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Rent freeze for people with disabilities
Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) | NYC Department of Finance (DOF)
1. How it Works
DRIE helps eligible tenants with disabilities stay in affordable housing by freezing their rent. Tenants pay the frozen rent. A property tax credit covers the difference between the actual rent amount and the frozen rent.
- You can keep paying the same amount of rent in the future as you do now if you apply for DRIE and renew on time.
- You need to be receiving a qualifying disability benefit to qualify for DRIE.
- You are not required to file taxes to qualify for DRIE.
- You do not need your landlord’s permission to apply.
- Once you apply, it takes around 10-15 days to hear back.
- The NYC Rent Freeze program also includes the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE).
Next section:
More ways to get help with this program
Visit the websites
Visit the NYC Rent Freeze Program website to learn more. Review the frequently asked questions for the Rent Freeze Program during COVID-19.
Contact DRIE
Request assistance from the Department of Finance.
Call 311
Ask for DRIE specialists.
Call DRIE using TTY
Call 212-639-9675 if you have a hard time hearing.
2. Determine your eligibility
To be eligible for DRIE, you should be able to answer “Yes” to all of these questions:
- Are you 18 years old or older?
- Is your name on the lease?
- Is your combined household income $50,000 or less in a year?
- Do you spend more than one-third of your monthly income on rent?
- Did you have income from the following benefits?
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Federal Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability pension or compensation
- Disability-related Medicaid if you have received either SSI or SSDI in the past
- Do you live in NYC in one of these types of housing?
- a rent stabilized apartment
- a rent controlled apartment
- a Mitchell-Lama development
- a Limited Dividend development
- a redevelopment company development
- a Housing Development Fund Company (HDFC) Cooperative development
- a Section 213 Cooperative unit
- a rent regulated hotel or single room occupancy unit
Take a short survey to see if you might be eligible for this or 30 other programs.
Am I Eligible?Next section:
3. What you need to include
To apply for DRIE, you will need copies of documents that prove:
- Who you are (and your age)
- Where you live (with rental amount)
- Income
- This includes your income and the income of all household members who lived in your apartment the year before you submit your application. For example, if you apply in 2022, you will need income information for 2021.
- That you receive a qualifying disability benefit (and award letter)
Proof of who you are
For each person applying, any one document:
- Driver license or official photo ID
- IDNYC
- Birth certificate
- Baptismal or another religious certificate
- Passport
- Social Security Card for dependents
- Social Security Card or ITIN
- Marriage records
- Medicaid card
- Naturalization certificate
- Official hospital or birth records
- Official school records
- Other official record showing birth date
- Adoption records
Proof of where you live
For the household, a copy of all that apply:
For Rent Stabilized Apartment
- Leases – The prior and current one or two-year lease signed by you and your landlord
- Preferential rent rider (if applicable)
- Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) or 80/20 or 60/40 rider (if applicable) or DHCR Rent History
- Any recent Major Capital Improvement (MCI) Orders issued by the Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR)
For Rent Controlled Apartment (a copy of all of these)
- Prior calendar year Notice of Increase in Maximum Base Rent and Maximum Collectible Rent Form RN-26
- Current calendar year Notice of Increase in Maximum Base Rent and Maximum Collectible Rent Form RN-26
For Rent Regulated Hotel Unit (send a copy of all that apply)
- DHCR annual apartment registration for prior and current year
- Signed Rent increase letter from the Management or Owner
- DHCR Rent History
- DHCR approved MCI (Major Capital Improvement) order
For Mitchell-Lama Limited Dividend Redevelopment (a copy of all of these)
- A rent printout or letter from your management office specifying the start date and the amount of the prior and current rent increase
- Capital Assessment document
- Affidavit of Household Income for the prior year
- Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) or Division of Housing & Community Renewal (DHCR) Commissioner’s Order
For Housing Development Fund Company (HDFC)
- A Notice of Rent / Carrying Charge Increase signed by the HDFC Management
- Signed renewal lease (if applicable)
Proof of your income
For each income source of each income earner, any one document:
Wages & Salary
- W2
- Income tax return
Self-employment
- 1099-G
- Award letter or certificate
- Correspondence from NYS Department of Labor
Cash Assistance grant
- Cash Assistance budget statement
Unemployment Income
- Award letter or certificate
- Current benefit check
Social Security benefits (SSI, Dependent, Disability, Survivor’s, Retirement)
- Correspondence from Social Security Administration showing the benefit amount paid in the prior calendar year (e.g. Notice of Change in Payment for SSI benefit, or SSA-1099 SSDI benefit)
Veteran’s Benefits
- Correspondence from Veteran’s Administration showing the disability pension or compensation amount paid in the prior calendar year
Pensions, Annuities, or IRA
- 1099-R,
- Statement from pension or annuity
Interest, Dividends, Royalties
- 1099-DIV
- 1099-INT
- Statement from bank, credit union, or financial institution
Support from other family members
- Signed letter from friend/family stating amount of monetary assistance
Proof of your disability status
For each person with a disability, any one document:
- Copy of the Social Security or VA disability award letter
Proof of student status
For any non-working student, any one document:
- Student status letter
Next section:
4. How to apply
Here are your options.
Apply online
Apply online
If you are applying for DRIE for the first time, you can apply online.
Apply during a virtual appointment
You can get help applying to DRIE by scheduling a virtual appointment. When scheduling:
- Under “Select Service”, choose Renter and Homeowner Exemption Programs. Then, choose “Rent Freeze (SCRIE or DRIE) Initial application.
- Under “Select Location”, choose “Exemptions Virtual Appointments.”
- Choose a date and time. Then, fill out your contact information to create your appointment.
Apply by mail
- Print an initial application and fill it out. You can also pick one up from the DRIE Assistance Center or call 311 to request an application be mailed to you.
- Mail your completed and signed application along with supporting documents to:
Rent Freeze Program – DRIE
P.O. Box 3179
Union, NJ 07083
Apply in person
Find a Department of Finance Assistance Center near you to apply. You may need to schedule an appointment to visit a center.
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More ways to get help with this program
Visit the websites
Visit the NYC Rent Freeze Program website to learn more. Review the frequently asked questions for the Rent Freeze Program during COVID-19.
Contact DRIE
Request assistance from the Department of Finance.
Call 311
Ask for DRIE specialists.
Call DRIE using TTY
Call 212-639-9675 if you have a hard time hearing.
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