How the check works
The NYC Rent Freeze Program has two parts. SCRIE (Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption) is for tenants 62 or older. DRIE (Disability Rent Increase Exemption) is for tenants 18 or older who receive a qualifying disability benefit. Approved tenants are protected from future rent increases, and a property tax abatement credit covers the difference. A household can have SCRIE or DRIE, but not both at the same time.
The checker runs the same five tests the Department of Finance (DOF) lists:
- Age 62+ for SCRIE, or age 18+ with a qualifying disability benefit for DRIE.
- Combined household income of $50,000 or less for the previous calendar year.
- Rent of more than one-third of monthly household income. DOF says to divide annual income by 36.
- A covered apartment: rent stabilized, rent controlled, a rent-regulated hotel, or certain subsidized buildings.
- You live there and are named on the lease, or have succession rights. Sublets do not qualify.
| SCRIE | DRIE | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | 62 | 18 |
| Disability benefit needed | No | Yes: SSI, SSDI, VA or USPS disability, or disability Medicaid after SSI/SSDI |
| Income limit | $50,000 | $50,000 |
| Rent test | Rent > 1/3 of monthly income | Rent > 1/3 of monthly income |
| Mitchell-Lama / HDFC / Section 213 | Apply through HPD | Apply through DOF |
Estimating your frozen rent
According to DOF's FAQ, your frozen rent is the greater of the rent on your immediately prior lease or one-third of your monthly income. If you pay a preferential rent below the legal rent, a new applicant's freeze is based on the preferential rent; tax-credit (LIHTC) units also have their own rule. The chart in the tool assumes your rent would otherwise rise by the yearly percentage you enter. It is an illustration, not a forecast: Rent Guidelines Board increases change every year (see RGB increases by year).
Worked example
A 68-year-old tenant in a rent-stabilized one-bedroom had household income of $30,000 last year. One-third of monthly income is $30,000 ÷ 36 = $833. The new lease rent is $1,450, which is more than $833, so the rent test passes. Income is under $50,000, the unit is stabilized and the tenant is on the lease, so SCRIE is likely.
The prior lease was $1,400, which is higher than $833, so the estimated frozen rent is $1,400: about $50 a month less right away. If rent would otherwise rise 3% a year, it would reach about $1,681 in five years, and the freeze would save roughly $31,000 over ten years.
How to apply
- 1
Gather documents
Your current and prior lease (or rent-control notices), proof of age or disability benefit, and income records such as tax returns or an SSA-1099 for everyone in the household. - 2
Pick the right agency
Most tenants apply to DOF, online through the Tenant Access Portal or on a paper form. SCRIE applicants in Mitchell-Lama, HDFC, Redevelopment Company or Section 213 buildings apply to HPD. - 3
Apply soon after a rent increase
HPD says SCRIE applications it receives within 120 days of an increase get credits back to the increase date. - 4
Renew on time
Benefits must be renewed. DOF lets you renew online starting 60 days before your benefit expires.
Not sure your apartment is regulated? Use the rent-stabilized checker or read is my apartment rent stabilized? For a longer explanation of the program, see SCRIE and DRIE explained.