PERTH AMBOY, N.J. (AP) — The federal government won’t drop rules that many Superstorm Sandy victims say are among the biggest impediments to rebuilding more quickly.

New Jersey officials had asked the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to waive requirements that people applying for the state’s largest Sandy housing recovery initiative stop work on their homes when they apply. Work done after the application date is not eligible for reimbursement from the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) program.