04 - HAADMIN PLAN 2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Caretakers for a Child If neither a parent nor a designated guardian remains in a household receiving HCV assistance, SAHA will take the following actions. (1) If a responsible agency has determined that another adult is to be brought into the assisted unit to care for a child for an indefinite period, the designated caretaker will not be considered a family member until a determination of custody or legal guardianship is made. (2) If a caretaker has assumed responsibility for a child without the involvement of a responsible agency or formal assignment of custody or legal guardianship, the caretaker will be treated as a visitor for 90 days. After the 90 days has elapsed, the caretaker will be considered a family member unless information is provided that would confirm that the caretaker's role is temporary. In such cases SAHA will extend the caretaker's status as an eligible visitor. (3) At any time that custody or guardianship legally has been awarded to a caretaker, the housing choice voucher will be transferred to the caretaker, if said caretaker is income-eligible for the program. (4) During any period that a caretaker is considered a visitor, the income of the caretaker is not counted in annual income and the caretaker does not qualify the family for any deductions from income. 6-I.C. ANTICIPATING ANNUAL INCOME SAHA is required to count all income "anticipated to be received from a source outside the family during the 12-month period following admission or annual reexamination effective date" [24 CFR 5.609(a)(2)]. Policies related to anticipating annual income are provided below. Basis of Annual Income Projection SAHA generally will use current circumstances to determine anticipated income for the coming 12-month period. HUD authorizes SAHA to use other than current circumstances to anticipate income when: ~ An imminent change in circumstances is expected [HCV GB, p. 5-17] ~ It is not feasible to anticipate a level of income over a 12-month period (e.g., seasonal or cyclic income) [24 CFR 5.609(d)] ~ SAHA believes that past income is the best available indicator of expected future income [24 CFR 5.609(d)] When SAHA cannot readily anticipate income based upon current circumstances (e.g., in the case of seasonal employment, unstable working hours, or suspected fraud), SAHA will review and analyze historical data for patterns of employment, paid benefits, and receipt of other income and use the results of this analysis to establish annual income. Anytime current circumstances are not used to project annual income, a clear rationale for the decision will be documented in the file. In all such cases the family may present information and documentation to SAHA to show why the historic pattern does not represent the family's anticipated income. iii29iio Page 6-5