Interim Reviews
Families on both the WIN Rent and EASY Rent program are entitled to rent adjustments throughout the year based on changes to their situation. The changes can be broken down into KCHA required interim reviews and tenant requested interim reviews.
KCHA Required Interim Reviews
An interim review will be required in the following situations:
a. Whenever the family seeks approval to add a member to the household. However, tenant rent will be changed only when:
- For WIN Rent Households: The addition of the household member results in increasing household income above the current income band.
- For EASY Rent Households: The addition of the household member results in an increase in household income of greater than $2,000.
b. When a family is removed from the Earned Income Disregard;
c. Increases in income for a household that is currently paying the Minimum Rent or has a reported income of $0. In such cases, interim reviews will be required until the household no longer qualifies for the minimum rent;
d. An increase in income following a reported decrease in income that results in a change in rent;
e. Discovery of Errors, misrepresentation and/or fraud.
Tenant Requested Interim Reviews
Upon request, KCHA will complete an interim review under the following circumstances:
For WIN Rent Households:
- A Household composition change resulting in a decrease in income below the current income band;
- A decrease in income that results in a drop in income below the current income band;
- Increase in unreimbursed childcare expenses greater than $2,000 when total childcare expenses exceed $2,500 (available only to households eligible to claim a reduction in gross income for childcare expenses);
- Increase in unreimbursed medical expenses greater than $2,000 when total medical expenses exceed $2,500 (available only to households eligible to claim a reduction in gross income for medical expenses); or
- Discovery of errors, misrepresentation and/or fraud.
Under the WIN Rent program only, households are limited to two (2) tenant-requested interim reviews in any two-year recertification cycle.
For Easy Rent Households:
- A Household composition change resulting in a reduction in household income greater than $2,000;
- A decrease in income in an amount greater than $2,000 through no fault of their own;
- Increase in unreimbursed medical expenses greater than $2,000 when total medical expenses exceed $2,500 (available only to households eligible to claim a reduction in gross income for medical expenses); or
- Discovery of errors, misrepresentation and/or fraud.
Interim reviews will be processed only if the effect of the loss of income is expected to be longer than ninety (90) days.
Interim rents remain in place until the next scheduled recertification or until the household experiences an increase in income, whichever comes first. Failure to properly report any required change is cause for termination of tenancy and/or housing assistance payments and if applicable, shall require a retroactive rent charge.
Processing Interim and Special Reviews
1. Processing of Reported Changes - Upon receipt of the reported information, the changes will be processed in the following manner:
a. If the change qualifies for an interim review, the HA will:
1) Consider all current family income and deductions:
- Child care amounts must be verified in all cases;
- Medical amounts should only be verified if the change effects the medical amount;
- Income from family members who have turned 21 since the last review should now be included in total family income.
2) Notify the tenant within fourteen (14) business days that the review will be conducted.
3) Always give the tenant thirty (30) days written notice of a rent increase.
b. If the change does not qualify for an interim review, the authority will notify the tenant within thirty (30) calendar days that the review will not be conducted.
c. Whenever there is evidence that additional changes to income for family composition will occur as a result of the reported changes, the HA reserves the right to delay processing an interim review for a period not to exceed thirty (30) days.
Effective Date of Rent Changes/Retroactive Changes
Increased Tenant Rent
1. If the change has been reported as required, the increased rent shall be made effective the first of the third month following the month in which the change in family income or composition occurred
2. If the change has been reported as required, and the processing of the interim review is delayed due to the fault of the HA, the rent increase shall be effective the first of the month thirty (30) days following the processed change.
3. If the change has not been reported as required, or if the tenant fails to provide the required information, the family shall be determined to have caused an unreasonable delay in the interim review process. The rent will be increased the first of the month thirty (30) days following the processed change. However, the effective date of the increase will be the first of the month following the date the change occurred. Any money due the HA as a result of the difference between the date the rent was increased and the effective date of the increase will be charged to the tenant as retroactive rent
Decreased Tenant Rent
1. If the change has been reported as required prior to the 22nd day of the month, a decrease in tenant rent shall be effective the first of the month following the change. If the change has been reported after the 22nd day of the month, a decrease in rent shall be effective the first of the second month following the month in which the change occurred. However, no downward rent adjustments shall be processed until all the facts have been verified, even if a retroactive adjustment results.
- The HA will not reduce the total tenant payment because of a reduction in the family’s welfare assistance specifically because of fraud or failure to participate in an economic self-sufficiency program or to comply with a work activities requirement. This exception does not apply if the reduction results from:
i) The expiration of a lifetime limit on receiving benefits;
ii) When a family has sought, but cannot find, employment;
iii) The family has complied with welfare program requirements but loses welfare because of a durational time limit such as a cap on welfare benefits for a period of no more than two year in a five year period;or
2. If the change has not been reported as required, a decrease in tenant rent shall be effective the first of the second month following the date the change was reported.