HUD Handbook 4350.3 § 4-24

A.       When an appropriate unit will be available in the near future, the owner must
                 interview an applicant and obtain current information about the family’s
                 circumstances. For documents that an owner may ask applicants to bring to the
                 interview, see Exhibit 4-1.

        B.       At the interview, the owner must:

                 1.       Confirm and update all information provided on the application. If a pre-
                          application was submitted, complete a full application form and confirm
                          and update the information.

2.       Explain program requirements, *including use of the information
                          contained in the EIV system*, verification procedures, and penalties for
                          false information. The penalties include eviction, loss of assistance, fines
                          up to $10,000, and imprisonment up to five years.

                 3.       Obtain family income and composition information and other data needed
                          to verify eligibility and compute the tenant’s share of the rent. (See
                          Chapter 5.)

                 4.       Review the financial information on the application and specifically ask
                          the tenant whether any member of the household:

                          a.       Receives any of the types of income listed in Chapter 5, Section 1
                                   (e.g., self-employment income, unemployment compensation,
                                   income maintenance payments). If it appears likely that an
                                   applicant is receiving a form of income not reported on the
                                   application, ask the applicant about that source of income and
                                   document the applicant’s response in the file; and

                          b.       Has any assets. (See paragraph 5-7 for a description of assets.)

                 5.       Ask the head of household, spouse, or co-head, and household members
                          age 18 and over to sign the release of information consent portion of the
                          Authorization for Release of Information (Forms HUD 9887 and 9887-A)
                          and any other necessary verification requests.

                 6.       Obtain declaration of citizenship (see Exhibit 3-5) and verification consent
                          forms (see Exhibit 3-6) for verification from all household members as
                          appropriate.

                 7.       Inform the applicant of the screening requirements used by the owner,
                          *including use of the Existing Tenant Search in EIV for determining if the
                          applicant, or a member of the applicant’s family, is receiving HUD’s rental
                          assistance at another location.* (If the owner performs screening
                          activities, a consent to check landlord or credit history should also be
                          obtained).

                 8.       Require the head of household, spouse, or co-head to give a written
                          certification as to whether any family member did/did not dispose of any
                          assets for less than fair market value during the two years preceding the
                          effective date of the certification/recertification.

                          a.       The certification must include a list of all assets disposed of for
                                   less than fair market value, the dates disposed of, the amount
                                   received, and the asset’s market value at the time of disposition.

                          b.       HUD does not prescribe a form for this certification. It may be part
                                   of an application form or a separate form.

                                    NOTE: Owners need not obtain this information if the family is
                                    being considered only for a unit in a BMIR project without rental

assistance because the disposal of assets does not affect income
                                    and rent calculations for BMIR tenants who do not receive rental
                                    assistance.

                 9.       *Require disclosure and verification of SSNs for all household members,
                          except those 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, and provide verification of
                          the complete and accurate SSN assigned to them. (See paragraph 3-9
                          for more information on SSN disclosure and verification requirements.)*

                 10.      Advise the family that HUD will compare the information supplied with
                          information federal, state, or local agencies have on the family’s income
                          and household composition. *This will include the employment and
                          income information received from SSA’s and HHS’ NDNH databases
                          through HUD’s Computer Matching Agreements with these agencies.*

                 11.      Tell the family that a final decision on eligibility cannot be made until all
                          verifications are complete.

                 12.      Provide each *applicant* with a copy of the appropriate HUD fact sheet,
                          which describes how the tenant's rent is calculated.

                 13.      *Provide each household with copies of the EIV & You and the Resident
                          Rights and Responsibilities brochures.*

                 14.      Inform the family that federal laws prohibit the owner from discriminating
                          against individuals with disabilities. In summary, owners have
                          responsibilities for making reasonable accommodations in policies,
                          providing auxiliary aids, making units and facilities accessible, and
                          permitting disabled persons to use assistance animals when they may
                          provide the tenant with equal housing opportunities.

                 15.      Inform all applicants of housing for the elderly or disabled about the rules
                          on owning pets. (See paragraph 6-10.)

        C.       Generally, owners may not require tenants to participate in congregate meals or
                 other services. However, in properties for the elderly or disabled for which HUD
                 approved a mandatory meals program before April 1, 1987, the owner must
                 inform all applicants about:

                 1.       The requirement to execute a meals contract. A meal contract is a
                          separate contract incorporated as part of the lease that states in part:

                          a.       Substantial failure by a tenant to comply with the mandatory meals
                                   agreement will be a violation of the lease and will subject the
                                   tenant to eviction procedures in accordance with the lease;

                          b.       The number of meals required to be purchased;

                          c.       The duration of the meals agreement;

d.       The charges for the meals at the time the agreement is signed;
                                   and

                          e.       The exemptions from purchasing meals and the requirements to
                                   obtain these exemptions.

                 2.       Exemptions from purchasing meals may be made due to:

                          a.       Medical conditions;

                          b.       A paying job that keeps the tenant away from the property at meal
                                   time;

                          c.       Other absence from the property;

                          d.       Permanent immobility; and/or

                          e.       Discretionary exemptions, such as dietary practices, financial
                                   reasons, or religious reasons.