Most residents are exempt from the Community Service requirement. Your Housing Assistant will be able to confirm your exemption status. In January 2006, the following changes to NYCHA's Community Service exemptions went into effect, expanding the exemptions as follows:

• Age for a permanent exemption reduced from 62 to 60.
• Exempted both adults of a two-adult family with at least one child below age 13 in the household even if only one adult works, provided earnings are at least $9,373 per year or where the adult works a minimum of 35 hours per week. Formerly, both adults were required to work for both to be exempt.
• Added an exemption for all authorized family members living in the same apartment if at least one family member receives public assistance and complies with the program.
• A resident who is pregnant receives a total credit of 8 hours towards Community Service requirements upon proof of pregnancy. With correspondence from her physician, NYCHA will exclude a pregnant individual for the period of her pregnancy as recommended by her physician.
• A resident receives a credit of 8 hours for every 30 days of illness and where they are unable to work.