HUD Handbook 4350.3 § 5-6

Calculating Income—Elements of Annual Income (HUD Occupancy Handbook 4350.3 REV-1 CHG-4)

HUD guidance — not codified law
In Force
Verified 9/24/2026 · Next check 10/1/2026
effective 9/24/2026FederalSection 8 HCV

Operative Text

HUD Handbook 4350.3 § 5-6
A.      Income of Adults and Dependents

                1.       Figure 5-2 summarizes whose income is counted.

2.       Adults. Count the annual income of the head, spouse or co-head, and
                         other adult members of the family. In addition, persons under the age of
                         18 who have entered into a lease under state law are treated as adults,
                         and their annual income must also be counted. These persons will be
                         either the head, spouse, or co-head; they are sometimes referred to as
                         emancipated minors.

                         NOTE: If an emancipated minor is residing with a family as a member
                         other than the head, spouse, or co-head, the individual would be
                         considered a dependent and his or her income handled in accordance
                         with subparagraph 3 below.

                3.       Dependents. A dependent is a family member who is under 18 years of
                         age, is disabled, or is a full-time student

                         The head of the family, spouse, co-head, foster child, or live-in aide are
                         never dependents. Some income received on behalf of family
                         dependents is counted and some is not.

                         a.      Earned income of minors (family members under 18) is not
                                 counted.

                         b.      Benefits or other unearned income of minors is counted.

                              Figure 5-2: Whose Income is Counted?

                                                      Employment          Other Income
                                                      Income              (including income
               Members                                                    from assets)

               Head                                     Yes                  Yes
               Spouse                                   Yes                  Yes
               Co-head                                  Yes                  Yes
               Other adult (including foster adult)    Yes                   Yes
               Dependents
               -Child under 18                           No                  Yes
               Full-time student over 18               See Note              Yes
               Foster child under 18                    No                   Yes

               Nonmembers
               Live-in aide                              No                   No

                NOTE: The earned income of a full-time student 18 years old or older who is
                a dependent is excluded to the extent that it exceeds $480.

c.      When more than one family shares custody of a child, and both
                                 families live in assisted housing, only one family at a time can
                                 claim the dependent deduction. The family that counts the
                                 dependent deduction also counts the unearned income of the
                                 child. The other family claims neither the dependent deduction
                                 nor the unearned income of the child.

                         d.      For full-time students, who are 18 years of age or older *and* are
                                 dependents, a small amount of their earned income will be
                                 counted. Count only earned income up to a maximum of $480 per
                                 year for full-time students, age 18 or older, who are not the head
                                 of the family; spouse or co-head.*If the earned income is less than
                                 $480 annually, count all of the income. If the earned income
                                 exceeds $480 annually,* count $480 and exclude the amount that
                                 exceeds $480.

                         e.      The income of full-time students 18 years of age or older who are
                                 members of the household but away at school is counted the
                                 same as the income for other full-time students. The income of
                                 minors who are members of the household but away at school is
                                 counted as the income for other minors.

                         f.      All income of a full-time student, 18 years of age or older, is
                                 counted if that person is the head of the family, spouse, or co-
                                 head.

                         g.      Payments received by the family for the care of foster children or
                                 foster adults are not counted. This rule applies only to payments
                                 made through the official foster care relationships with local
                                 welfare agencies.

                         h.      Adoption assistance payments in excess of $480 are not counted.

        B.      Income of Temporarily Absent Family Members

                1.       Owners must count all income of family members approved to reside in
                         the unit, even if some members are temporarily absent.

                2.       If the owner determines that an absent person is no longer a family
                         member, the individual must be removed from the lease and the HUD-
                         50059.

                3.       A temporarily absent individual on active military duty must be removed
                         from the family, and his or her income must not be counted unless that
                         person is the head of the family, spouse, or co-head.

                         a.      However, if the spouse or a dependent of the person on active
                                 military duty resides in the unit, that person’s income must be
                                 counted in full, even if the military member is not the head, or
                                 spouse of the head of the family.

b.       The income of the head, spouse, or co-head will be counted even
                                  if that person is temporarily absent for active military duty.

                  Examples – Income of Temporarily Absent Family Members
    John Chouse works as an accountant. However, he suffers from a disability that periodically
     requires lengthy stays at a rehabilitation center. When he is confined to the rehabilitation center, he
     receives disability payments equaling 80% of his usual income.
     During the time he is not in the unit, he will continue to be considered a family member. The owner
     will conduct an interim recertification. Even though he is not currently in the unit, his total disability
     income will be counted as part of the family’s annual income.
    Mirna Martinez accepts temporary employment in another location and needs a portion of her
     income to cover living expenses in the new location. The full amount of the income must be
     included in annual income.
    Charlotte Paul is on active military duty. Her permanent residence is her parents' assisted unit
     where her husband and children live. Charlotte is not currently exposed to hostile fire. Therefore,
     because her spouse and children are in the assisted unit, her military pay must be included in
     annual income. (If her dependents or spouse were not in the unit, she would not be considered a
     family member and her income would not be included in annual income.)

C.      Deployment of Military Personnel to Active Duty

                Owners are encouraged to be as lenient as responsibly possible to support
                affected households in situations where persons are called to active duty in the
                Armed Forces. Specific actions that owners should undertake to support military
                households include, but are not limited to:

                1.       Allow a guardian to move into the assisted unit on a temporary basis to
                         provide care for any dependents the military person leaves in the unit.
                         Income of the guardian temporarily living in the unit for this purpose is not
                         counted as income.

                2.       Allow a tenant living in an assisted unit to provide care for any
                         dependents of persons called to active duty in the Armed Forces on a
                         temporary basis, as long as the head and/or co-head of household
                         continues to serve in active duty. Income of the child (e.g., SSI benefits,
                         military benefits) is not counted as income of the person providing the
                         care.

                3.       Exclude from annual income special pay received by a household
                         member serving in the Armed Services who is exposed to hostile fire (see
                         Exhibit 5-1).

                4.       Give consideration for any case involving delayed payment of tenant rent.
                         Determine whether it is appropriate to accept a late payment.

                5.       Allow the assistance payment and the lease to remain in effect for a
                         reasonable period of time (depending on the length of deployment)

beyond that required by the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act of 1940,
                         50 U.S.C. §§ 501-591, even though the adult members of the military
                         family are temporarily absent from the assisted unit.

        D.      Income of Permanently Confined Family Members

                1.       An individual permanently confined to a nursing home or hospital may not
                         be named as family head, spouse, or co-head but may continue as a
                         family member at the family’s discretion. The family’s decision on
                         whether or not to include the permanently confined family member as a
                         family member determines if that person’s income will be counted.

                         a.      Include the individual as a family member and the income and
                                 allowable deductions related to the medical care of the
                                 permanently confined individual are counted; or

                         b.      Exclude the individual as a family member and the income and
                                 allowances based on the medical care of the permanently
                                 confined individual are not counted.

                         If the family elects to include the permanently confined member, the
                         individual is listed on the HUD-50059 as an adult who is not the head,
                         spouse, or co-head, even when the permanently confined family member
                         is married to the person who is or will become the head of the family.
                         The owner should consider extenuating circumstances that may prevent
                         the confined member from being able to sign the HUD-50059. If the
                         owner determines the confined member is unable to sign the HUD-
                         50059,he owner must document the file why the signature was not
                         obtained. If the family elects not to include the permanently confined
                         member, the individual would not be listed on the HUD-50059.

        E.      Educational Scholarships or Grants

                All forms of student financial assistance (grants, scholarships, educational
                entitlements, work study programs, and financial aid packages) are excluded
                from annual income except for students receiving Section 8 assistance. This is
                true whether the assistance is paid to the student or directly to the educational
                institution

                For students receiving Section 8 assistance, all financial assistance a student
                receives (1) under the Higher Education Act of 1965, (2) from private sources, or
                (3) from an institution of higher education that is in excess of amounts received
                for tuition is included in annual income except if the student is over the age of 23
                with dependent children or the student is living with his or her parents who are
                receiving Section 8 assistance. See Paragraph 3-13 for further information on
                eligibility of students to receive Section 8 assistance and the Glossary for the
                definition of Student Financial Assistance.

F.      Alimony or Child Support

                Owners must count alimony or child support amounts awarded by the court
                unless the applicant certifies that payments are not being made and that he or
                she has taken all reasonable legal actions to collect amounts due, including filing
                with the appropriate courts or agencies responsible for enforcing payment.

                1.       The owner may accept printouts from the court or agency responsible for
                         enforcing support payments, or other evidence indicating the frequency
                         and amount of support payments actually received.

                2.       Child support paid to the custodial parent through a State child support
                         enforcement or welfare agency may be included in the family’s monthly
                         welfare check and may be designated in different ways. In some states
                         these payments are not identified as separate from the welfare grant. In
                         these states, it is important to determine which portion is child support
                         and not to count it twice. In other states, the payment may be listed as
                         child support or as “pass-through” payments. These amounts must be
                         counted as annual income.

                3.       When no documentation of child support, divorce, or separation is
                         available, either because there was no marriage or for another reason,
                         the owner may require the family to sign a certification stating the amount
                         of child support received.

        G.      Regular Cash Contributions and Gifts

                1.       Owners must count as income any regular contributions and gifts from
                         persons not living in the unit. These sources may include rent and utility
                         payments paid on behalf of the family, and other cash or noncash
                         contributions provided on a regular basis.

                                Examples – Regular Cash Contributions
                                The father of a young single parent pays her monthly
                                 utility bills. On average he provides $100 each
                                 month. The $100 per month must be included in the
                                 family’s annual income.

                                The daughter of an elderly tenant pays her mother’s
                                 $175 share of rent each month. The $175 value
                                 must be included in the tenant’s annual income.

2.       Groceries and/or contributions paid directly to the childcare provider by
                         persons not living in the unit are excluded from annual income.

                3.       Temporary, nonrecurring, or sporadic income (including gifts) is not
                         counted.

H.      Income from a Business

                When calculating annual income, owners must include the net income from
                operation of a business or profession including self-employment income. Net
                income is gross income less business expenses, interest on loans, and
                depreciation computed on a straight-line basis.

                1.       In addition to net income, owners must count any salaries or other
                         amounts distributed to family members from the business, and cash or
                         assets withdrawn by family members, except when the withdrawal is a
                         reimbursement of cash or assets invested in the business.

                2.       When calculating net income, owners must not deduct principal payments
                         on loans, interest on loans for business expansion or capital
                         improvements, other expenses for business expansion, or outlays for
                         capital improvements.

                3.       If the net income from a business is negative, it must be counted as zero
                         income. A negative amount must not be used to offset other family
                         income.

        I.      Periodic Social Security Payments

                Count the gross amount, before deductions for Medicare, etc., of periodic Social
                Security payments. Include payments received by adults on behalf of individuals
                under the age of 18 or by individuals under the age of 18 for their own support.
                *See Section J below regarding adjustments for overpayment of benefits and
                Section O for calculating the income for tenants in ICF/MR or ICF/DD projects
                and assisted living units in elderly projects.*

*Example: Mary’s gross social security benefit is
                        $700 per month. The owner calculates annual income
                        by annualizing the gross monthly social security
                        benefit amount.

                        $700 per month x 12 months = $8,400 gross annual
                        income.*

J.      Adjustments for Prior Overpayment of Benefits

                If an agency is reducing a family's benefits to adjust for a prior overpayment (e.g.,
                social security, SSI, TANF, or unemployment benefits), count the amount that is
                actually provided after the adjustment.

Example – Adjustment for Prior Overpayment of
                                          Benefits
                        Lee Park’s social security payment of $250 per month is
                        being reduced by $25 per month for a period of six months
                        to make up for a prior overpayment. Count his social
                        security income as $225 per month for the next six months
                        and as $250 per month for the remaining six months.

K.      Public Assistance Income in As-Paid Localities

                1.       Special calculations of public assistance income are required for “as-paid”
                         state, county, or local public assistance programs. An “as-paid” system is
                         one:

                         a.      In which the family receives an amount from a public agency
                                 specifically for shelter and utilities; and

                         b.      In which the amount is adjusted based upon the actual amount the
                                 family pays for shelter and utilities.

                2.       The public assistance amount specifically designated for rent and utilities
                         is called the “welfare rent.”

                3.       To determine annual income for public assistance recipients in “as-paid”
                         localities, include the following:

                         a.      The amount of the family’s grant for other than shelter and utilities;
                                 and

                         b.      The maximum amount the welfare department can pay for shelter
                                 and utilities for a family of that size (i.e., the welfare rent). This
                                 may be different from the amount the family is actually receiving.

                4.       Each as-paid locality works somewhat differently, and many are subject
                         to court-ordered modifications to the basic policy. Owners should discuss
                         how the rules are applied with the HUD Field Office.

Example – Welfare Income in “As Paid” Localities
               At application, a family’s welfare grant is $300, which includes $125 for
               basic needs and $175 for shelter and utilities (based upon where the family
               is now living). However, the maximum the welfare agency could allow for
               shelter and utilities for this size family is $190.

                      Count the following as income:

                      $125     Amount family receives for basic needs

                      $190     Maximum for shelter and utilities

                      $315     Monthly public assistance income

L.      Periodic Payments from Long-Term Care Insurance, Pensions, Annuities,
                and Disability or Death Benefits

                1.       The full amount of periodic payments from annuities, insurance policies,
                         retirement funds, pensions, and disability or death benefits is included in
                         annual income. (See subparagraph O below for information on the
                         withdrawal of cash or assets from an investment.) Payments such as
                         Black Lung Sick Benefits, Veterans Disability, and Dependent Indemnity
                         Compensation for the Widow of a Killed in Action Serviceman are
                         examples of such periodic payments.

                2.       Withdrawals from retirement savings accounts such as Individual
                         Retirement Accounts and 401K accounts that are not periodic payments
                         do not fall in this category and are not counted in annual income (see
                         paragraph 5.6.L.3).

                      Example – Withdrawals from IRAs or 401K Accounts
              Isaac Freeman retired recently. He has an IRA account but is not receiving
              periodic payments from it because his pension is adequate for his routine
              expenses. However, he has withdrawn $2,000 for a trip with his children.
              The withdrawal is not a periodic payment and is not counted as income.

3.       If the tenant is receiving long-term care insurance payments, any
                         payments in excess of $180 per day must be counted toward the gross
                         annual income. (NOTE: Payment of long-term care insurance premiums
                         are an eligible medical expense – see paragraph 5-10 D.8.k.)

                4.       Federal Government/Uniformed Services pension funds paid to a former
                         spouse.

Federal Government/Uniformed Services pension funds paid directly to
                         an applicant’s/tenant’s former spouse pursuant to the terms of a court
                         decree of divorce, annulment, or legal separation are not counted as
                         annual income. The state court has, in the settlement of the parties’
                         marital assets, determined the extent to which each party shares in the
                         ownership of the pension. That portion of the pension that is ordered by
                         the court (and authorized by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM),
                         to be paid to the applicant’s/tenant’s former spouse is no longer an asset
                         of the applicant/tenant and therefore is not counted as income. However,
                         any pension funds authorized by OPM, pursuant to a court order to be
                         paid to the former spouse of a Federal government employee, is counted
                         as income for a tenant/applicant receiving such funds.

                         Example: Joan Carson is a retired Federal government employee
                         receiving a retirement pension. She is also the recipient of Section 8
                         housing assistance and involved in a divorce proceeding. In settling the
                         assets of the marriage between Mrs. Carson and her former husband, the
                         court ordered that one half of her pension be paid directly to her former
                         husband in the amount of $20,000. The court provided OPM with clear,
                         specific and express instructions acceptable for OPM to process the
                         payment to Mrs. Carson’s former husband. OPM authorized the payment
                         of pension benefits to Mrs. Carson’s former husband in the amount of
                         $20,000. The $20,000 represents an asset disposed of as a result of a
                         court decree. At the interim reexamination of her income, Mrs. Carson
                         indicated a change in her income due to the court ordered payment of
                         pension benefits to her former husband. The PHA requested that Mrs.
                         Carson provide a copy of her statement from OPM evidencing the
                         payment of pension benefits to her (her statement reflected the line item
                         payment to her former husband due to the court order). That portion of
                         the pension paid to her former husband no longer belongs to Mrs. Carson
                         and is not counted as income.

                         The OPM is responsible for handling court orders (any judgments or
                         property settlements issued by or approved by any court of any state, the
                         District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, The
                         Northern Mariana Islands, or the Virgin Islands in connection with the
                         divorce, annulment of marriage, or legal separation of a Federal
                         government employee or retiree) affecting current and retired Federal
                         government employees. See 5 C.F.R. § 838.103. OPM must comply
                         with court orders, decrees, or court-approved property settlement
                         agreements in connection with divorces, annulments of marriage, or legal
                         separations of employees that award a portion of the former Federal
                         government employee’s retirement benefits. Id. at § 838.101(a)(1). State
                         courts ordering a judgment or property settlement in connection with
                         divorce, annulment of marriage, or legal separation have the
                         responsibility of issuing clear, specific, and express instructions to OPM
                         with regards to providing benefits to former spouses. Id. at § 838.122. In
                         response to instructions from state courts, OPM will authorize payments
                         to the former spouses. Id. at § 838.121. Once the payments have been
                         authorized by OPM, the reduced pension amount paid to the retired

Federal employee (the tenant/applicant) will be reflected in the
                         tenant’s/applicant’s statement from OPM. Former spouses of Federal
                         government employees receiving court ordered pension benefits are
                         provided a Form-1099 reflecting pension benefits received from the
                         retired Federal government employee. In verifying the income of
                         tenants/applicants, owners should require that tenants/applicants provide
                         any copies of statements from OPM verifying pension benefits (including
                         any reductions pursuant to a court order, decree or court-approved
                         property settlement agreement), and any evidence of survivor benefits,
                         pensions or annuities received from retired Federal government
                         employees including, but not limited to, a Form-1099. (See Paragraph 5-
                         7.G.5 for more information on the treatment of income from Federal
                         government pensions.)

                5.       Other State, local government, social security or private pensions paid to
                         a former spouse.

                         Other state, local government, social security or private pension funds
                         paid directly to an applicant’s/tenant’s former spouse pursuant to the
                         terms of a court decree of divorce, annulment, or legal separation are
                         also not counted as annual income and should be handled in the same
                         manner as 4, above. The decree and copies of statements should be
                         obtained in order to verify the net amount of the pension that should be
                         applied in order to determine eligibility and calculate rent.

        M.      Income from Training Programs

                1.       Amounts received under HUD-funded training programs are excluded
                         from annual income.

                 2.      Incremental earnings and benefits received by any family member due to
                         participation in qualifying state or local employment training programs are
                         excluded. Income from training programs not affiliated with a local
                         government, and income from the training of a family member resident to
                         serve on the management staff, is also excluded.

                         a.      Excluded income must be received under employment training
                                 programs with clearly defined goals and objectives and for a
                                 specific, limited time period. The initial enrollment must not
                                 exceed one year, although income earned during extensions for
                                 additional specific time periods may also be eligible for exclusion

                         b.      Training income may be excluded only for the period during which
                                 the family member participates in the employment training
                                 program.

                         c.      Exclusions include stipends, wages, transportation or child care
                                 payments, or reimbursements.

                         d.      Income received as compensation for employment is excluded
                                 only if the employment is a component of a job training program.

Once training is completed, the employment income becomes
                                 income that is counted.

                         e.      Amounts received during the training period from sources that are
                                 unrelated to the job training program, such as welfare benefits,
                                 social security payments, or other employment, are not excluded.

                2.       Owners may ask to use project funds or funds from the Residual Receipts
                         account to underwrite all or a portion of the cost of developing,
                         maintaining, and managing a job training program for project residents if
                         funds are available.

                         a.      The Field Office will make the determination if the job training
                                 program may be approved, and if project funds are sufficient to
                                 fund the job training program and maintain the physical and
                                 financial integrity of the project. Job training programs may be
                                 either on-site at the project or off-site. For example, job training
                                 programs that have partnerships with local colleges, community
                                 based organizations, or local business, may have in-house job
                                 training programs designed for project residents.

                         b.      Funds that an owner may choose to use to underwrite a job
                                 training program may include Section 8 funds, Community
                                 Development Block Grant funds, or housing authority funds.
                                 These funds may be used to cover the costs of various
                                 components of a job training program, including course materials,
                                 computer software, computer hardware, or personnel costs. Also,
                                 contractors and subcontractors, in connection with work
                                 performed under a Flexible Subsidy contract, may elect to hire
                                 project residents to perform certain skills required under the
                                 contract. If the employment of the project residents was pursuant
                                 to an apprenticeship program, this could constitute a training
                                 program using HUD funds, and income received by the tenants in
                                 the apprenticeship program will qualify as an exclusion from
                                 income.

        N.      Resident Services Stipends

                Resident services stipends are generally modest amounts of money received by
                residents for performing services such as hall monitoring, fire patrol, lawn
                maintenance, and resident management.

                1.       If the resident stipend exceeds $200 per month, owners must include the
                         entire amount in annual income.

                2.       If the resident stipend is $200 or less per month, owners must exclude the
                         resident services stipend from annual income.

O.      Income Received by a Resident of an Intermediate Care Facility for the
                Mentally Retarded or for the Developmentally Disabled (ICF/MR or ICF/DD)
                and Assisted Living Units in Elderly Projects

                1.       An intermediate care facility is a group home for mentally retarded or
                         developmentally disabled individuals (ICF/MR or ICF/DD). The term
                         “intermediate care facility” is one used by state mental health
                         departments for group homes serving these residents.

                2.       Assisted living units are units in projects developed for elderly residents
                         with project-based assistance that have been converted to assisted living
                         units.

                3.       The local agency responsible for Medicaid provides funds directly to
                         group home operators and assisted living providers for services.

                4.       Annual income at an ICF/MR, ICF/DD, or assisted living unit must
                         include:

                         a.      The SSI payment a tenant receives or the facility receives on
                                 behalf of the tenant; plus

                         b.      All other income the tenant receives from sources other than SSI
                                 that are not excluded from income by HUD regulations (see
                                 Exhibit 5-1). Examples of other sources of income include wages,
                                 pensions, income from sheltered workshops, income from a trust,
                                 or other interest income.

                         c.      The personal allowance of an individual residing in an ICF/MR or
                                 ICF/DD is not included in annual income. If the owner is unable to
                                 determine the actual amount of the personal allowance, use $30.

                5.       Annual income does not include the enhanced benefit portion of the SSI
                         that is provided to pay for services. In some instances, a resident’s SSI
                         income may be reduced between annual recertifications if the resident’s
                         earnings exceed a specified amount. If this happens, the resident may
                         request an interim recertification.

        P.      Withdrawal of Cash or Assets from an Investment

                The withdrawal of cash or assets from an investment received as periodic
                payments should be counted as income. Lump sum receipts from pension and
                retirement funds are counted as assets. If benefits are received through periodic
                payments, do not count any remaining amounts in the account as an asset. See
                Paragraph 5-7 for guidance on calculating income from an asset.

        Q.      Lump Sum Payments Counted as Income

                1.       Generally, lump sum amounts received by a family, such as inheritances,
                         insurance settlements, or proceeds from sale of property are considered
                         assets, not income.

2.       When social security or SSI benefit income is paid in a lump sum as a
                         result of deferred periodic payments, that amount is excluded from annual
                         income.

                3.       *For Section 8 tenants only, any deferred Department of Veterans Affairs
                         (VA) disability benefits that are received in a lump sum or in prospective
                         monthly amounts are excluded from annual income.*

                4.       Settlement payments from claim disputes over welfare, unemployment, or
                         similar benefits may be counted as assets, but lump sum payments
                         caused by delays in processing periodic payments for unemployment or
                         welfare assistance are included as income.

                         How lump sum payments for delayed start of benefits are counted
                         depends upon the following:

                         a.      When the family reports the change;

                         b.      When an interim re-examination is conducted; and

                         c.      Whether the family’s income increases or decreases as a result.

                         A lump sum payment resulting from delayed benefit income may be
                         treated in either of the two ways illustrated in the example shown in
                         Figure 5-3.

                5.       Lottery winnings paid in one payment are treated as assets. Lottery
                         winnings paid in periodic payments must be counted as income.

Figure 5-3: Treatment of Delayed Benefit Payments Received in a Lump Sum

Family member loses his/her job on October 19 and applies for unemployment benefits. The family
  receives a lump sum payment of $700 in December to cover the period from 10/20 to 12/5 and begins
  to receive $100 a week effective 12/6.

      Option A: The owner processes one interim re-examination immediately effective 11/1 and a
      second interim after unemployment benefits are known.
                                                           10/1   11/1       12/1       1/1     2/1
      Monthly gross income                                  800    *0         *0       492**    492**
      Monthly allowances (three minors x 480 / 12            120         -         -       120          120
      months)
      Monthly adjusted income                                680         0         0       372          372
      Total tenant payment (TTP)                             204        25        25       25***        112***

 *      The family’s income is calculated at $0/month beginning November 1, continuing until benefits
        actually begin and new income is calculated. TTP is set at the minimum rent.
 **     Family’s actual income for 1/1 is $100/week x 52 weeks = $5,200 / 12 = $433.
     However, because the family’s TTP was calculated at zero income for the months of November and
     December (the period eventually covered by the $700 lump sum payment), the annual income to be
     used in calculating monthly gross income should be as follows:
     $100/week benefit x 52 weeks = $5,200 + $700 lump sum payment = $5,900 annual gross income/
      12 = $492.
 *** Increased rent does not start until 2/1 in order to give the family notice of rent increase.

  Option B: The owner processes one interim re-examination after unemployment benefits are known.
                                                     10/1       11/1     12/1     1/1        2/1
 Monthly gross income                                800       0/800* 0/800*     433*       433*
 Monthly allowances (three minors x 480 / 12 Months)         120        120      120       120          120
 Monthly adjusted income                                     680       0/680    0/680      313          313
 Total tenant payment                                        204       204*      204*       94           94
 Recalculated TTP                                              -        94***    94*        94           94
 Rent credit (204 – 94=)                                       -        110      110        -             -

 *      Family’s actual income for 11/1 and 12/1 is zero, but because the owner does not process an
        interim re-examination, the family’s TTP continues to be calculated using $800 as monthly gross
        income. Beginning 1/1, monthly gross income is known to be $100/week, or $433/month.
 **     The lump sum payment is taken into account by making the recertification retroactive to 11/1.
        Annual income is calculated as $5,200 / 12 = $433 monthly gross income.
 *** TTP for November and December recalculated as $433 monthly gross income and $313 monthly
     adjusted income x .30 = 94 with credit or refund to family of $110/month for each of these two
     months for difference between TTP paid of $204 and recalculated TTP of $94.

R.      Exclusions from Income

                1.       Regulations for the multifamily subsidized housing programs covered by
                         this handbook specifically exclude certain types of income from annual
                         income. However, many of the items listed as exclusions from annual
                         income under HUD requirements are items that the IRS includes as
                         taxable income. Therefore, it is important for owners to focus specifically
                         on the HUD program requirements regarding annual income.

                2.       Among the items that are excluded from annual income is the value of
                         food provided through:

                         a.      The Meals on Wheels program, food stamps, or other programs
                                 that provide food for the needy;

                         b.      Groceries provided by persons not living in the household; and

                         c.      Amounts received under the School Lunch Act and the Child
                                 Nutrition Act of 1966, including reduced lunches and food under
                                 the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and
                                 Children (WIC).

Examples – Income Exclusions

             The Value of Food Provided through the Meals on Wheels Program or Other
              Programs Providing Food for the Needy. Jack Love receives a hot lunch each
              day during the week in the community room and an evening meal in his
              apartment. One meal is provided through the Meals on Wheels program. A local
              church provides the other. The value of the meals he receives is not counted as
              income.
             Groceries provided by persons not living in the household. Carrie Sue Colby’s
              mother purchases and delivers groceries each week for Carrie Sue and her two
              year old. The value of these groceries is not counted as income despite the fact
              that these are a regular contribution or gift.
             Amounts Received Under WIC or the School Lunch Act. Lydia Jeffries’ two
              children receive a free breakfast and reduced priced lunches at school every day
              through the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and
              Children (WIC). The value of this food is not counted as income.

3.       Some additional examples of income that are excluded from the
                         calculation of annual income follow.

Examples – Income Exclusions
                     Resident service stipends. Rich Fuller receives $50 a month for
                      distributing flyers for management. This amount is excluded from
                      annual income.

                     Deferred periodic payments of social security benefits. Germain
                      Johnson received $32,000 in deferred social security benefits following
                      a lengthy eligibility dispute. This delayed payment of social security
                      benefits is treated as an asset, not as income.

                     Income from training programs. Jennifer Jones is participating in a
                      qualified state-supported employment training program every afternoon
                      to learn improved computer skills. Each morning, she continues her
                      regular job as a typist. The $250 a week she receives as a part-time
                      typist is included in annual income. The $150 a week she receives for
                      participation in the training program is excluded in annual income.

                     Earned Income Tax Credit refund payments. Mary Frances Jackson is
                      eligible for an earned income tax credit. She receives payments from
                      her employer each quarter because of the tax credit. These payments
                      are excluded in annual income.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim

Effective Timeline

Current
Sep 24, 2026
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Related Rules

§ 888.113
§ 888.113 Fair market rents for existing housing: Methodology.
§ 888.115
§ 888.115 Fair market rents for existing housing: Manner of publication.
§ 5.512
§ 5.512 Verification of eligible immigration status.

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