Rental and Down Payment Assistance

HPD-Supervised SCRIE

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HPD-Supervised SCRIE

The Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) program offers eligible senior citizens an exemption from future rent increases.

In order to qualify for HPD's SCRIE program, you must live in one of the following types of subsidized housing:

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for SCRIE, you must meet all requirements listed below at the time of the rent/maintenance increase:

  • You (or your spouse) were the head of the household.
  • You (or your spouse) lived in the apartment.
  • You (or your spouse) were 62 years of age or older.
  • The total household income did not exceed $50,000 for increases effective on or after July 1, 2014. (Household income for all persons living in the household). 
  • Your monthly basic rent/carrying charge was more than or equal to one-third of your total annual household income. Any portion of your rent/carrying charge that is for utility costs or other fees or charges, are not considered part of your base rent/carrying charge.
  • You are NOT on any other rent/carrying charge assistance program (g. Section 8, Senior Citizen Homeowner Exemption program, Disability Rent Increase Exemption program, Rental Assistance Program).
  • You can have STAR in conjunction with SCRIE.

Utility Pass-throughs

If you are applying for SCRIE for the first time for a temporary utility pass-through, please note that you will only receive SCRIE for the duration of the pass-through. Once it ends, you will be removed from the program.

If you are already on SCRIE, please note that your subsidy will be temporarily increased for the period covered by the pass-through. Your subsidy will revert to the regular amount when the pass-through ends.

Capital Assessment/Major Capital Improvements

If you are a SCRIE recipient and your co-op imposes a capital assessment or major capital improvement (MCI), you may be eligible for an additional subsidy. See the capital assessment application for more information. 

*Please note that subsidies for Capital Assessments and Major Capital Improvements (MCIs) are considered loans and will be deducted from the refund of your equity when you vacate the apartment.

Portability

Please note that if receiving a SCRIE subsidy and you move out of your apartment to another SCRIE-eligible apartment, your SCRIE subsidy may be transferred with you.

To be eligible for Portability, your new rent/maintenance must be equal to or higher than the rent/maintenance of your old apartment.

See the Portability Request Form for more information. 

Recertification

If you are approved for SCRIE, to continue your eligibility, you will be required to complete and return a recertification form which will be sent to you each recertification period.  Failure to recertify will result in your removal from the program January of the following year. (Please see our section on reinstatements below). Recertification occurs biennially and our next recertification will be September 2024. 

Appeals

All SCRIE/Capital Assessment applicants who have received an official exemption approval, denial, or revocation notice have the right to appeal our decision and get help resolving concerns with their benefit.  You may resolve such issues by completing the SCRIE & Capital Assessment Appeal form. 

All Other SCRIE Applicants

If you believe you meet the eligibility requirements described above, but do not live in an HPD SCRIE building, you must apply through the Department of Finance (DOF). Visit Freeze Your Rent or call 311.

People with disabilities may qualify for the Disability Rent Increase Exemption Program (DRIE). For more information, visit Freeze Your Rent or call 311.

Senior citizens who own homes, condominiums or private non-governmentally supervised co-ops may be eligible for the Senior Citizen Homeowner Exemption Program (SCHE). For questions regarding this program, please visit New York City's Department of Finance (DOF) or call 311.

HPD SCRIE Application and Forms

Seniors can email or mail their applications to HPD:

Questions and documents can be emailed to: scrie@hpd.nyc.gov

Documents may also be mailed to:
SCRIE Unit
100 Gold Street
Rm 7M-3
New York, NY 10038

Please note, the application process can be lengthy. All seniors that are determined to be eligible for the program will be issued retroactive credits to the start of the increase, if HPD received their initial application within 120 days of the increase.

If your application is received after 120 days from the start of the increase, then the effective date of the SCRIE subsidy will be the first day of the month after HPD received your application. (e.g. If the increase date is January 1st, HPD must receive your application by May 1st for you to receive retroactive credits. If your application is received on or after May 2nd, then the effective date of your SCRIE subsidy will be June 1st.)

Reinstatement to the SCRIE program

If you were previously receiving a SCRIE subsidy and were removed from the program due to failure to recertify, please complete the below application.
Reinstatement forms:

  • 2020 (If you were removed effective January 1, 2022, please complete this form)
  • 2018 (If you were removed effective January 1, 2020, please complete this form)
  • 2016 (If you were removed effective January 1, 2018, please complete this form)
  • If you were removed from SCRIE prior to 2018, please contact us at SCRIE@hpd.nyc.gov, or call (212) 863-8494.