U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Office of Inspector General
November 2004

Things You Should Know
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Purpose:
This is to inform you that there is certain information you must provide when applying for assisted housing. There are penalties that apply if you knowingly omit information or give false information.

Penalties for Committing Fraud:
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) places a high priority on preventing fraud. If your application or recertification forms contain false or incomplete information, you may be:
     • Evicted from your apartment or house:
     • Required to repay all overpaid rental assistance you received:
     • Fined up to $10,000:
     • Imprisoned for up to 5 years; and/or
     • Prohibited from receiving future assistance.
Your State and local governments may have other laws and penalties as well.
 

Asking Questions:
When you meet with the person who is to fill out your application, you should know what is expected of you. If you do not understand something, ask for clarification. That person can answer your question or find out what the answer is.
 

Completing the Application:
When you answer application 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.);
     • Income from assets (interest from a savings account, credit union, or 
       certificate of deposit: dividends from stock, etc.);
     • Earnings from second job or part time job;
     • Any anticipated income (such as a bonus or pay raise you expect to
       receive)
Assets:
     • All bank accounts, savings bonds, certificates of deposit, 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.
Family/Household Members:
     • 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.
 

Signing the Application:

     • 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 they are 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 will be verified by your housing
       agency. In addition, HUD may do computer matches of the income you
       report with various Federal, State, or private agencies to verify that it is
       correct.

Recertifications:
You must provide updated information at least once a year. Some programs require that you report any changes in income or family/household composition immediately. Be sure to ask when you must recertify. You must report on recertification forms:
     • All income changes, such as increases of pay and/or benefits, change
       or loss of job and/or benefits, etc., for all household members.
     • Any move in or out of a household member;
     • All assets that you or your household members own and any
       assets that was sold in the last 2 years for less than its full value.
 

Beware of 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).
 

Reporting Abuse:
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 the manager of your complex or your PHA. If that is not possible, then call the local HUD office or the HUD Office of Inspector General (OIG) Hotline at (800) 347-3735. You can also write to: HUD-OIG HOTLINE, (GFI) 451 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, DC. 20410.
 

HUD- 1140-OIG
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