HUD Handbook 4350.3 § 4-26
Verification of Preferences (HUD Occupancy Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 CHG-4)
Operative Text
A. Key Requirements
Preferences claimed by applicants must be verified. Owners may:
1. Verify qualifications for preferences at the time the application is
submitted if the tenant is placed on the waiting list; or
2. Verify qualifications for preferences when a unit becomes available.
B. Acceptable Verification Methods
1. Verification of displacement. The applicant must provide documentation
of government displacement or displacement as a result of a
presidentially declared disaster. Acceptable documentation includes
copies of local government condemnation or displacement notices or
government notices indicating that an applicant is eligible for disaster
relief benefits. If these documents are not available, the owner may
accept a letter (on appropriate letterhead) from a government
organization confirming that the applicant is being displaced by
government action or a presidentially declared disaster. If written
documents cannot be obtained, the owner may verify the displacement by
phone with the local government office, or a disaster relief office, and
make a notation in the file as to the date of the oral verification.
2. Verification of military status. The applicant may provide a current military
identification card or a letter on appropriate letterhead confirming current
military status. The owner must collect the documentation for the head of
household, spouse, or co-head.
3. Verification of income (to determine ranking status for a Section 236
project with RAP assistance). The owner must verify the family income as
described in Chapter 5, Section 3, so the type of subsidy for which the
family is eligible can be determined.
4. Verification of other preferences.
a. State and local preferences. Verification will depend on the type
of preference that is adopted. For example, a preference for
veterans may be verified with any of the following:
(1) A letter from the Veterans Administration (VA);
(2) A document indicating that the applicant receives VA
benefits; or
(3) Military discharge documents.
b. Residency preferences. Documentation of the residential address
within the municipality may be obtained from copies of utility bills
(electricity or gas), lease agreements, or other documents that
include a residential address and the name of the head of
household, co-head, or spouse. Persons who are planning to live
in the municipality as a result of current or planned employment
may provide a letter from a current or future employer or a current
work identification badge with the office address.
c. Working families. Documentation of employment may include a
letter from an employer or payroll check stubs.
d. Disability. Documentation of disability must confirm only the
existence of a disability and not the nature or extent of the
disability. Verification of disability may be provided by form or
letter, from a physician, psychologist, clinical social worker, or
other licensed health care professional. In addition, verification of
disability may also be provided by documentation verifying receipt
of Social Security disability payments (i.e., award letter indicating
disability payments are provided).
e. Age. Documentation of age is used to confirm that applicants
claiming an elderly preference are 62 years of age or older.
Acceptable documentation may include birth certificates or social
security or military documents that show the applicant’s birth date.HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 CHG-4 § 4-26 establishes that any preference claimed by an applicant for federally assisted housing must be supported by documentation or other acceptable verification. The rule outlines specific methods for confirming different types of preferences—such as displacement, military status, income, veteran status, residency, employment, disability, and age—and allows verification to occur either at the time of application or when a unit becomes available. The acceptable forms of documentation vary by preference type, ranging from government notices and military ID cards to physician letters and birth certificates.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 CHG-4 § 4-26, compliant operators establish written procedures for collecting and retaining preference verification documents at either the application stage or the point when a unit is offered. For each preference category—displacement, military status, income, veteran status, residency, working-family status, disability, and age—operators collect the specific documentation types the provision identifies, such as condemnation notices, military discharge papers, employer letters, or licensed health-care-professional statements. When written documentation cannot be obtained for displacement claims, operators may conduct phone verification with the relevant government office and record the date and details of that oral confirmation in the applicant's file.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
HUD Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 CHG-4 § 4-26 gives applicants the right to have claimed preferences considered when they provide the appropriate supporting documentation, and it limits what owners may request—for example, disability verification need only confirm that a disability exists, not its nature or severity. Applicants who believe a preference was improperly denied or that a property owner requested more information than the provision allows may raise that concern with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or consult a local tenant-rights or fair-housing organization for guidance on available options. Keeping copies of all documents submitted in support of a preference claim can be useful if a dispute arises later.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 25, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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