Housing Cost Subsidy

What is it and how to apply for it?

House Subsidy DefinitionHouse Costs Subsidy State funding provided by DIDD To assist people in Supported Living

services with making lease or rent payments and payments for certain utility and related services

If was formerly called “MR-Housing”

Who is Eligible to apply? MUST be receiving Supported Living

residential service in a 3 person or fewer home

a class member; or A person not a class member but who was

approved for and was receiving a Housing Subsidy state funded by DIDD as of August 31, 2007

Housing Costs Subsidy ExpensesType of expenses for determining Housing CostsSubsidy: Rent/or Mortgage Electric power service Water and sewer service Natural gas or other fuels for heating Trash disposal service Basic telephone service for either land line or cell

phone but not both Lawn mowing service Personal Expenses

Documentation Needed? There must be documentation that the

service recipient has insufficient funds to cover reasonable rent, lease or mortgage payments and other reasonable residential costs on an ongoing basis without a Housing Costs Subsidy

Agency should submit the following: Current bank statements. The following months are needed (last 2

months) Policy D Budget (attached). “Request for Housing Cost Subsidy”

form. Breakdown of Personal Expense Monthly Average: Food, Personal

Supplies, Personal Care, Spending, Entertainment, Eating out, Medicine not paid by insurance, etc.

Utility Form (at least 12 months required, change the dates on the form if necessary to provide the most recent months)

12 months copies of the following bills ONLY-Electric, Gas, Water, & Sewage.

Additional Information and Justification form must be completed Food Stamp Approval Letter OR Food Stamp Denial Letter Copy of Lease Agreement Copy of SSI/SSA Form Copy of Phone bill: What is the cost for a discounted residential

telephone service, such as Lifeline, if available? Information about the home is required. County: metropolitan or non-metropolitan county? Number of Bedrooms:

Who?

The Supported Living provider agency isresponsible for completing andsubmitting the house subsidy requestform.

It is to be sent to Plans Review Unit Forms are found on the DIDD website:www.tn.gov/didd/provider_agencies/resources/StateFundedServiceRequest.doc

WHEN?The request for housing costs subsidy MUST besubmitted:

At least 30 calendar days prior to the requested start date of an INITIALINITIAL request for a Housing Costs Subsidy;

At least 30 calendar days priorprior to the EXPIRATIONEXPIRATION date of the person’s existing Housing Costs Subsidy;

WHEN? (con’t)

At least 30 calendar days PRIOR to the date the person relocatesrelocates to a different Supported Living home

Within 30 calendar days of a change in the NUMBER of people living in the person’s Supported Living home;

Request form and what else?You must send the requestform along with the following:

1. Bank statements for the most recent 2 months

NOTE: The IndividualSupport Plan (ISP)

DOES NOTDOES NOT have tobe amended torequest a HousingCosts Subsidy.

AuthorizationThe Authorization Period:

Limited to a maximum of one (1) year EXCEPT in special circumstances where DIDD has determined a shorter or longer authorization period is warranted.

Contingent on rent, lease and mortgage payments shall NOT exceeding the HUD User Fair Market Rent for the current year for applicable county in Tennessee, EXCEPT for the following circumstances:

AUTHORIZATION: EXCEPTIONS To accommodate a person who had a

lease effect as of September 1, 2008, with a monthly payment more than the HUD User Fair Market Rent; www.huduser.gor/portal/datasets/fmr/fmrs/FY2011_code/select_Geography.odn

When a class member’s medical or behavioral condition results in recurring personal expenses substantially higher than the established DIDD Personal Expense Allowance

SAMPLE

Special Exception Add-On’s by the Deputy Commissioner

To supplement a rent or lease paymentexceeding HUD User Fair Market Rent toaccommodate a service recipient whorequires extensive and substantialspecialized seating and mobility equipmentneeds, in accordance with the following:

Special Exception Add-ons by the Deputy Commissioner1. The unique floor plan or substantial additional

space is required to accommodate the specialized seating and mobility equipment; and;

2. The need for such a floor plan requires the rental or lease of a residence at a rate which exceeds the HUD User Fair Market Rent.

ADD-On Shall NOT be provided for… Use of a standard wheelchair, folding

wheelchair or other special type of wheelchair, specialized seating, or mobility equipment that can be reasonably accommodated in a home

Special Exception Add-on – medication needs May authorize supplement for over the counter

medications or co-pays for the person who demonstrate a need.

When rent or lease supplement is needed for two housemates sharing the rent/lease payment and one housemate requires special exception due to the unique floor plan due to unique floor plan due to mobility needs.

One Year AuthorizationA Housing Subsidy authorized PRIOR toSeptember 2, 1007, shall be valid for a ONEYEAR period from the date of itsauthorization OR until the assignedexpiration date is reached, WHICHEVERoccurs first.

Housing Cost Subsidy Expires… When the authorization end date has been

reached; If the person relocates from a Supported

Living home to another type of residence and no longer receives services in an approved Supported Living home

If the person relocates to a different Supported Living home in Tennessee; or

Amount of the Housing Costs Subsidy…Amount is determinedbased on:1. Sole discretion of

DIDD and 2. Shall be based on an

assessment of income and expenses according to…

Recurring Housing Expenses for:

Electric power service Water and sewer service Natural gas or other fuels for

heating Trash disposal service Basic telephone service for

either land line or cell phone but not both

Lawn mowing service Personal Expenses ($250 max for

food, unless nutrition is via tube. $125 max for other personal expenses = $375 max/month

DIDD Format

Amount of the Housing Costs Subsidy… By incorporating a

maximum DIDD Personal Expense Allowance; and

Considering total income that includes:

Food stamps Other unearned income Earned income that

exceeds $1200 per calendar year

Allowable expenses being calculated by adding the sum of Recurring Housing Expenses and DIDD Personal Expense Allowance

Recurring Housing Expenses+

DIDD Personal Expense Allowance=

Allowable Expenses

Total Income-

Allowable Expenses=

Class Member’s Housing Costs Subsidy

DIDD Request for Housing Costs Subsidy

PaymentThe authorized Housing Costs Subsidy willbe issued through payment to theSupported Living provider.

The Supported Living provider MUSTdocument that the Housing Costs Subsidydeposited into the person’s checkingaccount.

MUSTS… Send complete and accurate information If you are sending more than 50 pages of

documents – you might be sending UNNECESSARY information

Many Housing Costs Subsidies are denied due to inaccurate or incomplete information

QUESTIONS! Housing Costs Subsidy Policy is located on

the DIDD web site

Electronic forms can be provided by contacting the Plans Review Unit in your

region or the DIDD website www.tn.gov/didd