Add a Live-in Aid - MTW/Section 8

Live-in aides are not considered family members but may be added to the unit. The addition must be approved by our agency before they can move into the unit. In order to add a live-in-aid, you must be approved to have a live-in-aid through a reasonable accommodation which will show the connection between a disability in your household to the need for a live-in aide. Verification from a physician may be requested. You can make a request to our Fair Housing department at [e-mail].

STEP 1: Report the request via mail, email or phone to our agency

You can report the request to add a live-in aid to us via mail, email or by phone. Please note, we will not process the action until we have obtained the requested documents. The add a member document(s) can be emailed to [e-mail], mailed to Metro Housing|Boston, 1411 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02120, faxed to 617-532-7670, or dropped off at our office. In order to add a live in aid, you must be approved through a reasonable accommodation to have a live in aid and obtain an additional bedroom. 

STEP 2: Provide the required documents

What do I need from the live-in aid after it's been approved I can have one?

• Request to add a member form (filled out by the Head of Household)
• A completed Family Certification Form reflecting the change in the household composition and any related changes in household income.
• MTW Release and Privacy act form (signed by the Head of Household and live-in-aid).
• DVC form.
• A copy of the live-in aide’s ID.
• A copy of the live-in aide’s birth certificate.
• A copy of the live-in aide’s social security card.
• Live-in aide rights and responsibilities form.

Example of Documents

Please note, the above examples do not include the reasonable accommodation form which is also required. This also does not show the other required verification needed. 

Can I take a picture of my income change and send it to you?

Yes, documents can be sent as hard copies, PDF, JPEG or other image file formats. They must be an appropriate size, not blurry or cut off and must include identifiable information such as your full name on the documents.

If we receive a documents that are blurry, damaged or does not have your information on it, you should expect a document request in the mail. When submitting documents, please combine the documents and upload as one document/PDF.

STEP 3: Allow Time for Processing

Following the completion of submitting all required documents, our agency will run a CORI and other internal verifications to confirm they are eligible to be added. This process can take three to four weeks to complete from initial submission of all required documents and data entry. 

How will this affect my bedroom size?

We may only approve one additional bedroom for a live-in-aide. No additional bedrooms will be provided for the family members of the live-in-aide.  Occasional, intermittent, multiple, or rotating care givers typically do not reside in the unit and would not qualify as live-in aides.

I already have a Reasonable Accommodation but want to change out to a new Live-in-Aid

To change your live-in-aid, please supply the following:

• Fill out the remove a member form with the previous live-in-aid.
• Fill out the Request to add a member form (filled out by the Head of Household).
• A completed Family Certification Form reflecting the change in the household composition and any related changes in household income.
• MTW Release and Privacy act form (signed by the Head of Household and live-in-aid).
• DVC form.
• A copy of the live-in aide’s ID
• A copy of the live-in aide’s birth certificate.
• A copy of the live-in aide’s social security card.
• Live-in aide rights and responsibilities form.

Can family members be added as Live-in-aid members?

A relative can be eligible as the live-in aid however is not considered a family member and would not be considered a remaining member of a tenant family.  

Is the income and assets of the live-in aid calculated into the rent?

No. The live-in aid would not be living in the unit except to provide the necessary supportive services. The live in aid will need to sign the live-in-aid form at each certification. 

What if I don't supply the required documents? If the missing items are not supplied, a denial letter will be mailed to you.

How will I know If the request is approved? You will receive an approval letter in the mail.