The NYC W-147N Security Voucher is a form the Human Resources Administration (HRA) issues to Cash Assistance recipients in place of a cash security deposit. Instead of handing you money to give the landlord, HRA gives the landlord a written guarantee: if you later leave owing rent or cause damage to the apartment, HRA will reimburse the landlord up to one month’s rent.1NYC Human Resources Administration. Security Voucher (W-147N)
One month’s rent is the cap. If the actual loss is higher, HRA still pays no more than that. The voucher is not valid until both pages are completed, signed, notarized by the landlord, and returned to HRA.
How to Request the Voucher
You do not download the W-147N and fill it out yourself. You ask HRA for it, and an HRA staff member completes it using your case information: your name, case number, the address of the apartment you are moving into, and the monthly rent.2NYC Human Resources Administration. Cash Assistance Special Grant Document Guide
If you are moving into a New York City Housing Authority apartment, the request goes through NYCHA instead. Ask NYCHA to complete the security voucher form and send it directly to HRA.2NYC Human Resources Administration. Cash Assistance Special Grant Document Guide
A fillable PDF of the form is posted on the NYC.gov website if your landlord or broker wants to review the exact language before signing a lease.
Signing, Notarizing, and Returning the Form
The voucher has two pages, and both must be completed before HRA will treat it as active. The front page identifies the tenant and the apartment. The back page contains the Landlord’s Claim for Security Voucher Payment, which the landlord will only use later if there is a loss, plus the notary block.1NYC Human Resources Administration. Security Voucher (W-147N)
The landlord signs the form. For a corporate-owned building, an officer of the corporation signs. The signature has to be notarized, and the notary language on the back page requires the landlord to swear under penalty of perjury that the information is true and complete. Banks, UPS stores, and law offices around the city offer notary services, usually for a small fee.
Once notarized, the form goes back to HRA. Keep a copy for yourself, and make sure the landlord keeps one too. The voucher stays in effect for the duration of the tenancy.
If the Landlord Refuses to Accept the Voucher
Some landlords push back and ask for a cash deposit instead. Refusing the voucher may be unlawful. The form itself puts landlords on notice that refusal “may constitute source of income discrimination under the NYC Human Rights Law Sec. 8-107(5)(a)(1)-(2).”1NYC Human Resources Administration. Security Voucher (W-147N)
Under that provision of the NYC Administrative Code, an owner, managing agent, or anyone with the right to rent a unit cannot refuse to rent, or impose different terms, because of a prospective tenant’s lawful source of income. Government-issued vouchers and subsidies count.3New York City Administrative Code. NYC Administrative Code 8-107 – Unlawful Discriminatory Practices
If a landlord turns you away over the W-147N, you can file a complaint with the NYC Commission on Human Rights. The Commission can order the landlord to rent you the apartment, pay damages, and change their rental practices.
How a Landlord Collects on the Voucher Later
If you ever move out owing rent or leaving damage, the landlord has a tight window and strict paperwork requirements to actually get paid. The claim must be submitted to HRA within three months of the tenant vacating the apartment, and payment cannot exceed one month’s rent regardless of how high the actual loss is.1NYC Human Resources Administration. Security Voucher (W-147N)
The landlord fills out the claim section on the back page of the W-147N and submits it with:
- Proof of ownership, such as a deed or tax bill.
- Documentation of unpaid rent, such as a court judgment, stipulation, or itemized ledger.
- Documentation of damage, such as photographs, repair estimates, or receipts.
HRA reviews the documentation before paying anything.
Claims go to:
Office of Central Processing
PO Box 02-9121, Brooklyn GPO
Brooklyn, NY 11202-99141NYC Human Resources Administration. Security Voucher (W-147N)
Use certified mail or another method that produces a delivery receipt. If HRA says the claim never arrived, that receipt is the only proof the three-month deadline was met.
If HRA Denies the Voucher
If HRA refuses to issue a security voucher, or cuts your Cash Assistance in a way that affects your housing, you can request a fair hearing through the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. The statewide number is 1-800-342-3334.4New York State OTDA. Request a Fair Hearing
Request the hearing before the effective date of any benefit reduction. If you do, your existing benefits generally continue while the hearing is pending. Wait until after the change takes effect and you will need to show at the hearing that you did not receive proper notice before a hearing officer can order benefits restored.