NAN MCKAY HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER SPECIALIST EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE 2026

NAN MCKAY HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER SPECIALIST EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE 2026 Owner responsibilities - Answers Selects and screens tenants Enforces lease State responsibilities - Answers Passes legislation establishing PHAS PHA administrative plan - Answers establishes local policies for administering the HCV program HUD vs ADA definition of disability - Answers HUD definition is more specific, used for eligibility determination and allowances/deductions ADA definition - broader, used for reasonable accommodations Live in aide - Answers would not be living in the unit except to provide necessary supportive services Occupancy cycle - Answers Intake - preapplication, waiting list, needs estimation, final eligibility determination Initial lease-up - briefing & voucher issuance, RFTA and lease approval submitted, HQS inspection, approval & execution, moves Annual Activities - recerts, HQS (biennially), rent adjustment Moves Interim activities - interem recerts, HQS compliance Terminations - HCV violation, lease termination, HAP contract termination Certification of preference + waitlist addition - Answers At time of initial app, need only certify preference eligibility (not verify) Place on waitlist according to preference claimed eligibility verification requirement: X number of days - Answers 60 day window to obtain verification docs elderly family: - Answers head or spouse is 62+ disabled family: - Answers head/spouse is disabled two+ people in hh are disabled one+ people w/ one+ live-in aides exemptions from SSN disclosure - Answers Noncontending family member (someone not declaring citizenship/eligible non-citizen status) Noncontending family member - Answers someone not declaring citizenship/eligible non-citizen status exempt from SSN disclosure Mixed family - Answers Citizens + eligible noncitizens/non-eligible non-citizens To declare citizenship/national status: - Answers complete signed declaration (section 214 status) Section 214 - Answers to declare citizenship/national status When is income eligibility not tested? - Answers After lease-up/admission Student rule for eligibility - Answers Cannot give assistance to someone who: • Is enrolled as a student at an institution of higher education; • Is under the age of 24; • Is not a veteran of the United States military; • Is unmarried; • Does not have a dependent child; • Is not a person with disabilities, • Student and parents are both income eligible (80% AMI) or student is independent/absent from their parents Before beginning denial on basis of criminal/sex-offender status, PHA must - Answers Notify household and provide an opportunity to dispute PHA must deny if applicant fails to: - Answers sign consent forms not disclose SSN no citizens/eligible nationals PHA may deny for - Answers debts owed Family obligations are listed on - Answers the voucher PHA is not obligated to approve tenancy when: - Answers voucher is issued Oral briefing must include: - Answers Description of how program works Family/owner responsibilities Where family may lease (inside and outside of PHA jurisdiction) Explanation of portability + list of contacts at neighboring PHAs Oral briefing must be done prior to: - Answers voucher issuance Voucher suspension (stopping the clock) - Answers must be done by the PHA PHA must give owner these records: - Answers current/prior family addresses current/prior landlord names + addresses (if known) Owner is responsible for: - Answers Screening tenant's behavior/suitability for tenancy PHA may not approve tenancy until: - Answers Unit eligible HQS Tenancy addendum included Reasonable rent Family share ! 40% monthly adjusted income Ineligible units - Answers Public housing project-based units health facilities educational facilities criminal facilities owner occupied units Initial lease can be less than a year if: - Answers shorter term would improve housing opportunity shorter term is prevailing market practice Tenancy addendum includes: - Answers tenancy requirements for programs Can tenancy be terminated during the initial term by owner? - Answers Not without good cause (contract reqs etc) What changes require PHA to approve new tenancy/execute new HAP contract - Answers Change in utility responsibility to pay Change of lease length Family moves to a new unit renewal terms can change - Answers according to the lease (no new HAP contract needed) HAP contract is - Answers between owner and PHA, commitment to make payments for the tenant Term of HAP contract start and end with: - Answers lease terms If a family moves out on march 25th and the PHA didn't find out until april, does the owner have to return the april HAP check? - Answers Yes - HAP only paid when family is in the unit When is rent reasonableness conducted? - Answers 1. Before approving initial rent 2. Before increase in rent to owner 3. When directed by HUD (can do whenever PHA wants, if FMR decreases 10% PHA must give notice to families/owners of: - Answers recert results + effective date of change reasonable notice of rent increase Interim certs are done: - Answers at the discretion of the PHA's policies in admin plan Moves after first year of lease: PHA can limit... - Answers number of times a move is made but NOT the timing of the move HAP payments to owner during the month of the move: - Answers Owner keeps HAP for that month New owner also gets HAP Not considered duplicative subsidy in this instance Family breakup involving DV etc: who does assistance go to? - Answers Assistance goes to victim Time limit for life-threatening HQS violation - Answers 24 hours Family causes HQS violation - Answers Family's responsibility, can result in termination factors when determining denial/termination bc of action or failure to act by family members - Answers seriousness extent of involvement/family member culpability Considerations for terminating based on drug/alcohol use - Answers Involvement in rehab PHA may terminate for criminal activity: - Answers based on preponderance of evidence, regardless of arrest/conviction HAP contract automatically terminates after X days from last payment to owner - Answers 180 Family absence cannot be more than X consecutive days - Answers 180 Overcrowding is based on X and must result in termination if Y - Answers X: HQS inspection Y: right-sized unit available to rent PHA not bound by hearing decision if: - Answers PHA not required to provide opportunity for informal hearing Matter exceeds authority of person conducting hearing Decision made contrary to HUD regulations/reqs, or violates fed/state/local law If family submits an application and is in residence of the initial PHA If the family submits an application and is not in residence - Answers they can exercise full portability rights