NMA HCV Specialist HOTMA Now Actual Exam
Questions and Answers Already Graded A+ Latest
Versions 2026
Exam Title: NMA HCV Specialist HOTMA Now Exam
Total Questions: 150
Passing Score: 80%
Time Allowed: 3 hours
Section 1: HOTMA Overview & Effective Dates (Questions 1–15)
1. HOTMA was signed into law in what year?
A) 2014
B) 2015
C) 2016
D) 2017
Answer: C
Rationale: HOTMA was enacted on July 29, 2016, but its final HUD rule was
published in 2023 with staggered effective dates.
2. The HOTMA final rule became effective on:
A) January 1, 2020
B) October 1, 2023
C) April 1, 2024
D) July 1, 2025
Answer: B
Rationale: HUD’s HOTMA final rule took effect on October 1, 2023, with
certain provisions delayed until January 1, 2024, or later.
3. HOTMA primarily amends which federal housing acts?
A) Fair Housing Act and ADA
B) United States Housing Act of 1937 and the Cranston-Gonzalez Act
,C) Section 8 and Section 202
D) Violence Against Women Act and McKinney-Vento
Answer: B
*Rationale: HOTMA amends the U.S. Housing Act of 1937 (HCV and public
housing) and the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act.*
4. Under HOTMA, the definition of “annual income” for HCV programs is
now aligned with:
A) IRS adjusted gross income (AGI)
B) Gross wages before taxes
C) Social Security benefit amounts
D) Prior year’s HUD-defined annual income
Answer: A
Rationale: HOTMA replaces HUD’s old definition with IRS AGI plus certain
exclusions.
5. HOTMA requires PHAs to use income determinations that are at least
how many years old for most families?
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 5 years
Answer: B
*Rationale: HOTMA allows 2-year income verification cycles for families
with stable income, except those with reportable increases.*
6. Which families are exempt from HOTMA’s extended income
recertification cycle?
A) Elderly families only
B) Families with children
C) Families with mandatory reporting events (e.g., income increase above
threshold)
D) All families
Answer: C
,*Rationale: Families whose income changes above the HOTMA threshold
must report within 30 days, breaking the 2-year cycle.*
7. HOTMA’s “streamlined income determination” applies to families with:
A) No earned income
B) Fixed income from Social Security, SSI, pensions
C) Self-employment income
D) Income from assets only
Answer: B
Rationale: Streamlined determination is for fixed-income families, reducing
burden.
8. The HOTMA “minimum rent” exemption threshold for hardship is set at:
A) 1.5% of PHA’s average rent
B) 2.5% of family’s monthly income
C) $25 or 2.5% of monthly income, whichever is greater
D) $50 fixed
Answer: C
Rationale: HOTMA sets hardship exemption when minimum rent ($25 or
2.5% of income) causes severe financial distress.
9. Under HOTMA, the definition of “net family assets” includes:
A) Personal belongings
B) Vehicles used for daily transportation
C) Cash value of life insurance policies
D) Real property value minus debt
Answer: D
Rationale: Net assets = market value minus debt; excludes personal effects
and one vehicle per family member.
10. HOTMA changes the treatment of student financial aid. Which is
excluded?
A) Pell grants and loans for tuition
B) Work-study wages
C) Living expense loans
, D) All of the above
Answer: D
Rationale: All forms of student aid (grants, loans, work-study) are excluded
from annual income.
11. For families receiving TANF, HOTMA requires counting:
A) Full TANF grant
B) Only the portion designated for housing
C) Only the portion for utilities
D) TANF is fully excluded
Answer: A
Rationale: TANF is counted unless it’s a child-only grant, per HOTMA.
12. HOTMA allows PHAs to use interim recertification only for changes that:
A) Occur within 60 days of annual recertification
B) Result in rent decrease of at least $25/month
C) Result in rent increase of at least 10% or $25/month (whichever is greater)
D) Are requested by the family
Answer: C
Rationale: To reduce administrative burden, HOTMA sets a materiality
threshold for income increases.
13. Under HOTMA, families must report an increase in annual income
within:
A) 10 days
B) 30 days
C) 45 days
D) 60 days
Answer: B
*Rationale: 30-day reporting requirement remains for changes affecting
rent.*
14. The HOTMA provision regarding “asset income” uses which imputed
rate?
A) 1% of total assets
Questions and Answers Already Graded A+ Latest
Versions 2026
Exam Title: NMA HCV Specialist HOTMA Now Exam
Total Questions: 150
Passing Score: 80%
Time Allowed: 3 hours
Section 1: HOTMA Overview & Effective Dates (Questions 1–15)
1. HOTMA was signed into law in what year?
A) 2014
B) 2015
C) 2016
D) 2017
Answer: C
Rationale: HOTMA was enacted on July 29, 2016, but its final HUD rule was
published in 2023 with staggered effective dates.
2. The HOTMA final rule became effective on:
A) January 1, 2020
B) October 1, 2023
C) April 1, 2024
D) July 1, 2025
Answer: B
Rationale: HUD’s HOTMA final rule took effect on October 1, 2023, with
certain provisions delayed until January 1, 2024, or later.
3. HOTMA primarily amends which federal housing acts?
A) Fair Housing Act and ADA
B) United States Housing Act of 1937 and the Cranston-Gonzalez Act
,C) Section 8 and Section 202
D) Violence Against Women Act and McKinney-Vento
Answer: B
*Rationale: HOTMA amends the U.S. Housing Act of 1937 (HCV and public
housing) and the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act.*
4. Under HOTMA, the definition of “annual income” for HCV programs is
now aligned with:
A) IRS adjusted gross income (AGI)
B) Gross wages before taxes
C) Social Security benefit amounts
D) Prior year’s HUD-defined annual income
Answer: A
Rationale: HOTMA replaces HUD’s old definition with IRS AGI plus certain
exclusions.
5. HOTMA requires PHAs to use income determinations that are at least
how many years old for most families?
A) 1 year
B) 2 years
C) 3 years
D) 5 years
Answer: B
*Rationale: HOTMA allows 2-year income verification cycles for families
with stable income, except those with reportable increases.*
6. Which families are exempt from HOTMA’s extended income
recertification cycle?
A) Elderly families only
B) Families with children
C) Families with mandatory reporting events (e.g., income increase above
threshold)
D) All families
Answer: C
,*Rationale: Families whose income changes above the HOTMA threshold
must report within 30 days, breaking the 2-year cycle.*
7. HOTMA’s “streamlined income determination” applies to families with:
A) No earned income
B) Fixed income from Social Security, SSI, pensions
C) Self-employment income
D) Income from assets only
Answer: B
Rationale: Streamlined determination is for fixed-income families, reducing
burden.
8. The HOTMA “minimum rent” exemption threshold for hardship is set at:
A) 1.5% of PHA’s average rent
B) 2.5% of family’s monthly income
C) $25 or 2.5% of monthly income, whichever is greater
D) $50 fixed
Answer: C
Rationale: HOTMA sets hardship exemption when minimum rent ($25 or
2.5% of income) causes severe financial distress.
9. Under HOTMA, the definition of “net family assets” includes:
A) Personal belongings
B) Vehicles used for daily transportation
C) Cash value of life insurance policies
D) Real property value minus debt
Answer: D
Rationale: Net assets = market value minus debt; excludes personal effects
and one vehicle per family member.
10. HOTMA changes the treatment of student financial aid. Which is
excluded?
A) Pell grants and loans for tuition
B) Work-study wages
C) Living expense loans
, D) All of the above
Answer: D
Rationale: All forms of student aid (grants, loans, work-study) are excluded
from annual income.
11. For families receiving TANF, HOTMA requires counting:
A) Full TANF grant
B) Only the portion designated for housing
C) Only the portion for utilities
D) TANF is fully excluded
Answer: A
Rationale: TANF is counted unless it’s a child-only grant, per HOTMA.
12. HOTMA allows PHAs to use interim recertification only for changes that:
A) Occur within 60 days of annual recertification
B) Result in rent decrease of at least $25/month
C) Result in rent increase of at least 10% or $25/month (whichever is greater)
D) Are requested by the family
Answer: C
Rationale: To reduce administrative burden, HOTMA sets a materiality
threshold for income increases.
13. Under HOTMA, families must report an increase in annual income
within:
A) 10 days
B) 30 days
C) 45 days
D) 60 days
Answer: B
*Rationale: 30-day reporting requirement remains for changes affecting
rent.*
14. The HOTMA provision regarding “asset income” uses which imputed
rate?
A) 1% of total assets
