OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS
Legislative Office Building, Room 5200
Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 240-0200
http://www.cga.ct.gov/ofa
sHB-6941
AN ACT EXEMPTING THE INCOME EARNED BY A CHILD OF AN
APPLICANT FROM THE CALCULATION OF GROSS INCOME IN
CONSIDERATION FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE RENTAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
Primary Analyst: BP 3/24/25
Contributing Analyst(s):
Reviewer: PR
OFA Fiscal Note
State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 26 $ FY 27 $
Department of Housing GF - Cost 2,000,000 2,000,000
Note: GF=General Fund
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill, which excludes certain income earned by children under
age 24 from the eligibility determination for the Rental Assistance
Program (RAP), results in an estimated annual cost of approximately $2
million to the Department of Housing (DOH).
There are at least 627 household members between the ages of 18-24
in households that receive RAP certificates.
1
The average annual income
for an individual living in a household that receives a RAP certificate is
$7,657.
Households who currently receive RAP certificates pay 40% of their
total income towards their rent and utilities. The RAP certificate covers
the rest of the rent; therefore, any decrease in certificate holder income
results in an increase in cost to DOH. If each household member
1
All earned income from children and foster children under age 18 is currently
excluded. 2025HB-06941-R000232-FN.docx Page 2 of 2
between the ages of 18-24 earns the average annual income of a RAP
household member, then their portion of rent will decrease by about
$3,063 annually which will result in a cost of approximately $2 million
annually to DOH.
2
DOH does not remove households from the RAP program unless the
household is no longer eligible. However, changes in eligibility and
associated changes to the average RAP certificate cost may impact how
many certificates can be issued in the future.
The Out Years
The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would
continue into the future subject to actual income received by RAP
certificate holders and their ongoing eligibility for RAP.
2
Under current policy, earned income from full-time students after the first $480 is
excluded. There are at least 162 household members who have full-time student status
in households that receive RAP certificates that are under age 24. These household
members are spread between approximately 155 households.