The Basic Requirements to Participate in Section 8

Section 8 has four main requirements: you must be a U.S. citizen or have may be able to access immigration status, your household income must fall below a set limit (which varies by location and household size), you cannot have been evicted for drug-related activity in the past three years, and you must pass a background check. The income limit is the one that changes most — a family of four in rural Mississippi might have a different ceiling than a family of four in San Francisco.

The program does not require you to own a home, have perfect credit, or have been homeless. You do not need to be employed, though your income from any source counts toward the limit. If you receive Social Security, unemployment, child support, or wages, all of it factors into whether you stay within the income cap.

Key Takeaways

  • You must be a U.S. citizen or have an may be able to access immigration status such as permanent resident, refugee, or asylee.
  • Your household income cannot exceed the limit set by your local public housing authority, which is usually 50 percent of the area median income.
  • You will need to provide documents proving your income, identity, and residency when you submit your paperwork to the housing authority.
  • A criminal background check will be run, and certain convictions or evictions can disqualify you or delay your approval.
  • Once you receive a voucher, you must find a landlord willing to accept Section 8 and a unit that passes the housing authority's inspection.

Income Limits and How They Work

The income ceiling is set at a percentage of the area median income in your county or region. Most housing authorities use 50 percent of the median income as the cutoff, though some use up to 80 percent. This means the limit changes depending on where you live and how many people are in your household.

Income includes wages, Social Security, disability payments, unemployment benefits, child support, alimony, and rental income. Some sources do not count: certain one-time payments, student financial aid used for education, and some types of assistance. The housing authority will ask you to document your income for the past 30 days or the past year, depending on the source. If your income is irregular, they may average it over several months.

If your income exceeds the limit when you first apply, you cannot get on the waiting list. If your income rises after you are already receiving a voucher, you may stay in the program, but your rent share will increase. The housing authority will recertify your income annually.

Immigration Status and Citizenship Requirements

You must be a U.S. citizen or have one of several may be able to access immigration statuses. may be able to access statuses include permanent resident (green card holder), refugee, asylee, Cuban/Haitian entrant, and certain other categories set by federal law. The housing authority will ask for proof: a birth certificate or passport for citizens, a green card for permanent residents, or an I-94 or I-797 form for refugees and asylees.

If you are not a citizen but have may be able to access status, you will need to provide your Alien Registration Number (A-number) and proof of your status. If you have a mixed-status household — some members are citizens and some are not — the housing authority counts only the income and expenses of may be able to access members when determining your rent share.

Criminal History and Background Checks

The housing authority will run a criminal background check on all household members age 18 and older. Certain convictions can disqualify you permanently or temporarily. A conviction for manufacturing methamphetamine is a permanent bar. A conviction for drug-related activity within the past three years is also a permanent bar, though the housing authority may waive this in some cases if you can show rehabilitation.

Other criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify you, but the housing authority has the right to deny you based on the nature and timing of the offense and its relevance to housing. A violent felony, for example, may result in denial. The housing authority must give you a chance to dispute the information in your background check if you believe it is inaccurate.

An eviction for non-payment of rent does not automatically disqualify you, but an eviction for drug-related activity does. If you have an active eviction case, you may still apply, but the housing authority will likely wait until the case is resolved before making a decision.

Documentation You Will Need to Provide

When you submit your application, bring documents that prove your identity, income, residency, and immigration status. For identity, bring a driver's license, passport, or state ID. For income, bring recent pay stubs (usually the last 30 days), tax returns, a letter from your employer, or a benefits statement from Social Security or unemployment.

For residency, bring a utility bill, lease, or letter from a landlord showing your current address. For immigration status, bring a birth certificate, passport, green card, or I-94. If you are homeless or do not have a current address, the housing authority will work with you — you can use a shelter address, a social services agency address, or a friend's address as a mailing address during the application process.

Bring originals or certified copies when you can. If you do not have a document, ask the housing authority what alternatives they will accept. Many will take a notarized statement or a letter from a social services agency in place of an original document.

The Waiting List and Timeline

After you submit your application and documents, the housing authority will review them. This review can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on how busy the authority is and whether your documents are complete. If something is missing, they will contact you and ask you to provide it within a set timeframe — usually 10 to 30 days.

If you meet all the requirements, you will be placed on the waiting list. The waiting list is usually ordered by date of application, though some housing authorities give priority to people who are homeless, elderly, or disabled. Wait times vary dramatically by location — in some areas, the wait is a few months; in others, it can be several years.

Once your name reaches the top of the list and a voucher becomes available, the housing authority will contact you. You will then have a set amount of time — usually 60 to 120 days — to find a landlord and a unit that meets program standards. If you do not find a unit in that time, you may lose your voucher.

Housing Standards and Unit Inspection

Once you find a unit and a landlord willing to accept Section 8, the unit must pass a housing quality standards inspection. The housing authority will send an inspector to check that the unit is safe, sanitary, and in good repair. The inspector looks for working heat, electricity, plumbing, and appliances; no lead paint hazards; no mold or pest infestations; and adequate space for your household size.

The landlord is responsible for making any repairs needed to pass inspection. If the landlord refuses to make repairs, you cannot move into that unit. Once the unit passes inspection, you, the landlord, and the housing authority will sign a lease addendum that includes the Section 8 terms. The housing authority will then begin paying the landlord's share of the rent directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I have a felony conviction but it was more than three years ago?

A felony conviction alone does not automatically disqualify you unless it is for manufacturing methamphetamine or drug-related activity within the past three years. For other felonies, the housing authority has discretion to deny or approve based on the nature of the crime and how long ago it occurred. You can request a hearing to explain your situation.

Can I be on the waiting list in more than one housing authority?

Yes. You can apply to multiple housing authorities in different cities or counties. Each maintains its own waiting list and makes its own decisions. However, once you receive a voucher from one authority, you typically cannot hold a voucher from another at the same time.

What happens if my income goes up after I get a voucher?

You can stay in the program, but your rent share will increase. The housing authority recertifies income annually. If your income rises above the program limit, you may be asked to leave the program, though some authorities allow a grace period or gradual phase-out.

Do I need to have a job to get Section 8?

No. You do not need to be employed. Any income counts toward the limit — Social Security, disability, unemployment, child support, and other sources all factor in. If you have no income, you can still participate as long as you meet the other requirements.

What if I cannot find a landlord who accepts Section 8?

This is a real challenge in many areas. Some landlords refuse Section 8 because of paperwork, inspections, or other reasons. The housing authority may have a list of landlords who accept the program, or you can ask friends, family, or a social services agency for referrals. You have a limited time to find a unit, so start looking early.