Income & Family Changes
If you are a Low Income Public Housing resident, you are required to periodically provide Seattle Housing Authority with information about your job, your income, and the people living in your unit. If these things change, you need to notify your building manager.
Annual reviews
For most Low Income Public Housing residents, reviews are conducted once per year. These annual reviews are done for each household and are based on "anticipated income and expenses." Residents on fixed incomes who live in certain types of units—those financed by tax credits or bonds—also have reviews conducted every year. Residents on fixed incomes in all other units are reviewed once every three years.
Failure to comply with Seattle Housing Authority's annual review request may result in the removal of your housing assistance. If this happens, you become responsible for the full market rent for your unit. Assistance may be reinstated if you submit the information required to complete the annual review.
Interim reviews
Seattle Housing Authority processes interim reviews for the following reasons:
- Changes in household composition and/or size
- Changes in household income or assets
- Changes in the student status of any household member
If you have an adult household member who enrolls in school full-time, or who is no longer a full-time student, you are required to report the change within 10 business days. These changes may affect your qualifications to live in a tax credit unit and may affect your total household income.
You are required to report any change in income or household composition to Seattle Housing Authority no later than 10 business days after the change happens. You may submit changes in writing to your building or community manager. Completing the Change of Income or Circumstances form (PDF, 32 KB, download Adobe Reader) will initiate an interim review if needed.
Please note: the information on this page is for Low Income Public Housing residents. Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) participants should complete a different form and can click here to read about reporting their changes.
If you fail to report changes in household composition, income, assets, or student status within 10 business days of the change, your assistance may be terminated. You may also be charged retroactively to the date the change should have been reported. If this happens, the amount will be applied back to the date the change took place and you will owe Seattle Housing Authority back rent.
Completing a review
Current information is needed for your review. You are required to provide written verification for each person 18 years or older who will be living in your household. You must also supply all sources of income you expect to receive for all household members.
Learn more about what to bring to your review for verification.
Notice of a rent change
If you are a Low Income Public Housing resident, you will be given a minimum of 30 days notice before a rent increase. If the rent increase is greater than 10 percent, 60 days notice will be given, in accordance with Seattle landlord-tenant law. In cases of fraud or non-compliance, a new rent amount will be applied back to the date the income or household change took place, and you will owe Seattle Housing Authority back rent.
If the reported change in income is due to your becoming employed after being unemployed for the past six consecutive months, and the change is reported no later than 14 days from the date of employment, a 90 day notice of the rent increase will be given.
