The Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) and the Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) programs exempts eligible seniors and people on disability who live in rent controlled, rent stabilized, certain residential hotel units, and Mitchell Lama Developments under the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Developments Division of Alternative Management Programs (DAMP) from most rent increases. These programs also safeguard building owners by fully reimbursing them in the form of a tax abatement credit or refund of the difference between the actual rent and the SCRIE and DRIE rent amount.

The SCRIE and DRIE programs exempt eligible seniors and people with disability from the following rent increases: 7 1/2% rent increases charged to rent controlled tenants; Rent Guidelines Board approved increases charged to rent stabilized tenants; and Major Capital Improvement (MCI) rent increases. Please Note: It is the tenant's responsibility to pay the security deposit and 1/40 th of the cost for new equipment which are “non-exemptible increases” under the SCRIE and DRIE programs.

In order to qualify for SCRIE, you or your spouse must meet the following requirements: Head of household must be 62 years or older; combined yearly income of all members of the household must be $27,000 or less; and monthly rent must be at least 1/3 of the total monthly household income.

Please Note:  Effective July 1, 2008, the income requirement for SCRIE will increase to $28,000.

To qualify for DRIE, you must be receiving one of the following financial assistance programs: Federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI); Federal Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Disability pension or compensation; and Medicaid-related disability assistance. The applicant must also meet the following requirements: Applicant with the disability must be named on the lease; Household yearly income for an individual must be less than $18,396, if two or more household members combined income must be less than $26,460; and monthly rent must be at least 1/3 of the total monthly household income.

Both SCRIE & DRIE applications are available at the Central Astoria LDC office, 28-27 Steinway Street , Astoria . For more information, or assistance call the “Housing Advisor” at (718) 204-1056.