Labor claims get denied
Overtime and equipment hours are real, but the timesheets behind them are in a different system from the claim.
Backed by NSF 
Find it.
Prove it.
Claim it.
Ikora matches your city's records to your FEMA or DRFA claim and flags eligible costs that are missing proof. Your team decides on each one.
For cities and counties of 50K–500K recovering from a declared disaster
How it works ↓
The problem
Disaster money gets lost in the paperwork, not the policy. Eligible costs go unclaimed or get cut for thin proof.
Closeout drags on
DHS OIG-24-45 · August 202414 of 100
storm-period costs flagged as possibly eligible, never claimed
Australia's 2024 independent review heard "on multiple occasions about the complexity" of the rules. Colvin Review, NEMA
PayrollPR-0303Crew 4 · OT · 38 hrs$2,140
Work ordersWO-1182Debris clearing · Elm St$3,960
FleetT-14Dump truck · 6.5 hrs$780
Three exports, three systems. Nothing says these are the same day's work.
↳ Cost #0412 · Debris haul, Mar 3DR-4798-TX · Category A
$6,880
Linked by crew, date and site · machine match
Why flaggedIn the incident period, not in your claim.
Missing— Signed timesheet, Mar 3
potentially eligible
added to claim
Confidence high · 3 of 3 records agree
Confirmed by M. Ortiz, Grants Manager · Nov 4, 2:18 PM
Timesheet requested from Payroll · sha256 a3f9…c21e
Timesheet requested from Payroll · sha256 a3f9…c21e
What you get
One evidence trail
for every cost
Every cost in your claim comes with its proof attached. Anything that belongs in the claim but isn't there shows up for review.
Book a demo →
Three systems, one day's work
PayrollPR-0303 · 38 hrs OT
Work orderWO-1182 · debris
FleetT-14 · 6.5 hrs
↳ Cost #0412 · Mar 3$6,880
Claim packet · Cost #04123 of 4
- ✓Work order WO-1182
- ✓Fleet log T-14
- ✓Invoice INV-2207
- —Signed timesheet, Mar 3
Request from Payroll →
Debris haul · Mar 3potentially eligible
Source records
PR-0303WO-1182T-14
Why flagged
In the incident period, not in your claim.
Confidence high · same crew, date and site
Winter stormDR-4586-TX · closed
- Costs reviewed4,920
- Flags raised41
- Live claim affectednone
Illustrative · read-only copy of closed records
Program fit
One record, the right rulebook
Ikora reads the timesheet, finds the rule that applies, and shows staff exactly which line doesn't fit.
- It covers Category A debris removal and Category B emergency protective measures, including force account labor and equipment.
- For emergency work, FEMA reimburses overtime for budgeted staff, not straight time. Ikora separates the two in payroll.
- Equipment hours are priced against FEMA's Schedule of Equipment Rates, not your internal rate.
- It covers Counter Disaster Operations, EPAR and day-labour claims.
- The claims audit samples transactions, and when evidence is missing, acquittal and payment have to wait.
- Ikora checks payroll on-costs against state caps. NSW, for example, caps on-costs at 31.69%.
Timesheet · Crew lead · Public WorksPR-0303
DateStraight timeOvertime
Mar 28.02.0
Mar 38.04.0
Mar 48.03.5
Source file · SHA-256 a3f9…c12e
PAPPG V5.0
PAPPG · Cat B · budgeted staff
needs reviewDR-4798-TX
Straight-time hours for a budgeted employee on emergency work.
Suggested: Claim the 4 overtime hours only.
Timesheet · Plant operator · RoadsPR-0303
DateHoursOn-cost
2 Mar7.638.20%
3 Mar7.638.20%
4 Mar7.638.20%
Source file · SHA-256 7b20…e9d4
NSW DRFA GUIDELINES
NSW on-cost cap · 31.69%
needs reviewAGRN 1034 · NSW
On-costs are above the state cap.
Suggested: Apply the 31.69% cap.
Before you book
Questions people ask us
A few plain answers about how Ikora works and what to expect from a pilot.
Do we have to share our data for the demo?
No. The demo runs on sample data. If you do a pilot later, we only use the exports you choose to send.
Does the AI decide what's eligible?
No. It flags costs and explains why. Your staff decide, and FEMA or DRFA rules govern eligibility.
Does this replace our recovery consultant?
No. Consultants can use Ikora to document claims faster.
What does a pilot cost?
It's a fixed fee that we scope with you on the call. We size it to sit under typical purchasing thresholds.
Which systems does it work with?
Anything that can export to CSV or Excel. That covers most payroll, fleet, purchasing and work-order systems.
Are you affiliated with FEMA or NEMA?
No. Ikora is independent.