§ 880.603 - Selection and admission of assisted tenants.

§ 880.603 Selection and admission of assisted tenants.

(a) Application. The owner must accept applications for admission to the project in the form prescribed by HUD. Both the owner (or designee) and the applicant must complete and sign the application. For this part 880 and 24 CFR part 881 projects, on request, the owner must furnish copies of all applications to HUD and the PHA, if applicable. For 24 CFR part 883 projects, on request, the owner must furnish to the Agency or HUD copies of all applications received.

(b) Determination of eligibility and selection of tenants. The owner is responsible for obtaining and verifying information related to income eligibility in accordance with 24 CFR part 5, subpart F, and evidence related to citizenship and eligible immigration status in accordance with 24 CFR part 5, subpart E, to determine whether the applicant is eligible for assistance in accordance with the requirements of 24 CFR part 5, and to select families for admission to the program, which includes giving selection preferences in accordance with 24 CFR part 5, subpart D.

(1) If the owner determines that the family is eligible and is otherwise acceptable and units are available, the owner will assign the family a unit of the appropriate size in accordance with HUD standards. If no suitable unit is available, the owner will place the family on a waiting list for the project and notify the family of when a suitable unit may become available. If the waiting list is so long that the applicant would not be likely to be admitted for the next 12 months, the owner may advise the applicant that no additional applications are being accepted for that reason, provided the owner complies with the procedures for informing applicants about admission preferences as provided in 24 CFR part 5, subpart D.

(2) If the owner determines that an applicant is ineligible on the basis of income or family composition, or because of failure to meet the disclosure and verification requirements for Social Security Numbers (as provided by 24 CFR part 5), or because of failure by an applicant to sign and submit consent forms for the obtaining of wage and claim information from State Wage Information Collection Agencies (as provided by 24 CFR parts 5 and 813), or that the owner is not selecting the applicant for other reasons, the owner will promptly notify the applicant in writing of the determination and its reasons, and that the applicant has the right to meet with the owner or managing agent in accordance with HUD requirements. Where the owner is a PHA, the applicant may request an informal hearing. If the PHA determines that the applicant is not eligible, the PHA will notify the applicant and inform the applicant that he or she has the right to request HUD review of the PHA's determination. The applicant may also exercise other rights if the applicant believes that he or she is being discriminated against on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, or national origin. See 24 CFR part 5 for the informal review provisions for the denial of a Federal preference or the failure to establish citizenship or eligible immigration status and for notice requirements where assistance is terminated, denied, suspended, or reduced based on wage and claim information obtained by HUD from a State Wage Information Collection Agency.

(3) Records on applicants and approved eligible families, which provide racial, ethnic, gender and place of previous residency data required by HUD, must be maintained and retained for three years.

(c) Reexamination of family income and composition -

(1) Regular reexaminations. The owner must reexamine the income and composition of all families at least every 12 months. After consultation with the family and upon verification of the information, the owner must make appropriate adjustments in the Total Tenant Payment in accordance with part 5 of this title and determine whether the family's unit size is still appropriate. The owner must adjust Tenant Rent and the Housing Assistance Payment to reflect any change in Total Tenant Payment and must carry out any unit transfer required by HUD. At the time of the annual reexamination of family income and composition, the owner must require the family to disclose the verify Social Security Numbers, as provided by 24 CFR part 5. For requirements regarding the signing and submitting of consent forms by families for the obtaining of wage and claim information from State Wage Information Collection Agencies, see 24 CFR part 5. At the first regular reexamination after June 19, 1995, the owner shall follow the requirements of 24 CFR part 5 concerning obtaining and processing evidence of citizenship or eligible immigration status of all family members. Thereafter, at each regular reexamination, the owner shall follow the requirements of 24 CFR part 5 and verify the immigration status of any new family member.

(2) Interim reexaminations. The family must comply with provisions in its lease regarding interim reporting of changes in income. If the owner receives information concerning a change in the family's income or other circumstances between regularly scheduled reexaminations, the owner must consult with the family and make any adjustments determined to be appropriate. Any change in the family's income or other circumstances that results in an adjustment in the Total Tenant Payment, Tenant Rent and Housing Assistance Payment must be verified. See 24 CFR part 5 for the requirements for the disclosure and verification of Social Security Numbers at interim reexaminations involving new family members. For requirements regarding the signing and submitting of consent forms for the obtaining of wage and claim information from State Wage Information Collection Agencies, see 24 CFR part 5. At any interim reexamination after June 19, 1995, when a new family member has been added, the owner shall follow the requirements of 24 CFR part 5 concerning obtaining and processing evidence of the citizenship or eligible immigration status of any new family member.

(3) Continuation of housing assistance payments. A family's eligibility for Housing Assistance Payments continues until the Total Tenant Payment equals the contract rent plus any utility allowance. The termination of eligibility at such point will not affect the family's other rights under its lease, nor will such termination preclude the resumption of payments as a result of later changes in income, rents, or other relevant circumstances during the term of the Contract. However, eligibility also may be terminated in accordance with HUD requirements, for such reasons as failure to submit requested verification information, including failure to meet the disclosure and verification requirements for Social Security Numbers, as provided by 24 CFR part 5, or failure to sign and submit consent forms for the obtaining wage and claim information from State Wage Information Collection Agencies, as provided by 24 CFR part 5. See 24 CFR part 5 for provisions requiring termination of assistance for failure to establish citizenship or eligible immigration status and also for provisions concerning certain assistance for mixed families (families whose members include those with eligible immigration status, and those without eligible immigration status) in lieu of termination of assistance, and for provisions concerning deferral of termination of assistance.

(4) Streamlined income determination. An owner may elect to follow the provisions of 24 CFR 5.657(d).

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 2502-0204)

[61 FR 13589, Mar. 27, 1996, as amended at 65 FR 16722, Mar. 29, 2000; 70 FR 77744, Dec. 30, 2005; 81 FR 12371, Mar. 8, 2016]