Do You Qualify for Section 8 Housing Benefits?
Updated November 4, 2022 Section 8
In the United States, HUD's Section 8 voucher program helps provide safe and affordable housing for many low-income, disabled, and elderly households. However, qualifying for a Section 8 housing voucher isn't always easy. There are standard eligibility requirements for this federal program. Plus, since public housing authorities administer the Housing Choice Voucher program locally, an applicant must consider additional qualifications.
7 Eligibility Requirements for Section 8 Housing Benefits
Though the details of eligibility will vary from PHA to PHA, there are a few standard qualifications for Section 8 assistance, which we've outlined below:
Income Qualifications
Family Status
Disabilities
Citizenship
Criminal Record
Eviction History
Residence Status
Housing vouchers help provide rental subsidies for many families in the United States who might struggle to afford clean and safe housing on their own. If you're wondering whether Section 8 housing assistance is the right path for you, keep reading. We've outlined all the Section 8 eligibility requirements so that you can make an informed decision about whether to move forward with an application.
If you think Section 8 may be right for your family, it's important to act early. More households qualify for Section 8 rental assistance than the HCV program can help. Some estimates indicate that merely 25% of Section 8 housing vouchers applicants end up receiving assistance.
Let's look in more detail at each standard eligibility requirement you must meet to qualify for Section 8 rental assistance.
1. Income Qualifications
Because one of the main functions of the Section 8 program is to ensure safe and clean housing for low-income families, family income qualifications are one of the most important factors that determine whether your application for Section 8 housing choice voucher assistance will be approved.
When you apply for Section 8 assistance, your local housing authority will consider both your household's annual income and the size of your household to determine the appropriate amount you should be expected to pay for rent. A good rule of thumb is that typically the more people in your household, the higher the annual income you can bring home and still qualify for Section 8 housing assistance. That's because the more mouths to feed, the more money you'll need to make reasonable accommodations. Your housing agency will want to see documented income from every member that earns money.
Households can be classified as low income, very low income, or extremely low income. Those deemed low income generally earn up to 80% of their area median income, while those classified as very low income can earn up to 50% of their area's median income. Households with extremely low incomes may only earn up to 30% of an area's median income.
These limits vary from state to state and from housing authority to housing authority, so make sure you talk with your local PHA about its specific income qualifications and your income limit. Each year, HUD adjusts these limits to account for inflation. PHAs prioritize their extremely low applicants, followed by the very low-income applicants on a waiting list and the low-income family applicants.
When considering your application, your PHA will want to see all forms of household adjusted income, including hourly wages, salaries, overtime pay, alimony, child support, commissions, welfare benefits, retirement fund withdrawals, pension benefits, Social Security benefits, lottery winnings, disability benefits, veterans benefits, interest earned from investments, rental property income, and more. From the very beginning, it's best to report every possible source of your family's income for the PHA's full consideration.
Once your household is accepted for Section 8 rental assistance, the rent you pay your landlord generally aligns to around 30% of your household's adjusted income. It's also important to note that income verification is not a one-time process.
Each year, you will have to go through the income verification process to ensure your household still qualifies for financial assistance. You must also notify your local housing authority if you experience a substantial change in your household's annual income.
2. Family Status
To qualify for Section 8 assistance, your household must meet the definition HUD uses for "family," which comprises any of the following characteristics:
At least one household member over age 62
At least one household member with a documented disability
A household of multiple members, with or without children
A household displaced from its current place of residence—by natural disaster, other physical damage, or government action
A tenant remaining in a housing unit after all others have moved out, and the household previously received Section 8 assistance
A single person living alone who meets none of the above criteria
While HUD has laid out these general guidelines, it has also authorized local public housing authorities to add to these qualifications as appropriate. Make sure you check with your local PHA before you apply to make sure you have a full understanding of your area's household eligibility criteria.
3. Disabilities
Some PHAs may prioritize your household if you show documentation that you or someone in your household is disabled. You will need to show appropriate medical evidence and documentation of the disability, and you may also present proof of any Social Security disability compensation received.
In addition to receiving priority status on the waiting list, a documented disability may qualify your household for a bigger housing unit or an extra bedroom, as the disability warrants.
4. Citizenship
You must be a U.S. citizen or show documentation of eligible immigration status to qualify for Section 8 housing assistance payments. In many cases, you'll need to show a U.S. passport and a Social Security card or Green Card when you submit your application. You may also be asked to sign a declaration that everyone in your household is an American citizen.
You will also need to submit a copy of a birth certificate for any children within your household. Suppose every household member cannot show proof of citizenship or eligible immigration status. In that case, you still can receive assistance as a "mixed family," but your assistance amount will not be as high as for those households with members who are all citizens or can show approved immigration status.
5. Criminal Record
One of the main goals of Section 8 housing assistance is to ensure that those with low incomes can find safe places to live. The HCV program is unlikely to accept anyone with a criminal record, especially if a household member has engaged in criminal activity within the last five years. HUD prohibits participation in the Section 8 housing choice program to any registered sex offender and to anyone convicted of making methamphetamines in public housing.
According to federal guidelines, PHAs should deny the application of anyone who is currently an illegal drug user or abusing a substance in such a way that might be dangerous to the immediate household or others living nearby.
6. Eviction History
The Section 8 housing choice voucher program wants to ensure that you'll agree to abide by the strict tenant rules and regulations. Your PHA will talk with previous landlords about how you met obligations, rent payment history, where you left your previous rental housing, and more. Suppose your PHA discovers that you or anyone in your household has been evicted from a rental property within the last three years, especially for a drug-related crime. In that case, it will not accept you into the Section 8 rental assistance program. The housing choice voucher program also will not accept your application if you or anyone in your household has been convicted of producing methamphetamines within public housing during any previous residency.
7. Residence Status
Many PHAs stipulate that you must live within the PHA's jurisdiction to be eligible for a Section 8 housing voucher within that area. If this is the case for your PHA, you may be required to submit documentation that validates your current residency. This could be a utility bill or some other type of official mail sent to your current address.
Can College Students Qualify for Section 8?
College students aren't generally considered as applicants for Section 8 housing assistance payments unless any of the following exceptions are true:
You are a full-time student age 24 or older
You are a full-time college student who is married
You are a full-time professional graduate student
You are a full-time college student who was an orphan or ward of the court until age 18
You are a full-time college student who is an emancipated minor
You are a full-time college student who is a U.S. veteran or currently on active duty
You are a full-time college student with a dependent child or other dependents
You are a full-time college student with a disability and was receiving housing assistance payments as of Nov. 30, 2005
You are part of a household that otherwise is income-eligible for Section 8 rental assistance
If your local PHA determines that you meet the criteria for an independent student, then parental income eligibility will not affect your application. Any grants, scholarships, or other income you earn while in school will be considered when determining your income eligibility.
What If My Income Goes Up?
If your annual income changes, it's important to let your housing authority know as soon as possible. Since the goal of the Section 8 housing choice voucher program is largely based on your income, your calculated rent amount may need to be adjusted based on your new income level. You'll still pay roughly 30%, but because your income will be higher, your rental amount will increase as well.
The same is true if your annual income goes down. Your PHA can adjust your rental amount so that you're still paying 30% of your income, but your rental amount will decrease.
You should note that if your annual income increases to 30% of your income will allow you to pay the full market value of your rent without assistance, you will be asked to exit the Section 8 housing choice program.
Section 8 Eligibility
Finding safe and affordable housing is the biggest concern for many low-income families. That's where HUD's Section 8 rental assistance proves tremendously valuable to the family receiving a Section 8 voucher, and to society at large. This type of rental assistance helps families find safe, clean appropriate housing.
If you think the Section 8 housing choice voucher program could help you and your household, reach out to your local PHA to find out more about specific eligibility criteria in your area.
