Fraud

Deceit or trickery deliberately practiced to gain some advantage dishonestly. Fraud is an intentional deception and cannot be committed accidentally.

NOTE: This is not necessarily the legal definition in particular cases.

Full-Time Student A person who is attending school or vocational training on a full-time basis. [24 CFR 5.603]

Gross Rent The gross rent for a unit equals the contract rent plus the utility allowance, if the property has a utility allowance. For Section 202 PRAC and Section 811 PRAC, the gross rent is referred to as the operating rent.

Gross Rent Change Any HUD-approved change in the contract rent or the utility allowance for a unit.

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Guest A person temporarily staying in a unit with the consent of the tenant or another member of the household who has express or implied authority to consent on behalf of the tenant. [24 CFR 5.100] A guest is a temporary visitor of the tenant’s and should not be confused with an unauthorized occupant. Additionally, a guest is not a party to the lease agreement. Hardship Exemption An exemption from the $25 minimum rent an owner must provide for any household unable to pay the Section 8 minimum rent due to a long-term financial hardship as defined in the regulation. [24 CFR 5.630] Head of Household The adult member of the family who is the head of the household for purposes of determining income eligibility and rent. (See paragraph 5.6 for explanation of emancipated minor.) [24 CFR 5.504] Household The family and live-in aide, if applicable. Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) The payment made by HUD or the Contract Administrator to the owner of an assisted unit as provided in the contract. Where the unit is leased to an eligible family, the payment is the difference between the contract rent and the tenant rent. An additional payment is made to the family when the utility allowance is greater than the total tenant payment. A housing assistance payment, known as a “vacancy payment,” may be made to the owner when an assisted unit is vacant, in accordance with the terms of the contract. [24 CFR 880.201] Immediate Family Member Means, with respect to a person: (A) a spouse, parent, brother or sister, or child of that person, or an individual to whom that person stands in loco parentis: or (B) any other person living in the household of that person and related to that person by blood or marriage. Improper Payment An improper payment is any payment that should not have been made or that was made in an incorrect amount under statutory, contractual, administrative, or other legally applicable requirements. Incorrect amounts are overpayments and underpayments (including inappropriate denials of payment or service). An improper payment includes any payment that was made to an ineligible recipient or for an ineligible service, duplicate payments, payments for services not received, and payments that are for the incorrect amount. In addition, when an agency’s review is unable to discern whether a payment was proper as a result of insufficient or lack of documentation, this payment must also be considered an error.

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