EIV Income Report Updates Delayed

HUD recently released RHIIP Listserv #416, which explains that, due to technical difficulties, the New Hires, Employment, and Unemployment information in the Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) system won’t be updated in November 2018 and in December 2018.

Information about Social Security income won’t be affected. And managers will still use EIV to verify Social Security income for HUD programs. EIV will be updated to show the 2019 COLA increase in December. But for employment and unemployment income, you should refer to HUD Handbook 4350.3, paragraphs 5-12 through 5-18, for information about how to verify information used on HUD Form 50059.

Managers may also refer to information about the FAST Act for an explanation of how certification requirements for Fixed-income Families has changed. A “Fixed-income Family” is defined as a family who receives at least 90 percent of their income from a fixed-income source such as Social Security or VA Disability.

The Existing Tenant Search and most of the EIV Master File Reports won’t be affected. Owners and agents must continue to review the EIV Existing Tenant Search for all household members before approving any move-in. Additionally, owners and agents must continue to review the EIV Master Files as required by HUD:

• Identity Verification Reports each month;
• Multiple Subsidy Report at least each quarter unless your company requires monthly review;
• Deceased Tenant Report at least each quarter unless your company requires monthly review; and
• New Hires Report at least each quarter unless your company requires monthly review.

According to the notice, it appears as if no new information regarding New Hires will be provided in November and December. If reviewing reports reviewed during November and December, you should make a note or attach a copy of the RHIIP ListServ to explain that data wasn’t updated in November or December.

Income Reports should also be reviewed to determine compliance with HUD requirements. These reports include:

• Income Summary Report (at least until all household members are verified);
• Income Report; and
• Income Discrepancy Report.

EIV Income Reports are reviewed within 90 days of submitting any new move-in or adding any new family member and when preparing any annual recertification or interim recertification. Be sure to include a note or a copy of the RHIIP ListServ in the tenant file to explain that employment and unemployment information wasn’t updated in November and December.

HUD hasn’t indicated that owners and agents will need to go back and review information when the technical issues are addressed. But owner and agents should continue to comply with their EIV Use Policy explaining when each report is reviewed.