HUD Handbook 4350.3 § 3-31
*Verification* of Social Security Numbers (HUD Occupancy Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 CHG-4)
Operative Text
A. *Applicants and tenants, excluding individuals who do not contend eligible
immigration status and tenants age 62 or older as of January 31, 2010, whose
initial determination of eligibility was begun before January 31, 2010, must
disclose and provide verification of the complete and accurate SSN assigned to
each household member. (See Paragraph 3-9 for more information on SSN
requirements.)
B. Adequate documentation to verify the SSN of an individual is a social security
card issued by the SSA, an original document issued by a federal or state
government agency which contains the name and SSN of the individual along
with identifying information of the individual, or other acceptable evidence of the
SSN listed in Appendix 3.
C. Owners may reject documentation of the SSN provided by the applicant or tenant
that:
1. Is not an original document; or
2. Is the original document but it has been altered, mutilated, or is not
legible; or
3. Appears to be a forged document (e.g., does not appear to be authentic)*.Under HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 CHG-4 § 3-31, most applicants and tenants in HUD-assisted housing are required to disclose and provide verification of the Social Security Number (SSN) assigned to each household member, with limited exceptions for certain elderly tenants and individuals who do not claim eligible immigration status. Acceptable verification documents include an original Social Security card, an original government-issued document bearing the individual's name and SSN, or other evidence listed in the handbook's Appendix 3. Property owners are permitted to reject SSN documentation that is not an original, has been altered or is illegible, or appears to be forged.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of HUD-assisted housing subject to § 3-31 of HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 CHG-4 generally collect and review original SSN verification documents for each household member at the time of application and recertification, noting the applicable exceptions for certain elderly tenants and non-contending individuals. Compliant operators inspect submitted documents to confirm they are originals, unaltered, legible, and appear authentic before accepting them as adequate verification. When a document fails any of these criteria—such as showing signs of alteration or appearing inauthentic—operators are authorized under § 3-31 to reject it and request acceptable alternative documentation as described in Appendix 3.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 CHG-4 § 3-31, most applicants and tenants in HUD-assisted housing have an obligation to provide original, unaltered, and legible documentation of their SSN for each household member, though certain elderly tenants and individuals not contending eligible immigration status may be exempt. If a housing provider rejects submitted SSN documentation, tenants may wish to review the acceptable document types listed in Appendix 3 of the handbook to understand what alternatives may satisfy the requirement. Tenants who believe a rejection was improper or that their rights under § 3-31 were not observed may consider contacting a local tenant-rights organization, a HUD-approved housing counselor, or filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 25, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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