HUD HCV Guidebook § 6

If an individual is enrolled as a student at an institution of higher education, is under the age of 24, not a
veteran, not married, is not a person with disabilities who was receiving assistance on November 30, 2005,
and does not have a dependent child, in order to be eligible for assistance, the student must be individually

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     24 CFR 5.522; 42 USC 1436a(c)(2)(A)

eligible to receive assistance and the student’s parents (the parents individually or jointly) must be income
eligible to receive assistance unless the student can demonstrate his or her independence from parents with
the guidance in the Supplementary Guidance Notice published in the April 10, 2006 Federal Register (71 FR

                        PHA Options: Verification of Parent Income Eligibility
      The PHA may establish its own procedure for verifying parental income eligibility. For example,
      PHAs could require a signed income certification from the parents with a penalty of perjury
      statement, or the PHA may also choose to request supporting documentation of parental income
      such as tax returns, award letters, or paystubs.
      PHAs may adopt and implement the following criteria for determining whether to obtain the
      declaration and certification of income from parents, individually or jointly.
           • If the student’s parents are married and living with each other, obtain the declaration and
               certification of income from each parent.
           • If the student’s parent is widowed or single, obtain the declaration and certification of
               income from that parent.
           • If the student’s parents are divorced or separated, obtain the declaration and certification
               of income from each parent.
      If the student has been living with one of his or her parents and has not had contact with or does
      not know where to contact his or her other parent, obtain from the student a certification under
      penalty of perjury, addressing the circumstances (including a statement that the student has not
      received financial assistance from the parent) and obtain from the parent whom the student has
      been living or has contact with the declaration and certification of income.