Foundation Testing Reimbursement

Testing your foundation for pyrrhotite isn't free — a licensed engineer's inspection plus a two-core lab test can run well over a thousand dollars combined. The encouraging part: if your home is in the affected zone, both Connecticut and Massachusetts pay back most of that cost. This page explains what each state covers, who qualifies, and exactly how to apply — in plain language.

One thing up front, because homeowners mix these up all the time: reimbursement pays you back for finding out whether you have pyrrhotite. It does not pay to fix your foundation. Repair and replacement funding is a separate process — in Connecticut that runs through CFSIC (see the CFSIC claims process), and in Massachusetts it doesn't exist yet. More on that below.

The short version

Both states run the same basic structure — a reimbursement program, meaning you pay for testing first and submit for money back afterward — but the amounts differ:

• Connecticut: visual inspection reimbursed 100% up to $400; core test (two samples) reimbursed 50% up to $2,000.
• Massachusetts: visual inspection reimbursed 100% up to $400; core test (two samples) reimbursed 75% up to $5,000.

Massachusetts reimburses a bigger share of core testing, and a much higher cap — worth knowing, since the coring is the expensive part. For what these tests actually are and which to start with, see how testing works.

Connecticut: the CRCOG Testing Reimbursement Program

Connecticut's testing reimbursement program has run since 2017. It was funded by a $5 million state bond through the Department of Housing and is administered by the Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) — not by CFSIC. It exists specifically to help homeowners who suspect pyrrhotite pay for testing.

What's reimbursed

• Visual inspection — 100% of the cost, up to $400. Must be performed by a licensed Connecticut professional engineer. This is the engineer's expert written opinion that the cracking is consistent with an incompatible material in the concrete, and it's how a foundation gets its Severity Class rating.
• Core testing — 50% of the cost, up to $2,000, for two core samples. This is the lab analysis that confirms whether pyrrhotite is present and at what concentration.

You can claim both — but a home is eligible only once for each type of test.

Who qualifies

• Your home (or an addition) was built on or after 1983, per town assessment records. If the main house predates 1983 but you're testing a post-1983 addition, that addition qualifies — you'll need to prove when it was built.
• Your home is within a 20-mile radius of the J.J. Mottes Concrete Company in Stafford Springs. Homes outside that radius can apply for a waiver.
• Condos, PUDs, and multi-family homes qualify. Attached garages qualify; detached garages and outbuildings do not.
• You do not have to test positive to be reimbursed — the program pays back the cost of testing regardless of result.

Even if you're unsure you qualify, CRCOG encourages you to apply anyway — if the rules change later, you'll already be in line.

What you'll need to submit

Your test or inspection report with photographs, proof of ownership (tax bill, mortgage statement, or deed), proof of payment (receipt), and — if you're testing an addition on a pre-1983 home — proof the addition was built after 1983. Apply online at foundationtesting.org, or by mail. Applications are processed monthly, and your records are confidential under Connecticut Public Act 17-177 — not public record.

The CDBG "direct-pay" alternative

A handful of towns — Coventry, Tolland, Willington, Union, Ashford, Bolton, and Columbia — run a separate Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) testing program. Unlike CRCOG's reimbursement model, CDBG is pre-approval, direct-pay: you apply before testing. If you live in one of those towns and haven't tested yet, check with your town first — it may pay the provider directly instead of reimbursing you.

Sold the home, or bought from someone who tested?

A previous owner who paid for testing can still apply, as long as they can prove they owned the home at the time. And if a prior owner already claimed one test type, a new owner can still claim a different one — e.g., if the seller was reimbursed for a visual inspection, you could still claim a core test.

Massachusetts: the Crumbling Foundation Testing Reimbursement Program

Massachusetts runs its own testing reimbursement program for homeowners in its affected region — where MASSRACF has documented affected homes across at least 52 municipalities.

What's reimbursed

• Visual inspection — 100% of the cost, up to $400, by a licensed professional engineer.
• Core testing — 75% of the cost, up to $5,000, for two core samples.

That 75% core-test reimbursement is meaningfully more generous than Connecticut's 50% — real money worth claiming.

Who qualifies

Concrete foundations poured between 1983 and 2015, on property within a 20-mile radius of the same J.J. Mottes Concrete Company in Stafford Springs, CT — whose affected zone reaches across the state line into Massachusetts. The program covers homes, additions, detached garages, and businesses in the affected area. As with Connecticut, you pay first and submit documentation for reimbursement; download the application from Mass.gov.

One MA-specific rule worth knowing

If you're pursuing a property-tax reduction in Massachusetts, a core test is required — a visual inspection alone won't satisfy that purpose. Since a confirmed pyrrhotite foundation can lower your assessed value (and your tax bill), the core test can pay for itself twice over. See how testing works for more on the tax angle.

The honest picture on MA remediation

Testing reimbursement is available in Massachusetts, but there is no CFSIC-style program to pay for foundation replacement yet. The state's Crumbling Concrete Stakeholder Working Group delivered its Final Report on March 31, 2026, recommending a Massachusetts Crumbling Concrete Assistance Fund (CCAF) — but the enabling legislation (bills such as S.580 / H.890) is still pending, not yet funded. So test and document now, but budget with the understanding that MA remediation help isn't guaranteed the way it is in Connecticut. We track those developments in The Foundation Brief.

A few common questions

Your next step

The sequence matters here — test, keep every receipt, get photos in your report, then file. Our free Homeowner's Pyrrhotite Checklist lays the whole path out in order so nothing slips.

You can also read how testing works, check whether your town is in the affected-towns map, or start with the 7 signs of pyrrhotite.

This article is general information for homeowners, not legal, financial, or tax advice. Reimbursement percentages, caps, eligibility, and program funding change and vary by town and state — confirm current details with CRCOG (CT), the Massachusetts program, or a licensed professional before scheduling testing. Figures current as of mid-2026.