Step-by-Step Guidance on How to Apply for ERAP
Navigate to https://nysrenthelp.otda.ny.gov/en/ERAPApplication/StartOrResume .
In the top right corner of the website, click on “Sign Up”.
There are two registration options at the landing page, we are going to use the first option which is for tenants. Click “Register as a Tenant”.
Here, you will be asked for some basic information and your functioning email address to receive updates for your ERAP account.
Since this is a new application, click “NO” for “Did you submit an application already?”
Verify that you are human and not a Bot by:
- Clicking the check box “I’m not a Robot”
- Select the Privacy Policy to accept it
- Click on the “Register” to create your ERAP
NOTE: All field must be filled with correct detail to avoid error messages and for the process to continue. Such as using the correct format for your PASSWORD(Passwords must have at least one non alphanumeric character).
An account registration confirmation email will be sent to your registered email address. You will click on it to confirm your new profile.
Applicant Information
Login to your ERAP account with your credentials
On login in and loading the next page, you will be asked to put in your phone number to set up two-factor authentication in which a code will be sent to you for security reasons. This process will be done every time an attempt is made to login to your account.
Confirm your two-factor by entering the pin sent to your phone on the ERAP page.
Start New Application
After completion of the previous step, the https://nysrenthelp.otda.ny.gov/en/ERAPApplication/StartOrResume page will load and you can start your ERAP application.
Click on the new application the first page will load in and it will ask you for some basic information you’re going to start with one person in your household.
Put in your name here and then it’ll ask you for that person’s date of birth and other details as shown on the image(Note that I came up with imaginary information), select the gender. fill in your address which is required as well as the city and the state.
Anything with a little red asterisk or star is a required field that needs to be filled, why those without the red dots(star) are not generally required but every once in a while there will be something that they need one or the other.
Obviously you’re likely to have a social security number so you can fill it in here
Fill in the race and ethnicity, fill in whether you’re currently renting what kind of a lease you’ve got, your employment status, whether or not you’re a full-time student, if you have filed taxes for the stipulated period in which you are not mandatory, but if you have they will request for it.
Also on the form, you will be asked whether you want an emergency proxy, someone that can stand in for you when you’re not available.
Once you have finish, hit “Save” which will take you to the next step
COVID-19 Hardship details
This section is to fill in the details on whether you or any household member received unemployment benefits. So you either check yes or no. If yes, how were you or a member of your household impacted financially be it income or increase costs, such as costs or purchase of PPE(Personal Protective Equipment) like nose mask will qualify as a hardship under covid-19.
This question will determine whether you get accelerated processing. In this case, we will check one of them and also check the appropriate answer to the follow up question and click the save button to continue.
Add additional household information
The next stage of the application is where you fill in details of additional householder members if that applies to you. Add them in here and make sure you have their social security numbers and birth dates handy when you do this. you don’t need to have their id’s in front of you you can upload those later. Hit save and move to the next stage.
Income
The next stage is where we’ll fill in any income that any household members have. There’s also some details here about other programs you may be getting money for but that doesn’t count as income with a lot of yes and no’s
For any other sources or assistance, you can just answer yes or no to whether you receive snap benefits or heap, whether you are getting medicaid which meet the definition of zero income.
So for the sake of this tutorial, we are not adding any income. If in your case you have income that a member of your household receives, you can go ahead to click the add income and the amount received and when you get the paycheck.
Click “Save” to continue and you will see the next page with your application number highlighted in green. Make sure to write it out in a safe place.
Provide Lease Information
On this page, enter the lease information such as the lease term, when did that lease start or when did you begin paying rent by clicking the date of the calendar and then the monthly rental amount; what does your lease say you’re paying in rent and then the type of dwelling that you’re in, how many bedrooms are in your unit, whether there’s any kind of support or subsidy for your unit.
Then whether you’re renting it from the owner or from a property manager and in either case they will ask for information about the owner and this is one of those things where you need either an email for the owner and a phone number.
Rent Arrears
In the “Rental Arrears” section you will first find reminders on how to list past due rent on the application and there is a maximum of 12 months of arrears that may be able to be paid through this program, starting March 2020.
In the space provided, input the amount of past rent due by month. Once you have input the required information in the spaces provided for “Regular Monthly Rent” and the “Amount Past Due”, the “Late or other Fees”. Click “Save” to proceed to the next stage.
Utilities
Here we are in utilities so if you or any member of your household needs assistance with utilities you can put yes and it’ll ask you lots of detailed questions about that which you can fill in all the details. In this case, our fictional character does not need help with utilities. Let’s save and proceed to the next stage.
Prior And Current Rental Assistance
Here will be asked about prior and current rental assistance in order for the ERAP program not to duplicate monies you’re already receiving from another program. So these questions are being asked to make sure that you’re not getting double assistance.
Double assistance not allowed. If you have received assistance from any of these other sources you just fill it in and they’ll make sure that they get you the most assistance under ERAP that’s allowable. Click Save to move to the next page.
Communication Preference
This communication references if the ERAP Program needs to let you know anything, what is your preferred channel to get information; do you want an email from them, a text message or do you want paper notices in the mail. You can choose any of those but for the sake of this dummy we’re going to choose email and then select your preferred language for written communications and whether you need any alternative formats. Click Save and it will take us to the final stage.
Applicant Certification
Read the “Application Certification” page carefully. It details important requirements for participation in the program.
Click “Yes” to confirm the information provided is true, complete, and accurate. Then enter your first and last name. Click “Submit” to complete the application process.
Upload Document
To complete the application by upload documents for tenants you will need to put in your application number and your date of birth and then your document type can be anything that they’ve already got specified like a birth certificate, a lease, your photo id and all the document type listed why you click the drop down box or it could also be other, may be some something that isn’t actually specifically listed but will be helpful for your application.
Go ahead tol select your file whether you’re on your phone or on a laptop or a computer it’ll get you into your usual file interface you’ll select the file after you’ve selected the file the file name will appear right here you’ll click that you’re not a robot you will upload documents
Once you’ve finished your online application data entry and all of the document uploads your side of the application will be complete.