A family paying flat rent may switch to income-based rent at any time for financial hardship

ph.tenant_payment.flat_rent_hardship_switch · v1.0.0

A family that is paying a flat rent may at any time, before the next annual option to select the type of rent, request a switch to payment of income-based rent if it is unable to pay the flat rent because of financial hardship. The PHA must adopt written policies for determining when payment of flat rent is a financial hardship, and those policies must provide that financial hardship includes a decrease in income because of changed circumstances, including loss or reduction of employment, a death in the family, or a reduction in or loss of earnings or other assistance; an increase in expenses because of changed circumstances for medical costs, child care, transportation, education or similar items; and such other situations as the PHA determines to be appropriate. If the PHA determines the family is unable to pay the flat rent because of financial hardship it must immediately allow the requested switch to income-based rent, and must make the determination within a reasonable time after the family's request. The PHA must give the family, in writing, its policies on switching rent type in circumstances of financial hardship and the dollar amounts of tenant rent under each option, so that the family can make an informed choice.

Confidence

high

Effective from

2023-03-16

Consequence model

agency finding with cure

Last reviewed

2026-08-30