Item HA 03 - Update to the Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan

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Administrative Plan 7/1/2025 Page 6-54 6-III.G. HARDSHIP EXEMPTIONS [24 CFR 5.611(c), (d), and (e)] Health and Medical Care and Disability Assistance Expenses [24 CFR 5.611(c); Notice PIH 2023-27] The regulations provide for two types of hardship exemption categories for families that qualify for unreimbursed health and medical care expenses and/or disability assistance expenses. A family will benefit from this hardship exemption only if the family has eligible expenses that can be deducted in excess of five percent of annual income. In order to claim unreimbursed health and medical care expenses, the family must have a head, cohead, or spouse that is elderly or a person with a disability. In order to claim unreimbursed reasonable attendant care and auxiliary apparatus expenses, the family must include a person with a disability, and the expenses must enable any member of the family (including the member who is a person with a disability) to be employed. Families may be eligible for relief under one of two categories; phased-in relief or general relief, as defined below. Phased-In Relief The first category is applicable to all families who received a deduction for unreimbursed health and medical care and/or reasonable attendant care or auxiliary apparatus expenses based on their most recent income review prior to January 1, 2024. The family must receive phased-in relief if they are determined to be eligible. These families will begin receiving a 24-month phased-in relief at their next annual or interim reexamination, whichever occurs first, after the date on which the PHA implements phased-in relief. For these families, the threshold amount is phased-in as follows:  The family is eligible for a deduction totaling the sum of expenses that exceeds 5 percent of annual income for the first 12 months.  At the conclusion of 12 months, the family is eligible for a deduction totaling the sum of their expenses that exceed 7.5 percent of annual income for another 12 months.  At the conclusion of 24 months, the standard threshold amount of 10 percent would be used, unless the family qualifies for relief under the general hardship relief category. When an eligible family’s phased-in relief begins at an interim reexamination, the PHA must process another transaction (either an interim reexamination or non-interim transaction, as applicable) one year later to move the family to the next phase. Prior to the end of the 24-month period, the family may request a hardship exemption under the second category as described below. If the family is found eligible under the second category, the hardship exemption under the first category ends, and the family’s hardship is administered in accordance with the requirements listed below. Once a family requests general relief, the family may no longer receive phased-in relief. EXHIBIT 1