---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 4019"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "4019"
heading: "Payment of claims"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/4019"
units:
  - "Chapter 50 — National Flood Insurance"
  - "Subchapter I — The National Flood Insurance Program"
---

# §4019. Payment of claims

- (a) **In general—** The [Administrator](/usc/42/4003.md?p=a-6) is authorized to prescribe regulations establishing the general method or methods by which proved and approved claims for losses may be adjusted and paid for any damage to or loss of property which is covered by [flood](/usc/42/4121.md?p=a-1) insurance made available under the provisions of this chapter.
- (b) **Minimum annual deductible—**
  - (1) **Pre-firm properties—** For any structure which is covered by [flood](/usc/42/4121.md?p=a-1) insurance under this chapter, and on which [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7) or substantial improvement occurred on or before December 31, 1974, or before the effective date of an initial [flood](/usc/42/4121.md?p=a-1) insurance rate map published by the [Administrator](/usc/42/4003.md?p=a-6) under [section 4101 of this title](/usc/42/4101.md) for the area in which such structure is located, the minimum annual deductible for damage to such structure shall be—
    - (A) $1,500, if the [flood](/usc/42/4121.md?p=a-1) insurance coverage for such structure covers loss of, or physical damage to, such structure in an amount equal to or less than $100,000; and
    - (B) $2,000, if the [flood](/usc/42/4121.md?p=a-1) insurance coverage for such structure covers loss of, or physical damage to, such structure in an amount greater than $100,000.
  - (2) **Post-firm properties—** For any structure which is covered by [flood](/usc/42/4121.md?p=a-1) insurance under this chapter, and on which [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7) or substantial improvement occurred after December 31, 1974, or after the effective date of an initial [flood](/usc/42/4121.md?p=a-1) insurance rate map published by the [Administrator](/usc/42/4003.md?p=a-6) under [section 4101 of this title](/usc/42/4101.md) for the area in which such structure is located, the minimum annual deductible for damage to such structure shall be—
    - (A) $1,000, if the [flood](/usc/42/4121.md?p=a-1) insurance coverage for such structure covers loss of, or physical damage to, such structure in an amount equal to or less than $100,000; and
    - (B) $1,250, if the [flood](/usc/42/4121.md?p=a-1) insurance coverage for such structure covers loss of, or physical damage to, such structure in an amount greater than $100,000.
- (c) **Payment of claims to condominium owners—** The [Administrator](/usc/42/4003.md?p=a-6) may not deny payment for any damage to or loss of property which is covered by [flood](/usc/42/4121.md?p=a-1) insurance to condominium [owners](/usc/42/13641.md?p=4) who purchased such [flood](/usc/42/4121.md?p=a-1) insurance separate and apart from the [flood](/usc/42/4121.md?p=a-1) insurance purchased by the condominium association in which such [owner](/usc/42/13641.md?p=4) is a member, based solely, or in any part, on the [flood](/usc/42/4121.md?p=a-1) insurance coverage of the condominium association or others on the overall property owned by the condominium association.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 90–448, title XIII, § 1312, Aug. 1, 1968, 82 Stat. 579; Pub. L. 98–181, title I [title IV, § 451(d)(1)], Nov. 30, 1983, 97 Stat. 1229; Pub. L. 112–141, div. F, title II, §§ 100210, 100214, July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 920, 924.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b), was in the original a reference to “this title” meaning title XIII of Pub. L. 90–448, Aug. 1, 1968, 82 Stat. 572, known as the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 4001 of this title and Tables.

### Amendments

2012—Pub. L. 112–141, § 100210, designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and inserted heading, substituted “The Administrator is” for “The Director is”, and added subsec. (b).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 112–141, § 100214, added subsec. (c).

1983—Pub. L. 98–181 substituted “Director” for “Secretary”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective 120 days following Aug. 1, 1968, or such later date prescribed by the Secretary but in no event more than 180 days following Aug. 1, 1968, see section 1377 of Pub. L. 90–448, set out as a note under section 4001 of this title.

### Transfer of Functions

For transfer of all functions, personnel, assets, components, authorities, grant programs, and liabilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including the functions of the Under Secretary for Federal Emergency Management relating thereto, to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, see section 315(a)(1) of Title 6, Domestic Security.

For transfer of functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including the functions of the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see former section 313(1) and sections 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.