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Adjusters seeking to maintain their active registered status must attend an NFIP Claims Presentation each calendar year.

" FEMA has revised its NFIP Adjuster Fee Schedule. The revised NFIP Adjuster Fee Schedule will be effective on October 1, 2023, and is applicable to claims with dates of loss on or after October 1, 2023. The 2022 Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) Fee Schedule was not revised."

The updated edition of the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) Claims Manual effective June 29, 2023, is now available at Flood Insurance Manuals and Handbooks | FEMA.gov. 

The information below comes the WYO Bulletin W-22007 issued 10/1/2022

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 WYO Financial Assistance/Subsidy Arrangement (“Arrangement”) at IV.C.2 authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in its sole discretion, to authorize the use of an alternative Fee Schedule to ensure the availability of qualified insurance adjusters during catastrophic flooding events.

This information and the attachment is from the NFIP Write Your Own (WYO) Bulletin W-22001 issued 8/9/2022

"FEMA is pleased to announce the release of the 2023 NFIP Adjuster and Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) Fee Schedules.

Federal regulation requires fee schedule revisions to align with a new FY WYO Financial Arrangement. The FY2023 Arrangement will be effective October 1, 2022; therefore, the 2023 NFIP Adjuster and ICC Fee Schedules will apply to claims with dates of loss on or after October 1, 2022. FEMA is providing the notice well in advance to allow WYOs and the NFIP Direct time for system updates.

This manual improves clarity of flood insurance claims guidance to NFIP Write Your Own (WYO) companies, flood vendors, flood adjusters and examiners, so that policyholders experience consistency and reliability of service. 

Source: FEMA Website

The purpose of the NFIP Claims Manual is to improve clarity of claims guidance to WYOs, vendors, adjusters, and examiners so that policyholders experience consistency and reliability of service. The manual provides processes for handling claims from the notice of loss to final payment.

All NFIP bulletins, other than those announcing Flood Insurance Claims Office numbers, Flood Response Office locations, claims adjuster briefings, and current/future program changes, are superseded by this manual and of no further effect. 

Source: NFIP

On October 13, 2017, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) updated the NFIP Adjuster Claims Manual by adding an addendum providing additional guidance on special adjustment issues surrounding perimeter wall sheathing. The addendum expands upon and replaces existing guidance found at Paragraph P of Section VIII of the NFIP Adjuster Claims Manual.

Hurricanes Harvey and Irma caused widespread flooding in Texas, Louisiana, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Florida, and the southeast United States. Due to the catastrophic impacts of these hurricanes and the increased demand for flood insurance adjusters, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is increasing the amount it will pay to adjust flood insurance claims.

The entire insurance industry is searching for qualified individuals to join the ranks of claims adjusters to handle losses from Harvey, Irma, and future events. FEMA recognizes the specialized knowledge required to properly adjust NFIP losses. Adjusters must know the differences between the Standard Flood Insurance Policy (SFIP) and private industry property insurance forms. They must know interpretations of coverage made by FEMA and the unique reporting requirements of the NFIP. Accordingly, FEMA maintains a list of adjusters authorized to handle NFIP losses.

A note about the use of the term “Authorized NFIP Adjuster” rather than “Certified NFIP Adjuster”: It is FEMA’s position that certification requires a more formal course of study and the successful passing of a series of examinations before certification is awarded, such is the case with Certified Public Accounts. Also, the FCN will now be referred to as the Flood Control Number.

(note: we first posted this in December of 2015, but it was deleted in error)

This chart shows provides a coverage comparison of the following NFIP policies. 

The Three Policy Forms 
There are three policy forms – Dwelling Form, the General Property Form, and the 
Residential Condominium Building Association Policy. Each is used to insure a different type 
of property. All, however, contain certain terms and condition (e.g., Mortgage Clause, 
Reformation of Coverage) that are unique to flood insurance.
 

source: NFIP

Information on some of the resources for adjusters that can be found on the NFIP site.

NFIP Bulletins for WYO (Write Your Own) Companies

A. COVERAGE A—BUILDING PROPERTY We insure against direct physical loss by or from flood to: 1. The residential condominium building described on the Declarations Page at the described location, including all units within the building and the improvements within the units.  (Excerpt from the Policy)

Subject: Policy: General Property Form
Description: The General Property Policy Form may be issued to owners or lessees of non-residential buildings or units, or residential condominium buildings that are uninsurable under the RCBAP.

Subject: Policy: NFIP Dwelling Form
Description: Quote from FEMA;

The Dwelling Policy Form may be issued to homeowners, residential renters and condominium unit-owners, owners of residential buildings containing two to four units.

In communities participating in the NFIP Regular Program* or Emergency Program** the dwelling policy provides building and/or contents coverage for:

• Detached, single-family, non-condominium residence with incidental occupancy limited to less than 50% of the total floor area;
• Two- to four- family, non-condominium building with incidental occupancy limited to less than 25% of the total floor area;
• Dwelling unit in residential condominium building;
• Residential townhouse/rowhouse
• Manufactured mobile homes

9/29/2023 Update:  "FEMA has revised its NFIP Adjuster Fee Schedule. The revised NFIP Adjuster Fee Schedule will be effective on October 1, 2023, and is applicable to claims with dates of loss on or after October 1, 2023. The 2022 Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) Fee Schedule was not revised."