![](media/image1.wmf){width="0.9305555555555556in"
height="0.8791666666666667in"} U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development

> Office of Public and Indian Housing

**\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_**

# Special Attention of: Notice PIH 2006- 41 (HA)

Public Housing Agency Directors; Section 8,

and Public Housing Administrators; Public Issued: December 19, 2006

Housing Hub Office Directors; Public Housing

Field Office Directors**;** Program Center Expires: December 31, 2007

Coordinators; Section 8 Financial Management Center;

Resident Management Corporations;

Resident Councils

> \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Cross References:

**Subject: Verification of Social Security (SS) and Supplemental
Security Income (SSI) Benefits**

**Purpose:** This Notice renews and revises Notice PIH 2004-18, which
expired on September 30, 2005. The notice explains the *required*
procedures Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) are to use for verifying
social security benefits of applicants, participants and household
members during mandatory reexamination of household income.

**Applicability:** This notice applies to HUD-PIH rental assistance
programs, including: Public Housing, Section 8 Moderate Rehabilitation,
Housing Choice Voucher and Section 8 Project-Based Certificate Programs.

**Overview:** It has been the standard practice of PHAs to verify social
security benefits of applicants, participants and household members by
either contacting the local office of the Social Security Administration
(SSA) by phone or in writing, reviewing an original social security
benefit check, or accepting tenant-provided benefit verification
letters.

> In an ongoing effort to eliminate time consuming manual requests for
> benefit verification from PHAs, SSA provides HUD with benefit
> information on all current participants and household members who have
> disclosed a valid social security number. HUD makes this information
> available to administrators of Public Housing and Section 8 programs
> through the Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) system. Effective
> September 22, 2006, the Tenant Assessment Subsystem (TASS) is no
> longer be available. The TASS functionality was incorporated into EIV
> in March 2006.
>
> Despite this convenient data exchange between SSA and HUD, SSA
> continues to receive a large volume of requests for income
> verification from PHAs. The SSA has taken the position that local SSA
> offices will no longer furnish verification of social security
> benefits via phone, mail, or fax ***for free***. This Notice describes
> the *required* procedures for verifying Social Security (SS) and
> Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits of applicants,
> participants, and household members of HUD-assisted rental units.

**Effective Date:** This notice is effective upon publication.

# Third Party Verification Requirement

PHAs are required to comply with admission and occupancy requirements
for Public Housing under 24 CFR §960.259(c)(1) and Section 8 under 24
CFR §982.516(a)(2), which requires PHAs to obtain and document in the
family file third party verification of the following factors, or
document in the file why third party verification was not available: (1)
reported family annual income; (2) the value of assets; (3) expenses
related to deductions from annual income; and (4) other factors that
affect the determination of adjusted income or income-based rent.

# Third Party Verification of SS/SSI Benefits of Applicants and Household Members

Third party verification of SS/SSI benefits of applicants and household
members is available from SSA **for a fee**. SSA will charge PHAs a fee
for third party verification of social security benefits. The fee may
vary in each jurisdiction. To avoid incurring third party verification
costs, PHAs should request a current (dated within the last 60 days) SSA
benefit verification letter for each household member that receives
social security benefits. If the applicant and/or household member are
unable to provide the requested document(s), ask the applicant/household
member to call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to request a current benefit
verification letter. The request for a benefit verification letter can
also be made at the SSA Internet Website at
[www.ssa.gov](http://www.ssa.gov/). There is no cost for this
verification letter. From the front page of the website (Social Security
Online), under the applicable header --- Retirement, Disability and SSI,
or Widowers, Widows and other survivors --- click on *[Already
receiving]{.underline}* benefits, which is located in the center column
of the page. From the right side of the page under *Things You Can Do
Online*, click on *[Get a "Proof of Income Letter]{.underline}*." Follow
the instructions on the page to complete the request for a benefit
verification letter. Upon receipt, the applicant/household member should
provide the PHA with the original benefit verification letter. The PHA
should make a photocopy of the original benefit verification letter,
return the original benefit verification letter to the
applicant/household member, and maintain the photocopy of the benefit
verification letter in the tenant file.

# Third Party Verification of SS/SSI Benefits of Participants and Household Members

Third party verification of SS/SSI benefits of participants and
household members is available through HUD's Enterprise Income
Verification (EIV) system. ***All PHAs are required to use EIV to verify
SS/SSI benefits of current participants and household members.***
Effective October 13, 2005, HUD's EIV system became available to all
PHAs nationwide. PHAs who do not currently have access to EIV should
contact their local HUD field office to register as soon as possible for
access to the EIV system. Information regarding HUD's EIV system is
available at
[www.hud.gov/pih/rhiip/uivsystem](http://www.hud.gov/pih/rhiip/uivsystem).
If benefit information is not available in the EIV system, the PHA
should request a current SSA benefit verification letter from each
household member that receives social security benefits. If the
participant and/or household members are unable to provide the requested
document(s), ask the participant/household member to call SSA at
1-800-772-1213 to request a benefit verification letter. The request for
a benefit verification letter can also be made at the SSA Internet
Website at [www.ssa.gov](http://www.ssa.gov/). There is no cost for this
verification letter. From the front page of the website (Social Security
Online), under the applicable header --- Retirement; Disability and SSI;
or Widowers, Widows and other survivors --- click on *[Already
receiving]{.underline}* benefits, which is located in the center column
of the page. From the right side of the page under *Things You Can Do
Online*, click on *[Get a "Proof of Income Letter]{.underline}*." Follow
the instructions on the page to complete the request for a benefit
verification letter. Upon receipt, the participant/household member
should provide the PHA with the original benefit verification letter.
The PHA should make a photocopy of the original benefit verification
letter, return the original benefit verification letter to the
participant/household member, and maintain the photocopy of the benefit
letter in the tenant file.

# 

# Documentation of Unavailability of Third Party Verification of SS/SSI Benefits

In the event that third party verification is not available, the PHA
must document the tenant file as to why third party verification was not
available. Below are some examples of acceptable file documentation:

-   New admission, information not available in EIV

-   New tenant, information not available in EIV

-   Current tenant, information not available in EIV due to identity
    validation error (name, date of birth, and/or social security number
    on 50058 does not match data in SSA file)

-   Current tenant, information not available in EIV, reason unknown

**How to Ensure Availability of Social Security Benefit Information in
HUD-Provided Systems**

The availability of social security benefit information in HUD-provided
systems is dependent upon data quality and timely submission of HUD Form
50058 to the Public and Indian Housing Information Center (PIC). PHAs
must ensure that data entered on HUD Form 50058 (i.e. household member's
name, date of birth and social security number) is accurate and
complete. If a family's HUD Form 50058 is not successfully submitted to
PIC, social security benefit information will not be available in HUD
systems. Below is a summary of error descriptions, explanations, and
corrective actions to take in order to ensure the availability of Social
Security Benefit information in HUD systems.

+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| ### Error Description | **Explanation**       | ### Corrective Action |
+=======================+=======================+=======================+
| Not verified          | HUD did not submit    | Enter a valid SSN on  |
|                       | the SSN to SSA based  | HUD Form 50058, or    |
| or                    | on the invalid        | request original      |
|                       | characteristics of    | social security card  |
| Member SSN not sent   | the SSN. For example, | from tenant. Confirm  |
| to SSA -- invalid SSN | 999-99-9999,          | SSN displayed on the  |
|                       | 111-11-1111, etc.     | social security card  |
|                       |                       | matches the SSN       |
|                       |                       | reported on the HUD   |
|                       |                       | Form 50058. If the    |
|                       |                       | numbers do not match, |
|                       |                       | make the necessary    |
|                       |                       | correction to the HUD |
|                       |                       | Form 50058.           |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Failed                | The tenant's SSN is   | Request original      |
|                       | not a valid number    | social security card  |
| SSN not found in SSA  | issued by SSA.        | from tenant. Confirm  |
| records               |                       | SSN displayed on the  |
|                       |                       | card matches the SSN  |
|                       |                       | reported on the HUD   |
|                       |                       | Form 50058. If the    |
|                       |                       | numbers do not match, |
|                       |                       | make the necessary    |
|                       |                       | correction to the HUD |
|                       |                       | Form 50058.           |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Failed                | The tenant's SSN is   | Request original      |
|                       | not a valid number    | social security card  |
| SSN was not verified  | issued by SSA.        | from tenant. Confirm  |
| by SSA                |                       | SSN displayed on the  |
|                       |                       | social security card  |
|                       |                       | matches the SSN       |
|                       |                       | reported on the HUD   |
|                       |                       | Form 50058. If the    |
|                       |                       | numbers do not match, |
|                       |                       | make the necessary    |
|                       |                       | correction to the HUD |
|                       |                       | Form 50058.           |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Failed                | The tenant's identity | Request original      |
|                       | was not verified      | birth certificate     |
| Surname matched, but  | because while the     | from tenant. Confirm  |
| date of birth did not | Surname matched with  | date of birth         |
| match with SSA        | SSA records, the date | displayed on the      |
| records               | of birth did not      | birth certificate     |
|                       | match. However, based | matches the date of   |
|                       | on the SSN/last name  | birth reported on the |
|                       | combination, SSA has  | HUD Form 50058. If    |
|                       | indicated that the    | the date of birth     |
|                       | tenant does **not**   | does not match, make  |
|                       | receive SS/SSI        | the necessary         |
|                       | benefits.             | correction to the HUD |
|                       |                       | Form 50058.           |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| Failed                | The tenant's identity | Request birth         |
|                       | was not verified      | certificate and       |
| Date of birth         | because while the     | social security card  |
| matched, but surname  | date of birth matched | of tenant/household   |
| did not match with    | with SSA records, the | member; or current    |
| SSA records           | surname did not       | letter or printout    |
|                       | match. However, based | from SSA, which       |
|                       | on the SSN/date of    | reflects current      |
|                       | birth combination,    | name. Confirm surname |
|                       | SSA has indicated     | on all documents      |
|                       | that the tenant does  | matches the surname   |
|                       | **not** receive       | reported on the HUD   |
|                       | SS/SSI benefits.      | Form 50058. If the    |
|                       |                       | surname does not      |
|                       |                       | match, verify the     |
|                       |                       | change in surname     |
|                       |                       | (court order,         |
|                       |                       | marriage license,     |
|                       |                       | etc.) and make the    |
|                       |                       | necessary correction  |
|                       |                       | to the HUD Form       |
|                       |                       | 50058.                |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| SS benefits cannot be | The tenant's identity | Request original      |
| disclosed due to      | was verified by SSA   | birth certificate     |
| discrepancy in date   | based on the SSN/last | from tenant. Confirm  |
| of birth              | name combination and  | date of birth         |
|                       | the [tenant is        | displayed on the      |
|                       | receiving SS          | birth certificate     |
|                       | b                     | matches the date of   |
|                       | enefits]{.underline}. | birth reported on the |
|                       | However, due to the   | HUD Form 50058. If    |
|                       | discrepancy in the    | the date of birth     |
|                       | date of birth, the    | does not match, make  |
|                       | benefit information   | the necessary         |
|                       | cannot be disclosed.  | correction to the HUD |
|                       |                       | Form 50058.           |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| SS benefits cannot be | The tenant's identity | Request birth         |
| disclosed due to      | was verified by SSA   | certificate and       |
| discrepancy in name   | based on the SSN/date | social security card  |
|                       | of birth combination  | of tenant/household   |
|                       | and the [tenant is    | member; or current    |
|                       | receiving SS          | letter or printout    |
|                       | b                     | from SSA, which       |
|                       | enefits]{.underline}. | reflects current      |
|                       | However, due to the   | name. Confirm surname |
|                       | discrepancy in the    | on all documents      |
|                       | last name, the        | match. If the         |
|                       | benefit information   | surnames do not       |
|                       | cannot be disclosed.  | match, verify the     |
|                       |                       | change in surname     |
|                       |                       | (court order,         |
|                       |                       | marriage license,     |
|                       |                       | etc.) and make the    |
|                       |                       | necessary correction  |
|                       |                       | to the HUD Form       |
|                       |                       | 50058.                |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| SSI benefits cannot   | The tenant's identity | Request original      |
| be disclosed due to   | was verified by SSA   | birth certificate     |
| discrepancy in date   | based on the SSN/last | from tenant. Confirm  |
| of birth              | name combination and  | date of birth         |
|                       | the [tenant is        | displayed on the      |
|                       | receiving SSI         | birth certificate     |
|                       | b                     | matches the date of   |
|                       | enefits]{.underline}. | birth reported on the |
|                       | However, due to the   | HUD Form 50058. If    |
|                       | discrepancy in the    | the date of birth     |
|                       | date of birth, the    | does not match, make  |
|                       | benefit information   | the necessary         |
|                       | cannot be disclosed.  | correction to the HUD |
|                       |                       | Form 50058.           |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| SSI benefits cannot   | The tenant's identity | Request birth         |
| be disclosed due to   | was verified by SSA   | certificate and       |
| discrepancy in name   | based on the SSN/date | social security card  |
|                       | of birth combination  | of tenant/household   |
|                       | and the tenant [is    | member; or current    |
|                       | receiving SSI         | letter or printout    |
|                       | b                     | from SSA, which       |
|                       | enefits]{.underline}. | reflects current      |
|                       | However, due to the   | name. Confirm surname |
|                       | discrepancy in the    | on all documents      |
|                       | last name, the        | match. If the surname |
|                       | benefit information   | does not match,       |
|                       | cannot be disclosed.  | verify the change in  |
|                       |                       | surname (court order, |
|                       |                       | marriage license,     |
|                       |                       | etc.) and make the    |
|                       |                       | necessary correction  |
|                       |                       | to the HUD Form       |
|                       |                       | 50058.                |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| SS and SSI benefits   | The tenant's identity | Request original      |
| cannot be disclosed   | was verified by SSA   | birth certificate     |
| due to discrepancy in | based on the SSN/last | from tenant. Confirm  |
| date of birth         | name combination and  | date of birth         |
|                       | the tenant [is        | displayed on the      |
|                       | receiving both SS and | birth certificate     |
|                       | SSI                   | matches the date of   |
|                       | b                     | birth reported on the |
|                       | enefits]{.underline}. | HUD Form 50058. If    |
|                       | However, due to the   | the date of birth     |
|                       | discrepancy in the    | does not match, make  |
|                       | date of birth, the    | the necessary         |
|                       | benefit information   | correction to the HUD |
|                       | cannot be disclosed.  | Form 50058.           |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| SS and SSI benefits   | The tenant's identity | Request birth         |
| cannot be disclosed   | was verified by SSA   | certificate and       |
| due to discrepancy in | based on the SSN/date | social security card  |
| name                  | of birth combination  | of tenant/household   |
|                       | and the tenant [is    | member; or current    |
|                       | receiving both SS and | letter or printout    |
|                       | SSI                   | from SSA, which       |
|                       | b                     | reflects current      |
|                       | enefits]{.underline}. | name. Confirm surname |
|                       | However, due to the   | on all documents      |
|                       | discrepancy in the    | match. If the surname |
|                       | last name, the        | does not match,       |
|                       | benefit information   | verify the change in  |
|                       | cannot be disclosed,  | surname (court order, |
|                       |                       | marriage license,     |
|                       |                       | etc.) and make the    |
|                       |                       | necessary correction  |
|                       |                       | to the HUD Form       |
|                       |                       | 50058.                |
+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+

**For inquiries about this Notice contact:** your local HUD Field Office
or Nicole Faison of HUD Headquarters, Office of Public and Indian
Housing on (202) 708-0744

**Paperwork Reduction.** The information collection requirements
contained in this notice have been approved by the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
3520) and assigned OMB control number(s) 2577-0220.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, HUD may not conduct or
sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of
information unless the collection displays a currently valid OMB control
number.

[/s/]{.underline}

Orlando J. Cabrera, Assistant Secretary

> for Public and Indian Housing