When is income eligibility not assessed for an applicant?

Income eligibility for applicants is not assessed after lease-up or admission because, at this stage, the applicant has already been approved and admitted to the program. The income verification and assessment processes occur before the household is leased up or given official admission. Once the applicant has successfully completed these processes and moved into the unit, the focus shifts to maintaining compliance with the program guidelines rather than reassessing income eligibility.

During the application process, income verification is essential to ensure that the applicant meets eligibility standards. Similarly, income is re-evaluated at the annual recertification to confirm ongoing eligibility for the housing voucher. Therefore, the correct understanding is that income eligibility is paramount before lease-up or admission, as it is a requirement for participation in the Housing Choice Voucher program.