Rent Issues and How We Deal With Them
· We issue (1) rent check per month.
· Rent checks are mailed directly to the landlord.
· Checks must be paid to the legal owner of the property. We will not make rent checks payable to anyone other than the owner. Most landlords forbid subleasing and PayCo will not partake in any illegal actions. This is for the purpose of protecting our clients in the event that an unforeseen circumstance would occur and the sublessor would attempt to evict without proper notice or after receiving rent money in an attempt to defraud our client.
· There must be a signed lease in order for PayCo to submit rent. Leases must be signed by the future tenant as well as the current landlord or management agent assigned by the landlord. In the event that a lease is not available and a client needs the first months’ rent to obtain a lease, if the leasing agency is an organization (such as an apartment complex or subsidizing company) PayCo will cut a check (1) time to the legal landlord. A lease must follow or rent will not be paid the following month.
· Late Fees- PayCo will absorb any late fees as a result of PayCo not sending rent on time.
o For SSI recipients, rent will be mailed on the 1st of each month.
o For SSDI recipients, rent will be mailed on the 3rd of each month
o For individuals who receive BOTH SSI and SSDI benefits, rent will be mailed on the 3rd of each month.
Once PayCo sends a rent as scheduled and on time, we are not responsible for any late fees. Most landlords will agree that as long as a rent check is post dated by the expected date, rent will not be considered late. PayCo does not have any control over the U.S. Postal Service and cannot control whether or not a rent is processed in a timely manner.
· We recommend that clients discuss with tentative landlords their schedule of benefits. In some cases, rent will be due on the 1st of each month. Please ask the apartment complex when rent is considered late. If client’s benefits do not come in until the 1st or the 3rd of the month, this may be an issue for late rent. In the event that this happens, we would suggest paying the rent (1) month in advance as finances allow, to avoid late fees. PayCo cannot be held responsible for rents due on the 1st of each month if the client funds are not available.
· Eviction Notices/30 Day Notices- If a client receives an eviction notice, please bring the letter to our office (it can also be emailed or faxed). The account manager who oversees the account will help determine if it is due to nonpayment of rent. If PayCo has sent rent and the letter is being received, the account manager will contact the landlord directly to make a resolution. If the eviction is due to reasons other than payment, the account manager will notify the client and/or professional advocate.
· High Rent- Part of having a payee is for help determining which rent and bills fit into one’s monthly income. In the event a client presents a lease that exceeds their benefits or disables the client from being able to pay their monthly bills including receiving spending money, PayCo reserves the right to deny the lease. If you are planning on moving, you can request a meeting with your account manager to determine what would be an acceptable range for rent in accordance with the income.
· Rent Payments Not Received- If a landlord is stating they have not received a rent payment; we are able to make contact with our bank to first determine if the check has been cashed. The assigned account manager will make contact with the landlord and work out an acceptable resolution for both the client and the landlord.
· We issue (1) rent check per month.
· Rent checks are mailed directly to the landlord.
· Checks must be paid to the legal owner of the property. We will not make rent checks payable to anyone other than the owner. Most landlords forbid subleasing and PayCo will not partake in any illegal actions. This is for the purpose of protecting our clients in the event that an unforeseen circumstance would occur and the sublessor would attempt to evict without proper notice or after receiving rent money in an attempt to defraud our client.
· There must be a signed lease in order for PayCo to submit rent. Leases must be signed by the future tenant as well as the current landlord or management agent assigned by the landlord. In the event that a lease is not available and a client needs the first months’ rent to obtain a lease, if the leasing agency is an organization (such as an apartment complex or subsidizing company) PayCo will cut a check (1) time to the legal landlord. A lease must follow or rent will not be paid the following month.
· Late Fees- PayCo will absorb any late fees as a result of PayCo not sending rent on time.
o For SSI recipients, rent will be mailed on the 1st of each month.
o For SSDI recipients, rent will be mailed on the 3rd of each month
o For individuals who receive BOTH SSI and SSDI benefits, rent will be mailed on the 3rd of each month.
Once PayCo sends a rent as scheduled and on time, we are not responsible for any late fees. Most landlords will agree that as long as a rent check is post dated by the expected date, rent will not be considered late. PayCo does not have any control over the U.S. Postal Service and cannot control whether or not a rent is processed in a timely manner.
· We recommend that clients discuss with tentative landlords their schedule of benefits. In some cases, rent will be due on the 1st of each month. Please ask the apartment complex when rent is considered late. If client’s benefits do not come in until the 1st or the 3rd of the month, this may be an issue for late rent. In the event that this happens, we would suggest paying the rent (1) month in advance as finances allow, to avoid late fees. PayCo cannot be held responsible for rents due on the 1st of each month if the client funds are not available.
· Eviction Notices/30 Day Notices- If a client receives an eviction notice, please bring the letter to our office (it can also be emailed or faxed). The account manager who oversees the account will help determine if it is due to nonpayment of rent. If PayCo has sent rent and the letter is being received, the account manager will contact the landlord directly to make a resolution. If the eviction is due to reasons other than payment, the account manager will notify the client and/or professional advocate.
· High Rent- Part of having a payee is for help determining which rent and bills fit into one’s monthly income. In the event a client presents a lease that exceeds their benefits or disables the client from being able to pay their monthly bills including receiving spending money, PayCo reserves the right to deny the lease. If you are planning on moving, you can request a meeting with your account manager to determine what would be an acceptable range for rent in accordance with the income.
· Rent Payments Not Received- If a landlord is stating they have not received a rent payment; we are able to make contact with our bank to first determine if the check has been cashed. The assigned account manager will make contact with the landlord and work out an acceptable resolution for both the client and the landlord.
Roommates and How We Deal With Them
Roommate situations can be a source of confusion, so here is a few details about how our system is set up to ensure bills are paid, in their fair share and on time.
If you have a roommate who receives SSI benefits, all bills must be shared equally including rent.
· Depending on how many individuals are on the lease as a “lessee” will determine how many ways bills are split. PayCo will not pay an entire rent out of (1) persons account for a household that consists of more than (1) adult.
· If PayCo is the payee for all individuals in the home, bills should come directly to our PO Box. Our Accounts Payable office keeps records of current roommate situations and will be sure to split the bills evenly between the roommates.
· If one of the roommates does not have enough money to pay their fair share, our Accounts payable office will pay for the portion which is able to be paid and hold the bill so the other portion(s) can be paid once more funds come in. The assigned Account Manager may also meet with the client/Provider to organize another way to resolve the issue until more money comes in.
· If you have a situation of a roommate change or if a roommate moves out, please let PayCo know as soon as possible.
· Clients with non-client roommates- PayCo is still responsible for paying only half of all bills. In this case, bills may not be mailed to our PO Box. We do not have the resources to forward bills to non-client roommates/providers. Instead we ask that the bills go to the clients home (or wherever deemed appropriate) . At the time of receiving a bill, it should then be either faxed or emailed to the PayCo office with the clients name written on it as well as the amount that should be paid.
· Uneven Splitting of Bills- Can only happen with certain bills i.e. cable, phone and with the permission of our client. Married couples can split bills unevenly.
Roommate situations can be a source of confusion, so here is a few details about how our system is set up to ensure bills are paid, in their fair share and on time.
If you have a roommate who receives SSI benefits, all bills must be shared equally including rent.
· Depending on how many individuals are on the lease as a “lessee” will determine how many ways bills are split. PayCo will not pay an entire rent out of (1) persons account for a household that consists of more than (1) adult.
· If PayCo is the payee for all individuals in the home, bills should come directly to our PO Box. Our Accounts Payable office keeps records of current roommate situations and will be sure to split the bills evenly between the roommates.
· If one of the roommates does not have enough money to pay their fair share, our Accounts payable office will pay for the portion which is able to be paid and hold the bill so the other portion(s) can be paid once more funds come in. The assigned Account Manager may also meet with the client/Provider to organize another way to resolve the issue until more money comes in.
· If you have a situation of a roommate change or if a roommate moves out, please let PayCo know as soon as possible.
· Clients with non-client roommates- PayCo is still responsible for paying only half of all bills. In this case, bills may not be mailed to our PO Box. We do not have the resources to forward bills to non-client roommates/providers. Instead we ask that the bills go to the clients home (or wherever deemed appropriate) . At the time of receiving a bill, it should then be either faxed or emailed to the PayCo office with the clients name written on it as well as the amount that should be paid.
· Uneven Splitting of Bills- Can only happen with certain bills i.e. cable, phone and with the permission of our client. Married couples can split bills unevenly.
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