Documents You’ll Need for the Manatee County Home Recovery Program Application

The Home Recovery Program full application is paperwork-heavy by design – Manatee County is administering federal HUD CDBG-DR funds and has to verify every applicant meets income, ownership, residency, and unmet-need requirements. The official Application Document Checklist is published on lastingmanatee.org/pages/hrp; what’s below summarizes what you should be gathering now.

See the full Home Recovery Program overview →

Pre-application window: May 1 – June 30, 2026. The full application comes after pre-application is reviewed.

Property ownership documents

• Recorded deed for the property (most recent)
• Most recent mortgage statement (if applicable)
• Most recent property tax bill showing your name as owner
• If you inherited the home: probate or trust documents establishing ownership

Proof that the home is your primary residence

• Florida driver’s license or state ID with the property address
• Utility bills (electric, water, gas) in your name at the property address, dated before and after the storm
• Voter registration card with the property address
• Homestead exemption confirmation from the Manatee County Property Appraiser

Household income documentation (income cap is 120% AMI)

The HRP is income-restricted to households at or below 120% of the Manatee County Area Median Income. You will need to document the income of every adult in the household:

• Federal tax returns for the most recent 2–3 years (1040 with all schedules)
• W-2s and 1099s for the most recent year
• Most recent 30–60 days of pay stubs for everyone working
• Social Security benefit statements (annual SSA-1099 letter)
• Pension or retirement account statements
• Unemployment compensation letters (if applicable)
• Self-employed: profit-and-loss statements plus Schedule C

Insurance documentation

The program covers unmet recovery needs – costs not covered by other sources. You must show what your insurance did and didn’t pay:

• Homeowners insurance declaration page in effect at the time of the storm
• Flood insurance declaration page if you had a separate NFIP or private flood policy
• Wind/hurricane policy documentation if separate from homeowners
• Insurance claim filing and adjuster’s report
• Settlement letter showing what was paid and what was denied or excluded
• Any denial letters for specific damages

FEMA and SBA documentation

• FEMA Individual Assistance application confirmation and any award or denial letters
• SBA disaster loan application status (approved, denied, withdrawn)
• Any other federal or state recovery assistance documentation

Damage documentation

• Dated photos and video of the damage from before any cleanup or repair
• Contractor estimates for the unrepaired work – at least one, ideally two or three for comparison
• Receipts for any repair work already completed (so the program can avoid funding work that was already done)
• Independent inspection reports if you have them (mold, structural, roof)

Identification

• Government-issued photo ID for every adult in the household
• Social Security cards or other proof of SSN for every household member
• Birth certificates for children

Household composition documentation (for priority processing)

Manatee County processes applications in phases based on household income tier and whether members are under 18, over 62, or have a disability. If anyone in your household qualifies, gather:

• Birth certificates or school enrollment records for children under 18
• Government-issued ID showing date of birth for adults over 62
• Disability documentation: SSDI/SSI award letters, VA disability rating, or physician’s statement

Out-of-pocket recovery spending (often overlooked)

Bring receipts for any out-of-pocket costs you have paid since the storm – debris removal, temporary housing, replacement appliances, mold remediation invoices. These document your actual financial loss and may strengthen your unmet-need calculation.

Where WrightWay fits in

The contractor estimate is often the slowest piece for homeowners to assemble. WrightWay provides free assessments and Xactimate-formatted itemized estimates that match the CDBG-DR program scope-of-work format. Call (941) 379-8669 to schedule.

Need help?

The official Application Document Checklist is the source of truth – verify the current required document list at lastingmanatee.org/pages/hrp before you submit. For application help, call Lasting Manatee at 941-742-4787 or email info@lastingmanatee.org.

Source: lastingmanatee.org/pages/hrp and the official Application Document Checklist, captured 2026-05-08.