HOTMA: An In-Depth Review of Programmatic Changes-Participant Guide

Participant Guide - HOTMA In Depth

Pdf Summary

This participant guide covers HOTMA-related program changes for housing assistance programs, focusing on eligibility, income verification, deductions, and reexamination rules.

Key topics include:

- <strong>Asset and property limits:</strong> A family may be ineligible if net family assets exceed <strong>$100,000</strong> (adjusted annually). Ownership of suitable real property can also disqualify a household if they have ownership, the right to live there, the legal authority to sell, and the property is suitable for occupancy. Unsuitable property includes inaccessible homes, overcrowded units, unsafe housing, or property that cannot legally be used as a residence. Some exemptions may apply, such as domestic violence, co-ownership with a resident, or property listed for sale.

- <strong>Safe Harbor income verification:</strong> PHAs and MFH owners may use income determinations from approved means-tested programs such as <strong>SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, SSI, WIC, EITC, and LIHTC</strong>. Acceptable verification must be recent, third-party verified, include all household members, and state gross annual income.

- <strong>Net family assets and asset income:</strong> The guide explains how to distinguish necessary vs. non-necessary personal property, apply the <strong>$50,000</strong> asset threshold, and determine whether asset income must be counted.

- <strong>Medical/disability deductions:</strong> It outlines the HOTMA medical expense threshold changes, phased-in relief for families receiving deductions before 2024, and hardship relief options.

- <strong>Interim reexaminations:</strong> HOTMA requires interims when adjusted income changes by <strong>10% or more</strong>, with special rules for earned income increases, timing near annual recertification, and prior interim decreases.

- <strong>Annual income verification:</strong> Several scenarios illustrate how to use EIV reports, apply SSA COLAs, verify wages and benefits, and calculate total household income at annual reexamination.

Overall, the guide is a practice tool for applying HOTMA rules consistently in real-world housing eligibility and income calculation situations.

Keywords

HOTMA

housing assistance

eligibility

income verification

asset limits

safe harbor

medical deductions

interim reexamination

annual recertification

household income