Submit Change to Structural Variable

Policy Guide

Standard Flood Insurance Policy

Applications

Equinox Procedure
Waiting Periods : Occupancy Foundations : Discounts

New Business

Elevation Certificates
Primary Residence
BRCV : Venting : Condos

Renewals

Equinox Procedure
Billing Changes

Changes

Equinox Procedures
Mortgagee : Insured
Transfer of Ownership
Coverage Limits

Cancellations

Equinox Procedure
Request Forms : Signatures
Reasons : Documents

This Equinox Procedure is for Agents. Find a complete list here.

This procedure explains how agents can submit requests to change or correct the building details on an NFIP policy. Most structural variables determine policy rating, so premium may be impacted. Supporting documentation may be required.

Procedural Steps

1. Access Policy Record

A large clock tower and other buildings line a great river.

Scroll to the Risk Characteristics in the Policy Record.

Open the Policy Record to start

Scroll down to the "Risk Characteristics" section manually.

There is no navigation option in the Policy Actions menu.

2. Edit Risk Characteristics

Use the Edit button (pencil icon) in the upper right of the Risk Characteristics section.

This will open all NFIP structural variable fields for editing.

Make adjustments to the coverage and deductibles as appropriate.

Make Changes to Coverage and Deductibles

Changes to coverage must follow NFIP guidelines for Effective Date calculation and documentation.

Refer to the boxes below to confirm proper calculation and required documents.

Coverage Change Rules

Coverage Increase

Coverage increases have a standard 30-day Waiting Period applied, unless they qualify for an exception.

Required Documentation: Premium Payment

NFIP Effective Date Calculation rules apply to coverage increases that can alter the requested effective date.

Coverage Decrease

Coverage decreases have no Waiting Period.

When coverage is reduced to zero, the corresponding deductible must be set to zero.

Coverage decreases can be made on upcoming renewals without the requirements needed for policy changes. [1]

Required Documentation: Building coverage: proof the building is over-insured, either through error or removal. [2]

Required Documentation: Duplicate RCBAP coverage: copy of the RCBAP declarations page.

Required Documentation: Contents coverage: proof the property was sold or removed. [3]

Required Documentation: Policyholder's signature [4]

If due to error, the decrease is effective at inception.
If due to damage or removal, it is effective the day after the event date. [5]
If due to duplicate RCBAP building coverage, it is effective the date the RCBAP coverage started. [6]

Deductible Increase

When coverage is increased from zero, any deductible may be chosen; however, deductible decreases have a 30-day waiting period.

Deductible increases have no Waiting Period.

Deductible Decrease

Deductible decreases have a standard 30-day Waiting Period applied, unless they qualify for an exception.

Required Documentation: A lender's letter that requires a lower deductible [7]

Required Documentation: Premium Payment

NFIP Effective Date Calculation rules apply to coverage increases that can alter the requested effective date.

Coverage Combinations

Use the table below to identify when coverage can be combined.

In general, increases and decreases are typically done in separate transactions with separate payments, but they can be combined.

	Coverage Increase	Coverage Decrease
Deductible Increase	30-day Wait + No Wait Separate or Combined	No Wait (both) Separate or Combined Cannot backdate deductibles
Deductible Decrease	30-day Wait (both) Combined	No Wait + 30-day Wait Separate Only

• Coverage Increase + Deductible Increase: The deductible increase can coincide with the coverage increase, or it can be done separately
• Coverage Increase + Deductible Decrease: The deductible decrease can coincide with the coverage increase (same rules apply)
• Coverage Decrease + Deductible Increase: The deductible increase can coincide with a mid-term coverage decrease (no waiting period), or it can be done separately. Deductible increases cannot be backdated.
• Coverage Decrease + Deductible Decrease: These must be done separately, as the rules are too restrictive to combine.

Example: Coverage Decrease & Deductible Decrease

A coverage decrease can only happen due to over-insurance, which is effective in the middle of the term (physical change) or at the inception (error). So today or a previous date. A deductible decrease requires a 30-day wait, unless an exception is applied. So today or future date.

Once all details are entered, click the "Save" button (move to Step 3 below).

3. Choose Effective Date

Scroll to the top of the page to enter the effective date.

• Choose the Waiting Period based on the scenarios identified in Section 2.
• Calculate and enter the appropriate date.

The Coverage Change cannot be completed without choosing an effective date.

4. Review and Submit

Review the changes for accuracy and completeness before finalizing.

Once the effective date is entered, the pro-rated premium amount will be displayed.

• The "Abort" button will exit the process without saving any details.
• The "Submit" button will create the policy change form and mark the policy with "Pending Change" and "Pending Payment" flags.

The system will not process the change immediately.

The Policy Record will show Pending Payment and Pending Change flags.

The policy in the Agency Workspace will show Pending Payment and Pending Change flags.

The agent can submit a payment on the Billing and Payment page.

This page contains details about NFIP Policy Changes. Find more NFIP information in the How To Endorse section of the Flood Insurance Manual.