Tenant Application Process
Any tenant who is below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and having difficulty paying rent may be eligible for the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.
Above 50% AMI
If your household income is above 50% AMI, you must also meet the below requirements to be eligible.
- The renter must be scheduled by the Sheriff for eviction, or there must be an active Warrant for Possession that would allow the Sheriff to evict, or the renter received a court summons or court judgment.
- Rental property located in Prince George’s County.
- Prince George’s County residents faced financial hardship arising because of or during the COVID-19 public health crisis.
At or Below 50% AMI
If your household income is 50% or lower than the AMI, we encourage you to submit all the paperwork you have, however, eviction paperwork is not required.
Required Information & Documentation
Landlords and tenants applying for assistance from the Emergency Rental Assistance Program must submit their application with the documents listed below. Read our Guide Documents for a Successful Application (PDF) to gather the right documents for your application. DHCD may request additional information outside of the list identified below, where necessary to validate the information provided in this ERAP application.
When applying, you will need to verify your residency and income to be eligible.
Residency Verification
To verify your address, you can provide one of the below documents:
- Copy of the current valid lease which includes tenants' names (tenants’ names on the lease must match applicant(s))
- Copy of signed Approval Letter for New Rental Unit Lease
Income Verification
Tenant must report the household’s total income for the applicable calendar year for all adults over the age of 18 that is not a full-time student. Please submit all that applies to the tenant's household.
Documents include, but are not limited to:
- W2 for Calendar Year 2021 (only for applications submitted in 2021)
- Tax Filings for Calendar Year 2021 (only for applications submitted in 2021)
- W2 for Calendar Year 2022 (only for applications submitted in 2022)
- W2 for Applicable Calendar Year
- Tax Filings for the most recent tax filing year
- IRS Transcripts for Applicable Calendar Year
- At least 1 month's worth of most recent paystubs/ paycheck earnings for each member of the household who is over the age of 18 and not a full-time college student
- Unemployment Benefits – Government Issued 1099 Tax Form for Applicable Calendar Year (For example 2021, 2022, and/or 2023) for each affected member of the household
- Current copy of Social Security or other monthly government income/benefits if applicable to any/all member(s) of the household
- Current copy of pension statement if applicable to any/all member(s) of the household
- Current copies of alimony or child support payments, if applicable
- At least 3 Months’ worth of most recent paystubs (recommended) or other wage statements
- Bank statements demonstrating regular income; or
- An attestation from an employer
- Tenant Eligibility Attestation (Fillable Form for Download)Tenant Eligibility Attestation* (Fillable Form for Download)
- Tenant Eligibility Attestation (Spanish) (Fillable Form for Download)
- Client Information Authorization* (Fillable Form for Download)
- Client Information Authorization (Spanish) (Fillable Form for Download)
If Applicable
The below documents are also needed if they apply:
- Utility Bill(s)
- Eviction Document – Court Notice/ Court Summons/ Judgement/ Warrant of Restitution (Writ)
- Tenant Income Self-Certification Form (Fillable Form for Download)
- Tenant Income Self-Certification Form (Spanish) (Fillable Form for Download)
- Direct Tenant Payments - Tenant Authorization Form (Fillable Form for Download)
- Landlord and/or Tenant Attestations for Expired Lease, Residency & Rental Obligation (Fillable Form for Download)
Request from Landlord
Work with your landlord or the property owner to gather and submit the below;
- Rent Ledger
- Copy of Landlord’s Rental License
- Copy of Landlord W-9 Form (Fillable Form for Download)
- PGC Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) Enrollment Form/Automated Clearing House (ACH) (Fillable Form for Download)
- Landlord Rental Assistance Agreement (Fillable Form for Download)