Remember, you must notify your PHA if a household member dies or moves out. You must also obtain the PHA's approval to allow additional family members or friends to move in your home prior to them moving in.
What are the penalties for providing false information?
Knowingly providing false, inaccurate, or incomplete information is FRAUD and a CRIME.
If you commit fraud, you and your family may be subject to any of the following penalties:
1. Eviction
2. Termination of assistance
3. Repayment of rent that you should have paid had you reported your income correctly
4. Prohibited from receiving future rental assistance for a period of up to 10 years
5. Prosecution by the local, state, or Federal prosecutor, which may result in you being fined up to $10,000 and/or serving time in jail.
Protect yourself by following HUD reporting requirements. When completing applications and reexaminations, you must include all sources of income you or any member of your household receives.
If you have any questions on whether money received should be counted as income or how your rent is determined, ask your PHA. When changes occur in your household income, contact your PHA immediately to determine if this will affect your rental assistance.
What do I do if the EIV information is incorrect?
Sometimes the source of EIV information may make an error when submitting or reporting information about you. If you do not agree with the EIV information, let your PHA know.
If necessary, your PHA will contact the source of the information directly to verify disputed income information. Below are the procedures you and the PHA should follow regarding incorrect EIV information.
Debts awed to PHAs and termination information reported in EIV originates from the PHA who provided you assistance in the past. If you dispute this information, contact your former PHA directly in writing to dispute this information and provide any documentation that supports your dispute. If the PHA determines that the disputed information is incorrect, the PHA will update or delete the record from EIV.
Employment and wage information reported in EIV originates from the employer. If you dispute this information, contact the employer in writing to dispute and request correction of the disputed employment and/or wage information. Provide your PHA with a copy of the letter that you sent to the employer. If you are unable to get the employer to correct the information, you should contact the SWA for assistance.
Unemployment benefit information reported in EIV originates from the SWA. If you dispute this information, contact the SWA in writing to dispute and request correction of the disputed unemployment benefit information. Provide your PHA with a copy of the letter that you sent to the SWA.
Death, SS and SSJ benefit information reported in EIV originates from the SSA. If you dispute this information, contact the SSA at (800) 772 1213, or visit their website at: www.socialsecurity.gov. You may need to visit your local SSA office to have disputed death information corrected.
Additional Verification. The PHA, with your consent, may submit a third party verification form to the provider (or reporter) of your income for completion and submission to the PHA.
You may also provide the PHA with third party documents (i.e. pay stubs, benefit award letters, bank statements, etc.) which you may have in your possession.
Identity Theft. Unknown EIV information to you can be a sign of identity theft. Sometimes someone else may use your SSN, either on purpose or by accident. So, if you suspect someone is using your SSN, you should check your Social Security records to ensure your income is calculated correctly (call SSA at (800) 772-1213); file an identity theft complaint with your local police department or the Federal Trade Commission (call FTC at (877) 438-4338, or you may visit their website at: http://www.ftc.gov). Provide your PHA with a copy of your identity theft complaint.
Where can I obtain more information on EIV and the income verification process?
Your PHA can provide you with additional information on EIVand the income verification process. You may also read more about EIV and the income verification process on HUD's Public and Indian Housing EIV web pages at: http://www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/ph/rhiip/uiv.cfm.
The information in this Guide pertains to applicants and participants (tenants) of the following HUD-PIH rental assistance programs:
1. Public Housing (24 CFR 960); and
2. Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV),(24 CFR 982); and
3. Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation (24 CFR 882); and
4. Project-Based Voucher (24 CFR 983)
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