mitigation,
your designer must prepare and submit the “Designer Request for Scope Change” and two
versions of the “Scope of Work Change Itemization” form to the Program to document the
proposed work. One version of the Scope of Work Change Itemization form should be stamped
December 12, 2014
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by the designer or engineer and be in a pdf format and the other should be in an excel format.
These forms can be found on the Program website at http://stormrecovery.ny.gov/homeownerresources-and-forms. With regard to Bulkhead Repair your engineer will also need to produce all
the elements necessary for a complete design package, detailed in the “Bulkhead Design
Guidance” document also found on the Program website. When complete these documents
must be submitted electronically to your customer representative.
7. Deadline to Submit - You must submit all required design documents within 90 days of your
opting- in to any optional item (i.e. the date you signed the Opt-In Form) or by March 12, 2015,
whichever is later.
8. The Program Estimate - The Program will review these design materials, determine if the work
proposed is appropriate, and set a final approved estimate for the work.
9. Opting- Out - After reviewing the final estimate amount, you must finally determine if you want to
proceed with the work. If you choose not to implement one or more of the optional items you
originally selected, you must submit an “Opt-Out Form”, which is also available at the Program
website at http://stormrecovery.ny.gov/homeowner-resources-and-forms.
10. Returning or Retaining Design Funds after Opting-Out - If you received a design funds advance for
any optional items that you are not going to implement, you may decide not to return the funds
actually expended for the design work. However, if you live in the 100 year floodplain, you will be
required to sign a covenant stating that you and your successors will be obligated to retain flood
insurance on the property in perpetuity. All Program funds advanced over and above the actual
design cost documented with receipts and proof of payment must be returned to the Program. In
no case will the Program pay for regular design costs in an amount exceeding 10% of the Programapproved cost of the work.
11. Required Documents - You must submit all basic intake and eligibility documents before the
Program releases payment to begin construction of any optional item. Please consult the “Required
Document Checklist” below to make sure that you have previously submitted all of these and your
file is complete.
12. Elevation Damages - If your home suffers damage during the elevation process, the Program will
cover the cost of the necessary documented repairs, up to a maximum of $7,500 plus a design fee, if
any. Your design professional must submit another set of scope of work change forms delineating
the damage.
13. Payment to Start Construction - After you have submitted all required design documents and the
Program has determined the cost of the optional item(s) you have selected, you will receive a Grant
Agreement/Amendment reflecting your new award amount. After signing that Grant
Agreement/Amendment and providing the name of the contractor that will perform the work, half
of the optional item award, minus any previous payment, will be provided to you to begin the work.
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Required Document Checklist

Government Issued Identification (for the applicant and co-applicant, if any)

Proof of citizenship/eligible immigrant status for one applicant (passport, birth
certificate, certificate of naturalization)

Signed Eligibility Certification Form (for the applicant and co-applicant, if any)

Signed Consent and Release Form (for the applicant and co-applicant, if any

Signed Insurance Certification Form (for the applicant and co-applicant, if any)

Signed Income Certification Form (for the applicant and co-applicant, if any)

Signed Income Verification Form along with documentation of income (for all household
members 18 and older) OR Signed DTF 505 (for all household members 18 and older)

Signed Subrogation Agreement and Assignment Form (for the applicant and coapplicant, if any)

Signed and notarized Right of Entry (for at least one applicant)

Proof that Damaged Property was your Primary Residence at the time of the storm
[acceptable proofs include: tax return (federal or NYS), NYS STAR property tax
exemption, driver’s license, vehicle registration, government benefits receipt]
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