Finding Text
2025-002 Utilities Allowance Calcuation Criteria "In accordance with the 2014 Appropriations Act Section 242, the utility allowance for a family shall be the lower of: (1) The utility allowance amount for the family unit size; or (2) the utility allowance amount for the unit size of the unit rented by the family. However, upon the request of a family that includes a person with disabilities, the PHA must approve a utility allowance higher than the applicable amount if such a higher utility allowance is needed as a reasonable accommodation in accordance with HUD's regulations in 24 CFR part 8 to make the program accessible to and usable by the family member with a disability. This provision applies only to vouchers issued after the effective date of this notice (June 12, 2014) and to current program participants. For current program participants, a PHA must implement the new allowance at the family's next annual reexamination, provided that the PHA is able to provide a family with at least 60 days' notice prior to the reexamination. " Condition During the audit, we noted multiple HUD Forms 50058 had utility allowances calculated not in accordance with the above criteria. Context Due to a software issue 14 of the 40 vouchers we tested did not have the correct Utility Allowance. Cause Procedures to ensure that the appropriate utility allowance was note adhered to on a consistent basis. Effect Tenant payments due to landlords were incorrectly calculated, HAP payments incorrectly calculated. Recommendations Management should review tenant files to ensure that the appropriate utility allowance is used for the type of unit under contract. Questioned Costs None Management Views Management Agrees