HUD Handbook 4350.3 § 5-16

Verifications and consent forms must be used within a reasonable time. HUD has set
         specific limits on the duration of verification consents. In addition, verified information
         must be used in a timely manner since family circumstances are subject to change. HUD
         places several other limits on the information that may be requested and when and how
         it may be used.

         A.     Duration of Verification Authorization

                Owner-created verification forms and the forms HUD-9887 and *HUD-9887-A*
                expire 15 months after they are signed. Owners must ensure that the forms
                HUD-9887 and *HUD-9887-A* have not expired when processing verifications.
                However, there are differences between the duration of form HUD-9887 and that
                of the individual verification forms.

                1.       The form HUD-9887-A and individual verification forms can be used
                         during the 120 days before the certification period. During the
                         certification period, however, these forms may be used only in cases

where the owner receives information indicating that the information the
                         tenant has provided may be incorrect. Other uses are prohibited.

                2.       Owners may verify anticipated income using individual verification forms
                         to gather prospective information when necessary (e.g., verifying
                         seasonal employment). Historical information that owners may request
                         using individual verification forms is restricted as follows:

                         a.      Information requested by individual verification forms is restricted
                                 to data that is no more than 12 months old.

                         b.      However, if the owner receives inconsistent information and has
                                 reason to believe that the information the applicant or tenant has
                                 supplied is incorrect, the owner may obtain information from any
                                 time in the last five years when the individual was receiving
                                 assistance, as provided by the form HUD-9887-A.

                3.       The form HUD-9887 may be used at any time during the entire 15 month
                         period. The information covered by the form HUD-9887 is restricted as
                         follows:

                         a.      State Wage Information Collection Agency (SWICA) Information
                                 received from SWICA is limited to wages and unemployment
                                 compensation the applicant or tenant received during the last five
                                 years she/he received housing assistance.

                         b.      *NDNH. Information received from HHS’ NDNH is limited to
                                 wages and unemployment compensation received during
                                 period(s) within the last five years when the tenant has received
                                 assisted housing benefits.*

                         c.      Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration.
                                 form HUD-9887 authorizes release by IRS and SSA of data from
                                 only the current income tax return and IRS W-2 form.

                                 If the IRS, *NDNH* or SSA matches reveal that the tenant may
                                 have supplied inconsistent information, HUD may request that the
                                 tenant consent to the owner acquiring information on the last five
                                 years during the periods in which the tenant was receiving
                                 assistance.

         B.     Effective Term of Verifications

                1.       Verifications are valid for 120 days from the date of receipt by the owner,
                         *not the effective date of the 50059.*

                2.       If verifications are more than 120 days old *from the date of receipt by the
                         owner*, the owner must obtain new verifications.

                3.       Time limits do not apply to information that does not need to be reverified,
                         such as:

a.      Age;

                         b.      Disability status;

                         c.      Family membership; or

                         d.      Citizenship status.