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Rent freeze for seniors
Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) | NYC Department of Finance (DOF)
1. How it Works
SCRIE helps eligible senior citizens ages 62 and over 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 SCRIE and renew on time.
- Senior citizens who live in certain rentals or developments can qualify for SCRIE.
- You can qualify for SCRIE even if you have not filed your taxes.
- 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 Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE).
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.
If you live in an HPD development, visit HPD’s website to learn more about HPD-supervised SCRIE.
Contact SCRIE
Request assistance from the Department of Finance.
Email HPD
For questions about HPD-supervised SCRIE, email SCRIE@hpd.nyc.gov
Call 311
Ask for a SCRIE specialist.
Call SCRIE using TTY
Call 212-639-9675 if you have a hard time hearing.
Call HPD
Call 212-863-8494 if you have questions about HPD-supervised SCRIE.
2. Determine your eligibility
To be eligible for SCRIE, you should be able to answer “yes” to all of these questions:
- Are you 62 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?
- Do you live in NYC in one of these types of housing?
- a rent stabilized apartment
- a rent controlled apartment
- a rent regulated hotel or single room occupancy unit
- a Mitchell-Lama development
- a Limited Dividend Housing Company development
- a Redevelopment Company development
- a Housing Development Fund Company development
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 SCRIE, you will need copies of documents that prove:
- Who you are (and your age)
- Where you live
- You need to prove your rent which includes prior and current documents or leases.
- Income
- This includes your income and the income of all household members who lived in your apartment for the year before you submit your application. For example, if you apply in 2022, you will need income information for 2021.
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 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
- 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)
- Rent history printout or letter from your management office with the date of your last rent increase, and the amount paid before and after the increase
- Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) or Division of Housing & Community Renewal (DHCR) Commissioner’s Order
For Housing Development Fund Company (HDFC)
- A Notice of Rent or Carrying Charge Increase signed by the HDFC Management
- Copy of the share certificate (if applicable)
Proof of household 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, or Retirement)
- Correspondence from Social Security Administration showing the benefit amount paid in the last calendar year (e.g. Notice of Change in Payment for SSI benefit, or SSA-1099 SSDI benefit)
Veteran’s Benefits
- Correspondence from the Veteran’s Administration that shows the disability pension or compensation that you were paid in the last calendar year
Pensions, Annuities, or IRA
- 1099-R
- Statement from pension or annuity
Interest, Dividends, or 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 student status
For any non-working student:
- Student status letter
Next section:
4. How to apply
Here are your options.
Apply online
Apply online
If you are applying for SCRIE for the first time, you can apply online.
Apply during a virtual appointment
- You can get help applying to SCRIE 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 SCRIE 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 – SCRIE
P.O. Box 3179
Union, NJ 07083
If you live in a Mitchell-Lama or Redevelopment Company development housing:
- Download the HPD SCRIE application and mail it to:
HPD SCRIE Unit
100 Gold Street, 7th floor
New York, New York, 10038 - You can also email your completed application to SCRIE@hpd.nyc.gov.
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.
If you live in an HPD development, visit HPD’s website to learn more about HPD-supervised SCRIE.
Contact SCRIE
Request assistance from the Department of Finance.
Email HPD
For questions about HPD-supervised SCRIE, email SCRIE@hpd.nyc.gov
Call 311
Ask for a SCRIE specialist.
Call SCRIE using TTY
Call 212-639-9675 if you have a hard time hearing.
Call HPD
Call 212-863-8494 if you have questions about HPD-supervised SCRIE.
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