Rent Hardship

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NYCHA's COVID-19 Rent Hardship Policy

NYCHA has simplified its Rent Hardship Policy to make it easier than ever for you to reduce your rent during the COVID-19 crisis.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Question 1: What can I do if I'm experiencing a rent hardship?

Question 2: What is an interim recertification?

Question 3: When can I request an Interim Recertification to have my rent reduced?

Question 4: How do I apply for a rent hardship?

Question 5: What do I need to apply for an Interim Recertification/rent hardship?

Question 6: What is self-certification?

Question 7: How do I submit supporting documents, if I have them?

Question 8: If I request a paper Interim Recertification application by mail, what should I do after completing it?

Question 9: How long does it take to process an Interim Recertification/rent hardship application?

Question 10: When will my new rent go into effect?

Question 11: What should I do if I have any questions?

1.) What can I do if I'm experiencing a rent hardship?

NYCHA has simplified its Rent Hardship Policy to make it easier than ever for you to reduce your rent during the COVID-19 crisis.

If your hours have been cut at work, or if you have lost your job, you can complete an Interim Recertification immediately.

As a public housing resident, your rent will always be 30 percent of your household income. If you have no income at this time, your rent will be zero.

2.) What is an interim recertification?

An interim recertification is a change in a household’s composition, income, disability, senior, citizenship, or student status that occurs between Annual Recertification periods. Back to Top

3.) When can I request an Interim Recertification to have my rent reduced?

There is NO waiting period to report loss of income to NYCHA. Please do not delay. The standard waiting period normally required to request an Interim Recertification has been suspended. Back to Top

4.) How do I apply for a rent hardship?

Rent reductions can be requested through an Interim Recertification. For your convenience, there are three different ways that you can apply for an Interim Recertification:

1.) Visit the NYCHA Self-Service Portal at https://selfserve.nycha.info (the fastest way to submit your request)

2.) Call NYCHA’s Customer Contact Center (CCC) at 718-707-7771 (and select menu option 5 when prompted)

3.) Contact your Property Management Office to request a paper application, which will be mailed to your home address

NYCHA Self-Service Portal

Using the NYCHA Self-Service Portal is the quickest and easiest method to apply for rent hardship.
We simplified the online form. Now there are only 6 steps to reduce your rent. Refer to this guide that shows you the step-by-step process.

Step 1: Go to https://selfserve.nycha.info.
Step 2: Identify the person in the household who has lost income.
Step 3: Provide the dates of employment for the job where income was reduced or lost; previous salary; and current salary, if income has been reduced.
Step 4: Provide the type of income that has been lost or reduced.
Step 5: Photograph and upload documents (if available).
Step 6: SELF-CERTIFY and submit.

This online application uses Google Translate to access the application in over 100 languages.

Call the Customer Contact Center (CCC) at 718-707-7771 (Option 5)

Residents can now call the CCC at 718-707-7771 (option 5) to complete the Interim Recertification application over the phone. A NYCHA customer service representative will guide you through a brief set of questions; you can self-certify your income loss and submit the Interim Recertification application over the phone.

Residents who require translation services will be simultaneously connected with the Language Helpline, which will assist throughout the process.

Contact Your Property Management Office

Residents may also call their Property Management Office to request a paper Interim Recertification application. Click here to view the Property Management Offices directory.
You may provide supporting documents with your paper application or take a picture/upload/scan any documents and email them to your Property Management Office.
Once you have completed and submitted the application, you will be contacted by your Property Management Office to self-certify.
For your convenience, we have translated the application into 13 different languages. You may use the translated application to review the questions in the language of your choice, but you must complete and submit the English application.

English | Español | 中文 (繁體 / 简体) | Русский | Kreyòl Ayisyen | 한국어 | العربية | اردو | אידיש | Polski | Français

5.) What do I need to apply for an Interim Recertification/rent hardship?

Until further notice, NYCHA residents may self-certify their loss or decrease in income. This means that supporting documents such as pay stubs, a letter from your employer, and/or verification of unemployment benefits, which are usually required to submit the Interim Recertification, are not required at this time.

We will still accept these documents if you have them. We will also accept a handwritten letter from your employer and/or emails, as well as a telephone call from your previous or current supervisor, as verification of your loss of income. However, if none of these items are available at this time, you may provide them to NYCHA at a later date.

With or without these documents, you can self-certify your loss of income, submit your application, and receive a reduction in your rent. Back to Top

6.) What is self-certification?

This means that supporting documents such as pay stubs and/or a letter from your employer, which are usually required to submit the Interim Recertification, are not required at this time. The resident is certifying that the information they verbally provide is true and correct.

NYCHA will still accept these documents if you have them and may request proof at a later time. Back to Top

7.) How do I submit supporting documents, if I have them?

If you have supporting documentation, you can email them to rent.hardship@nycha.nyc.gov, along with your name, address, apartment number, and name of your development. Documentation can also be submitted through the Self-Service Portal or to your Property Management Office. Back to Top

8.) If I request a paper Interim Recertification application by mail, what should I do after completing it?

Completed paper packets must be mailed to:

New York City Housing Authority
P.O. Box 19202
Long Island City, NY 11101

You may also hand deliver it to your Property Management Office. Please call ahead to make an appointment before visiting the office.

Please note that due to the COVID-19 state of emergency, processing times by mail may be delayed. Back to Top

9.) How long does it take to process an Interim Recertification/rent hardship application?

Applications completed through the Self-Service Portal are submitted immediately and take approximately three weeks to process.

To check the status of your Interim Recertification, go to the Self-Service Portal. Under the Interim Recertification menu, your application will be categorized as either “Open,” “In Progress,” or “Paused”:

If processing delays occur, any decrease in rent will be retroactive and credited accordingly.

Applications completed over the phone with a CCC representative are submitted immediately and take approximately three weeks to process.

Paper applications can take up to approximately six weeks to receive and process. Back to Top

10.) When will my new rent go into effect?

Your rent will be adjusted for the month following the submission of the Interim Recertification. Any rent adjustment that does not take place immediately will be retroactive to the first of the month after you initiated the Interim Recertification request.

If you do not see a change in your rent immediately, NYCHA will accept partial rent payments until the application is processed.

A Lease Addendum and Rent Notice with any change in rent will be mailed to you. The lease addendum informs you of the new monthly rent amount and how it was calculated. You will also be informed of the new rent amount through a robocall and email. Back to Top

11.) What should I do if I have any questions?

Please call the CCC at 718-707-7771 (and select menu option 5). Back to Top