Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA)
$400,000
Grant
Description:
After a disaster, the province may declare the event eligible for Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA). Once declared, the program may provide applicants with assistance to restore uninsurable losses that are essential.
Comments on Funding:
Financial assistance is provided for each accepted claim at 80 percent of the amount of total eligible damage less $1,000, to a maximum of $400,000.
Eligible essential contents are compensated based on median value of the base model item. For example, a damaged TV would be compensated based on the value of a median priced base model TV regardless of the type or quality the applicant owned.
Structural compensation is limited to the cost to repair eligible damage caused by the event, using standard industry rates for things like drywall repair, debris removal, carpet removal and replacement.
May 14, 2025
Eligibility:
Applicants must be:
1. Home owners and residential tenants
a. You must occupy the property as your principal residence
b. Seasonal or recreational properties aren’t eligible
c. If you are a landlord, you must apply and qualify as a small business owner
2. Charitable organizations
a. Must provide a benefit or service to the community
b. Must be registered under the provincial Societies Act
3. Small business owners: Your business must:
a. Be managed by the owner on a day-to-day basis
b. Must have at least $10,000 per year in revenue from the business
c. Have gross revenues less than $2 million per year
d. Employ fewer than 50 employees at one time
4. Farm owners: Your farm must:
a. Be identified as a developing or established agricultural operation
b. Be owned and operated by a person whose full-time employment is a farmer
c. Be the means by which the owner derives the majority of their income
d. If a farm operation is incorporated, the small business eligibility criteria applies.
Application Steps:
Applicants must:
1. If you’ve recently experienced a disaster and it’s not on the eligible events list, contact your Indigenous or local government first.
2. Contact your insurance provider as a first step. They will provide you with information about your insurance coverage.
Program staff are available to discuss how your insurance relates to your eligibility and application.
3. Applications must be submitted within 90 days of the disaster being declared eligible and cannot be processed without your signature.
a. Review required documentation for the category/categories you are applying for (see below)
b. Complete the appropriate application form available through the EMCR Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) application portal
c. Have your insurance broker complete the appropriate insurance template to include with your application
i. Home owners, residential tenants, and landlord insurance template (PDF, 212KB)
ii. Small business, farm owners, and charitable organizations insurance template (PDF, 216KB)
d. Upload all required documents as directed on application form
e. Submit application
Documentation Needed:
Applicants must submit:
For Homeowner
1. Completed insurance template (by insurance broker)
For Residential Tenant
1. Government-issued ID – DL, Service Card, BC ID
2. Completed Insurance Template (by insurance broker)
3. Signed Tenancy Agreement – If no tenancy agreement, please provide the landlord contact information and a piece of mail showing the damaged property address
For Small Business/Farm
1. Completed Small Business Insurance Template (by insurance broker)
2. Lease Agreements – If applicable
3. Financial documents – see categories below for what documents are required depending on your business structure.
a. General or Sole Proprietorship or DBA name
i. Completed T1 general tax return with supporting schedules for all owners.
b. Corporate (Ltd./Inc.) Company
i. Central security register
ii. Completed T2 return for the company.
iii. Company income statement and balance sheet used for income tax purposes.
c. Landlord
i. Complete T1s for all owners of rented property
ii. Statement of real estate rentals (T776)
iii. Residential Tenancy Agreement
Charitable Organization
a. Completed Insurance Template (by insurance broker)
b. Incorporation Documents, Annual Fillings & List of Directors including contact information
c. Lease Agreement – if applicable
d. Proof of benefit to community & organizational structure – A description in a word document will be considered if no additional proof is available
Other Things to Note:
About the author
Maurice
