How to help applicants trust Upfront Income Verifications

By Mike Sederholm on November 12, 2025 in Technology

Family of three looking at a laptop in home setting

Many affordable housing providers have found that Upfront Income Verification (UIV) is the fastest and most secure way to meet HUD requirements. In fact, through the Housing Opportunities Through Modernization Act (HOTMA), UIV has recently become HUD’s preferred method of verifying the finances of affordable housing applicants.

UIV replaces manual paperwork that housing specialists once took hours to complete. Manual verifications requires sending paychecks, bank statements and other personal documentation out to authorities to ensure they accurately depicted every affordable housing applicant’s income and assets.

UIV, including through Yardi Verification Services, makes verifications much easier. Applicants log in to their payroll or bank provider once, then income verification happens automatically and nearly instantaneously. Staff no longer spend days chasing paper forms, and applicants see the benefit of faster move-ins.

Yet some applicants still opt out. They may fear sharing login credentials, worry about data misuse or simply prefer the old way. When they choose manual documentation, it creates delays, more staff effort and longer waits for housing.

Overcoming this resistance starts with building trust. Here are five strategies to get started.

1. Explain why UIV is safer than paper processes

Applicants often assume paper feels safer because it is physical. In reality, paper-based processes create risks since documents can be lost, mishandled or exposed. Staff can help ease those fears by:

Explaining that UIV uses bank-level encryption and secure connections
Clarifying that Yardi never stores login credentials and that access is one-time only per verification
Framing UIV as less risky than paper because automation reduces errors and exposure

2. Show the personal benefit

Applicants are more likely to cooperate when they understand the payoff. For applicants and recertifying households, benefits include:

Faster move-ins: UIV can cut days or weeks from the approval timeline
Less hassle: No more chasing pay stubs or calling employers
Fewer touchpoints: Automated verification reduces repeated calls, emails and texts

3. Use staff as guides & reassurers

Most people have greater trust in professional service providers than a message from an unfamiliar source, be it a text or email. Personal trust is an opportunity for affordable housing professionals to help applicants feel secure. Ideas include:

Walking applicants through the login process step by step
Answering questions patiently and acknowledging concerns without dismissing them
Offering to sit with applicants in person or virtually as they complete each step

4. Normalize UIV as the standard

Applicants are more likely to accept UIV if it feels like the expected process. Staff can reinforce this by:

Introducing UIV early in communications and marketing as the primary verification method
Describing manual paperwork as slower and less desirable
Tracking and sharing statistics that show an upward trend in UIV acceptance, once available

5. Highlight compliance & integrity

For hesitant applicants, providers may decide to point to the bigger picture. Take time to explain how their participation helps the industry house more people:

UIV is a convenient, HUD-backed requirement that ensures fairness and consistency
Completing UIV helps protect affordable housing programs from fraud and ensures resources reach those who qualify

Conclusion

Upfront Income Verification is faster, safer and more accurate than traditional paper forms. But for some applicants, trust remains the final hurdle. By addressing security concerns head-on, emphasizing applicant benefits, guiding them through the process and normalizing UIV as the standard, affordable housing providers can reduce opt-outs and accelerate move-ins.

Frequently asked questions

What is Upfront Income Verification (UIV) in affordable housing?

Upfront Income Verification (UIV) is the process HUD requires housing providers to use when verifying applicant income and assets. Instead of relying on paper forms or pay stubs, UIV connects directly with payroll providers and financial institutions to confirm income and assets securely and accurately.

Is Yardi Verification Services safe for applicants?

Yes. Yardi Verification Services uses secure, encrypted connections with payroll and bank providers. Applicant login details are never stored, shared or reused. This makes UIV safer than paper-based verification, which can be lost or mishandled.

Providing secure login access allows the system to confirm income and assets instantly. This means faster approvals, less paperwork and fewer delays compared to manual document collection.

Can I opt out of Upfront Income Verification and submit forms instead?

Yes, but opting out creates longer processing times. Manual forms require staff to chase documents, verify details by hand and follow up for missing information. UIV is almost always the faster and more reliable option.

How does UIV help applicants move in faster?

Because UIV verifies income and assets automatically, housing providers can approve applications in a fraction of the time. This reduces waitlists, speeds up move-in dates and gets applicants into housing more quickly.

Does HUD require Upfront Income Verification?

No, but it might be some day. As of fall 2025, HUD strongly encourages housing providers to use UIV because it improves accuracy, protects program integrity and ensures fairness for all applicants.

HUD allows applicants to bring in paystubs or bank documents, so why use UIV?

Yes, but HUD still prefers UIV. When you accept tenant-provided documentation, you increase the risk of fraud. It is difficult to tell if the document is real or something was made by the many websites that allow you to create your own paystubs or bank statements.