Part of the Section 8 and Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program, we use income to calculate your share. We count the following as income:
- Wages from a job (Gross income as required)
- Unemployment Insurance
- Benefits from the Department of Transitional Assistance (TAFDC, etc.)
- Child Support
- Social Security, SSI and SSDI
- SSP if you are receiving SSI
- Workers’ compensation
- Seasonal income/contract income
- Alimony
- Regular Gift
- Self-Employed
The following verification resources are ways to obtain documents requested by our agency. All income must be within the last 60 days.
Child Support:
- If you are receiving this benefit through the court: You may call the Department of Revenue at 1800-332-2733 or log onto mass.gov/cse. You must obtain the last 12 months of payments. If you are no longer receiving payments, you will need to provide proof showing the payments have stopped.
- If you are not receiving this benefit through the court: you will need to obtain a notarized letter from the parent providing the support showing the amount and frequency of the child support.
Social Security/SSI/SSDI: You can call 1-800-772-1213 to request a benefit letter or go to the social security website to request or print your benefits:
SSP: If you are receiving SSI, you must provide verification of state benefits: to obtain a SSP benefit letter, you can call 1-877-863-1128 or visit www.mass.gov/hhs/ssp.
If you are receiving benefits from the Department of Transitional Assistance, this amount should also be on your DTA benefit letter.
Department of Transitional Assistance: You can obtain information by calling 877-382-2363, online by signing up for My Account Page at www.mass.gov/vg/selfservice
Unemployment:
- Request letter: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/request-a-letter-verifying-your-unemployment-benefits-income
- Call Center Call Department of Unemployment Assistance, Call Center at (877) 626-6800
- Online: https://uionline.detma.org/Claimant/Core/Login.ASPX
Wages/Seasonal Income:
You must obtain income verification directly from your employer. See below for more information:
- Section 8/MTW:
- If you are paid bi-weekly: 2 consecutive pay stubs
- If you are paid weekly: 4 consecutive pay stubs
- Monthly: 2 consecutive pay stubs
- MRVP:
- If you are paid bi-weekly: 3 consecutive pay stubs
- If you are paid weekly: 5 consecutive pay stubs
- Monthly: 2 consecutive pay stubs
Please note, seasonal income is annualized. You are still required to report seasonal income and any unemployment you receive during off seasons. Provide a letter from the employer that states the number of weeks you work each year and pay amount.
Workers Compensation:
- Benefit letter payment receipts from your employer.
Alimony:
- Copy of separation agreement or Notarized letter from party paying support.
Regular Gifts:
- Section 8:
- Notarized letter from gift giver showing the amount and frequency of pay. In addition you need to provide copies of checks received. This can not be from anyone else than the gift giver.
- MRVP:
- Notarized letter from gift giver This can not be from anyone else than the gift giver.
Pension:
A recent pension letter stating monthly amount. You can obtain this with the following steps from the Massachusetts State Retirement Board:
- Request by phone by calling (617) 367-7770.
- By email: Email your request to: srb@tre.state.ma.us be sure to include your full name, address and either your MSRB ID Number (if you know it) or the last 4 of your Social Security Number. Please enter "Pension Benefit Verification Letter" in the subject line.
- More information: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/how-to-request-a-pension-verification-letter
Self-Employed
- Section 8:
- You can obtain a Schedule C 1040 (more information here).
- Self-Employment Income Certification Form
- MRVP:
- You can obtain a Schedule C 1040 (more information here).
- If self-employed less than 3 months, certified estimate acceptable. 3-12 months.
What about income from a full time student?
In order to exclude income from a full time student, they must meet the following criteria:
- Section 8/MTW:
- Household member must be over the age of 18.
- Must be full time student. Part time status is not eligible for the exclusion.
- From an accredited educational or vocational institution.
- Can not be the head of household, co-head or spouse.
- Verification accepted: Letter from school stating full time status and expected graduation date accepted. Class schedules are not accepted.
- MRVP:
- Household member must be ages 18-25.
- Must be full time student. Part time status is not eligible for the exclusion.
- Can not be the head of household.
- From an accredited educational or vocational institution.
- Verification accepted: Letter from school stating full time status and expected graduation date accepted. Class schedules are not accepted.
Asset verification:
- Section 8/MTW:
- Bank statements needed for each individual asset listed if the total of all assets is over $50,000.
- MRVP:
- 1 bank statement regardless of amount.
What about deductions/expenses? See this article here.
Comments
0 comments
Please sign in to leave a comment.