The 50059 form was formerly the official HUD Tenant Re-certification form, a critical document used for verifying tenant eligibility and calculating rent in affordable housing programs. While the official paper form is no longer in use, the essential data requirements it embodied are still fundamental to compliance with federal housing regulations.
Historical Context and Purpose
Historically, the 50059 form was a standard document utilized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and housing providers. Its primary purpose was to facilitate the annual or interim re-certification of tenants living in HUD-assisted housing. This process ensured that tenants continued to meet program eligibility criteria and that their rental contributions were accurately calculated based on their current income and household composition.
Key aspects of the 50059 form included:
- Origin: It stemmed from the "pre-change 27 Appendix 1" framework, which laid out the guidelines for tenant re-certifications.
- Information Collection: The form systematically collected vital tenant information, such as household income, assets, deductions, and family size. This data was crucial for determining the correct rental subsidy and tenant rent portion.
- Accompanying Worksheet: For most re-certifications, the 50059 form was paired with a supplementary worksheet. This worksheet aided in the detailed calculations required to arrive at the final rent determination, with an exception for BMIR (Below Market Interest Rate) re-certifications, which typically did not require this additional worksheet.
Evolution to Data Requirements
HUD has since updated its procedural guidelines, leading to the discontinuation of the physical 50059 form itself. However, this does not mean the information it collected is no longer necessary. On the contrary, the same information is still required for tenant re-certifications.
The crucial shift is that the focus has moved from a specific physical form to a set of "50059 data requirements." These requirements are now detailed within the "Change 27 Appendix," outlining the specific data points that housing providers must collect and report for every tenant re-certification.
Why Data Requirements Remain Essential
Even without the official form, the underlying data requirements are vital for several reasons:
- Compliance: Housing providers must comply with HUD regulations to receive federal funding and maintain their assisted housing status.
- Fairness and Accuracy: Accurate data ensures that tenants pay the correct amount of rent based on their income and that subsidies are allocated fairly and effectively.
- Program Integrity: Regular re-certifications prevent fraud, ensure program resources are directed to eligible individuals, and maintain the integrity of affordable housing initiatives.
Summary of Transition
The table below illustrates the transition from the physical form to data requirements:
| Aspect | Former 50059 Form | Current 50059 Data Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Official HUD Tenant Re-certification Form | Essential Data Collection (No Official Form) |
| Origin | Pre-Change 27 Appendix 1 | Change 27 Appendix |
| Purpose | Collection of specific tenant data for re-certification | Collection of the same crucial tenant data for re-certification |
| Method | Physical form filled out by hand or typed | Data entered into systems, often via software, following specified requirements |
| Accompanied By | Worksheet (except for BMIR re-certifications) | Data processing often relies on integrated software and defined calculation methods |
In essence, while the specific "50059 form" is a relic of the past, the critical information it once gathered continues to be a cornerstone of tenant re-certification processes in HUD-assisted housing, now managed through defined data requirements.
