INSIDER's Pop Quiz!

Q: The move-out of a household member will always lower the household’s rent, because you no longer are including the former member’s income in your rent calculation. True or false?

A: False. In some cases, the household’s rent will increase if the departed member qualified for allowances that no longer can be applied for the household. Any allowances the former member may have had due to age, disability, or medical expenses, for instance, can’t be applied to the household’s total rent calculation after the move-out.

For more information on what to do when a household member moves out, see “Take Three Steps to Prevent Subsidy Abuse When Household Member Moves Out.”