Jacking and lifting of houses are typically done when it's a relatively "static" issue that was improperly addressed when first built. For example, certain soils (mainly clays, very fine grained soils) compress and undergo consolidation (i.e. compress downwards) as a function of weight and time. Consolidation, when expected, can be mitigated and/or accelerated to "get it all out" so that there is no differential settlement in the future. For example, this here [1], looks to me like a case of differential settlement that resulted from improper excavation and back filling during original construction. In the case of fault-lines and stochastic motions? It's a lot harder to say what can or should be done in a general sense. Luckily the frames of most houses are made of wood, which has more forgiving properties (failing more with more ductility) than masonry. Unfortunately, the exterior shell of some houses are brick, which won't be so forgiving as the wood that it surrounds.

[1] https://www.reddit.com/r/DIY/comments/1dmt6l/advice_for_jack...