D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 29, r. 29-7904

Current through Register Vol. 71, No. 43, October 25, 2024

Rule 29-7904 - ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION AND PROGRAM ENROLLMENT

7904.1

From each household offered a Program slot, the Department shall request documentation that will enable the Department to verify eligibility for the Program. The Department will contact each household through the U.S. Postal Service, email, telephone or other means determined by the Department.

7904.2

The Department may verify eligibility criteria by obtaining relevant information from government-funded emergency or temporary housing or rental assistance programs administered by the District. Documentation that the Department shall use to verify eligibility for the Program may include:

(a) Birth certificates;

(b) A District- or federal-issued identification described in Section 2(32)(A)(iii)(III) or (VII) of the Act (D.C. Official Code §§ 4-751.01(32)(A)(iii)(III) and (VII));

(c) Child custody reports;

(d) Copy of a current, valid lease agreement specifying the landlord's name and contact information, and the head of household's name;

(e) Pay stubs for the most immediate past two (2) months prior to Program application;

(f) Benefit statements from any District or federal income support programs in which the household is participating; and

(g) Earned Income Tax Credit filing for most immediate tax-year prior to Program application.

7904.3

In addition to documents listed in §§ 7904.2, the Department may use in-person interviews and third party information to verify Program eligibility.

7904.4

Each head of household offered a Program slot shall also sign and submit to the Department a release form, either personally or through an authorized representative, which authorizes the Department to obtain or verify information necessary to confirm Program eligibility.

7904.5

If further information is needed from the household to verify Program eligibility, the Department shall request additional information by telephone, email or U.S. Postal Service. This request shall specify the information needed to complete the household's eligibility verification and the timeframe in which the additional documentation must be provided to the Department.

7904.6

The Department will notify the household once all requested documentation needed to verify eligibility has been received.

7904.7

If a household has not obtained and provided to the Department the requested information needed to verify eligibility for the Program within thirty (30) calendar days of the date of the Conditional Offer of Enrollment, as listed in §§ 7903.11(b), the household will lose its spot on the list and a new household will be offered the subsidy, as described in section §§ 7903.10.

7904.8

The Department shall determine the eligibility in as short a time as feasible, but not later than ten (10) business days after receipt of all requested information by the Department.

7904.9

If a household successfully completes the application and eligibility verification processes described in §§ 7903 and this section, the Department shall give to the applicant, directly or through an authorized representative, a written notice entitled "DC Flex Program: Notice of Enrollment in the Program", as listed in §§ 7903.11(d), which shall state:

(a) That the applicant is determined eligible and is enrolled in the Program;

(b) That receipt of Program assistance is conditioned upon the head of household's participation in all required Program activities as may be described in the Program Rules established in accordance with Section 18 of the Act (D.C. Official Code §§ 4-754.32);

(c) The length of time for which the Program's subsidy will be provided, per the applicant's successful compliance with the Program recertification criteria set forth in §§ 7906; and

(d) Name and contact information for the Provider.

7904.10

Upon a household's enrollment in the Program, the Department will facilitate the household's transition from any other District or federal government rental assistance program to ensure the household's compliance with the eligibility requirement set forth in §§ 7901.5.

7904.11

At the discretion of the Director, a household may receive an extension on the timeline described in the application and eligibility verification process requirements described in §§ 7903.9, §§ 7903.10 or §§ 7904.7, for demonstrated good cause. For the purposes of this subsection, "good cause" means:

(a) Serious illness or injury of household member or immediate family member;

(b) Death of household member or immediate family member;

(c) Incarceration or detention of household member; or

(d) Other crisis, emergency, or unavoidable circumstances that prevented the timely completion of the eligibility verification process.

D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 29, r. 29-7904

Final Rulemaking published at 65 DCR 14135 (12/28/2018); amended by Final Rulemaking published at 67 DCR 3264 (3/20/2020); amended by Final Rulemaking published at 71 DCR 9406 (7/26/2024)