HA Item 05 -Update to the Housing Choice Voucher Administrative Plan

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Administrative Plan 7/1/2025 Page 6-56 The PHA must obtain third-party verification of the hardship or must document in the file the reason third-party verification was not available. PHAs must attempt to obtain third-party verification prior to the end of the 90-day hardship exemption period. SAHA Policy To qualify for a hardship exemption, a family must submit a request in writing. The request must show that the family’s health and medical and/or disability assistance expenses have increased (other than the transition to the higher threshold) and that the family’s financial hardship is a result of a change in circumstances. SAHA defines a change in circumstances as a decrease in income or increase in other expenses that has resulted in the family’s financial hardship but does not, on its own, trigger an interim reexamination in accordance with SAHA policies. Examples of circumstances constituting a financial hardship may include the following situations: The family is awaiting an eligibility determination for a federal, state, or local assistance program, such as a determination for unemployment compensation or disability benefits; The family’s income decreased because of a loss of employment, death of a family member, or due to a natural or federal/state declared disaster; or Other circumstances as determined by SAHA. The family must provide third-party verification of the hardship with the request. If third- party verification is not available, SAHA will document the file with the reason and will attempt to obtain third-party verification prior to the end of the 90-day hardship exemption period. The PHA must promptly notify the family in writing of the change in the determination of adjusted income and the family’s rent resulting from hardship exemptions. The notice must inform the family of when the hardship exemption will begin and expire [24 CFR 5.611(e)(2)]. SAHA Policy SAHA will make a determination of whether the family qualifies within 30 calendar days and will notify the family in writing of the result within 14 calendar days of the determination. If SAHA denies the hardship exemption request, SAHA notice will also state that if the family does not agree with SAHA determination, the family may request a hearing. If the family qualifies for an exemption, SAHA will include the date the hardship exemption will begin and the date it will expire as well as information on how to request a 90-day extension based on family circumstances. If the family qualifies, the family will receive a deduction for the sum of eligible expenses that exceed five percent of annual income. EXHIBIT 1