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Recertification

Recertification is the re-examination of income and household composition for families currently participating in the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA)’s affordable housing programs.  It is requirement of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for Public Housing residents and Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) families.

GET STARTED

To begin recertification, download and complete the Recertification Application.

Recertification certifies program eligibility*

*Failure to complete recertification on time may result in termination from DCHA’s affordable housing programs.

Recertification also determines:

How much the Public Housing resident or HCVP family will pay in rent

Unit’s bedroom size or how many bedrooms that program participants’ are eligible to rent

HOW RECERTIFICATION WORKS

DCHA notifies public housing residents when it is time to complete a Recertification Packet. The notification will be sent by mail and includes a copy of the Recertification Packet application.

A Recertification Packet includes the Application, Supporting Documents like government-issued identification and paystubs, and when applicable, Supplemental Documents. Supplemental Documents are only needed for specific household types.

When are Recertifications?

Recertifications occur at regular intervals for all participants in DCHA’s affordable housing programs.

  • Every other year (biennially) – Public Housing residents and HCVP families
  • Every three years (triennially) – Public Housing residents or HCVP families who are elderly or disabled, and fixed-income

Recertifications are also required outside of these regular intervals when there is a change to the household composition or household income.

A change in household composition occurs when the number of live-in household members increases or decreases. Examples of changes in household income include a modification to child support, alimony, social security income, or other assistance; or a job change that resulted in an increase or decrease in pay.

What to expect during the Recertification process

Public Housing Resident/HCVP Family

1.) Completes the Recertification Packet 

  • Fills out & signs application;
  • Gathers supporting documents;
  • When applicable, fills out any necessary Supplemental Documents.

2.) Submits the Recertification Packet

  • ONLINE:
    Submits via DCHA’s online resident portal, RentCafe.
  • IN-PERSON:
    Public Housing residents can drop off completed Recertification Packets with their property manager. HCVP participants may drop off their Recertification Packets between 9am – 3pm, Monday – Friday (except holidays) at our Customer Service Center at Frederick Douglass Community Center (2000 Alabama Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20020).
  • MAIL (HCVP participants only):
    HCVP participants may mail their Recertification Packets to DC Housing Authority, HQ Customer Service Center (625 D Street SW, Washington, DC 20024).

DCHA Staff

3.) Processes the Completed Recertification Packet 

  • Processing of a completed Recertification Packet can take up to 30 business days
  • Processing delays may occur if Recertification 
Packet is missing required Supporting Documents or Supplemental Documents (when applicable), or Application is missing signatures

4.) Sends Notification with the Recertification Results 

Public Housing residents:

  • Rental Amount paid by resident for next 12 months
  • What bedroom size the household is eligible to rent

HCVP families:

  • Rental Amount paid by resident for next 24 months
  • What bedroom size the household is eligible to rent

STEPS TO COMPLETE RECERTIFICATION

STEP 1: Download & Complete the Recertification Application

Fill out all sections including:

  • General family information
  • Household composition
  • Emergency contact information
  • Income
  • Assets & banking information
  • Allowances & deductions
  • Work history
  • Program integrity information

Sign and date the declaration and certification section. The Application must be signed by all household members ages 18 years or older. Before signing, be sure to read the form in its entirety and make sure all sections are complete and accurate.

STEP 2: Gather Copies or Photos of Supporting Documents

  • Birth certificates for all NEW household members
  • Social Security cards for all NEW household members
  • Current Driver’s License or government-issued photo ID for all household members ages 18 years or older
  • Current Driver’s License or government-issued photo ID for all NEW household members
  • Current income statements for all household members ages 18 years or older

Examples: two (2) current, consecutive pay stubs for bi-weekly, four (4) current, consecutive pay stubs for weekly, or two (2) current, consecutive pay stubs for semi-monthly; and/or most current SS, SSI, TANF, VA, or Pension statement and Medical Expense(s) Statement if you qualify.

STEP 3: Complete Supplemental Documents (if applicable)

If Household includes a student aged 18 or older who is currently a full-time student:

Download and fill out the Full-Time Student Verification (18 or Older) Form.

If Head of Household is aged 62 or older and/or is disabled:

Provide a photo or copy of medical expense(s) statements for ALL household members.

STEP 4: Submit Completed Recertification Packet

ONLINE:
Public Housing residents and HCVP participants may submit via DCHA’s online resident portal, RentCafe.

IN-PERSON:
Public Housing residents may drop off completed Recertification Packets with their property manager.

HCVP participants may drop off their Recertification Packets between 9am – 3pm, Monday – Friday (except holidays) at our Customer Service Center at Frederick Douglass Community Center (2000 Alabama Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20020).

MAIL (HCVP participants only):
HCVP participants may mail their Recertification Packets to DC Housing Authority, HQ Customer Service Center (625 D Street SW, Washington, DC 20024).

WHAT TO KNOW

RECERTIFICATION & ELIGIBILITY

When you answer application or eligibility determination questions, you must include the following information:

Income

  • All sources of money you or any member of your household receive (wages, welfare payments, alimony, social security, pension, etc.);
  • Any money you receive on behalf of your children (child support, social security for children, etc.);
  • Earnings from second job or part-time job; and Any anticipated income (such as a bonus or pay raise you expect to receive);
  • Income from assets (interest from savings account, credit union, or certificate of deposit, dividends from stock, etc.).


Assets

  • All bank accounts, savings bonds, certificate of deposits, stocks, real estate, etc. that are owned by you and any adult member of your family's household who will be living with you;
  • Any business or asset you sold in the last 2 years for less than its full value such as your home to your children.

DCHA will only require reporting of assets from total net family income of more than $1,000/year and total net family assets valued at more than $50,000.
  • Do not sign any form unless you have read it, understand it, and are sure everything is complete and accurate.
  • When you sign the application and certification forms, you are claiming that the form(s) is complete to the best of your knowledge and belief. You are committing fraud if you sign a form knowing that it contains false or misleading information.
  • Information you give on your application and eligibility forms will be verified by DCHA. In addition, HUD will perform computer matches of the income you report with various federal, State, or private agencies to verify that it is correct.
You must provide updated information as part of the scheduled recertification process. You must report any changes in income and family/household composition immediately. Be sure to ask when you must recertify. At a minimum, you must report the following on the recertification forms:

  • The names of all of the people (adults and children) who will actually be living with you, whether or not they are related to you;
  • All income changes, such as increases in pay and/or benefits, change or loss of job and/or benefits, etc., for all household members;
  • Any household members moving in or out;
  • All assets that you or your household members own that are valued at more than $50,000; household assets that generate net income of more than $1,000/year.

FRAUD

You should be aware of the following fraud schemes:

  • Do not pay any money to file an application.
  • Do not pay any money to move up on the waiting list.
  • Do not pay for anything not covered by your lease.
  • Get a receipt for any money you pay.
  • Get a written explanation if you are required to pay for anything other than rent (such as maintenance charges).

Read more about fraud schemes from The Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD): https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/1141.pdf.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and DCHA place a high priority on preventing fraud. If your Recertification Packet contains false or incomplete information, you may be:

  • Evicted;
  • Terminated of assistance;
  • Repaid of rent that you should have paid had you reported your income correctly;
  • Prohibited from receiving future rental assistance for a period of up to 10 years;
  • Prosecuted by the local, state, or Federal prosecutor, which may result in you being fined up to $10,000 and/or serving time in jail.

If you are aware of anyone who has falsified an application, or if anyone tries to persuade you to make false statements, report them to DCHA by calling the DCHA Call Center at 202-535-1000 or directly contacting your designated Housing Program Specialist.

If that is not possible, call the local HUD office or the HUD Offices of Inspector General (OIG) Hotline at (800) 347-3735. You can also write to: HUD-OIG HOTLINE, (GFI) 451 7th Street SW, Washington, DC 20410.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Have questions or need support?

When completing a Recertification Packet, you should understand what is expected of you. If you have any questions or need assistance completing the Recertification Packet, DCHA can provide assistance. 

Contact DCHA Call Center at 202-535-1000 for assistance or visit a DCHA Customer Service Center location.

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