The Basic Rules for Section 8 may be able to access

To receive a Section 8 voucher, you must meet income limits set by your local Public Housing Authority (PHA). The income ceiling is usually 50% of the area median income for your county, though some PHAs set it at 80%. A single person earning $35,000 per year might may have access to in one county and not in another — it depends entirely on what the median income is where you live and what your PHA's policy is.

You must also be a U.S. citizen or have may be able to access immigration status. may be able to access status includes lawful permanent residents, refugees, asylees, and certain other categories. Your PHA will ask for proof — a birth certificate, passport, green card, or immigration documents. If you are not sure whether your status counts, call your local PHA directly; they have the list.

You cannot have been evicted for drug-related criminal activity in the past three years, and you cannot have a conviction for manufacturing methamphetamine in a federally-assisted home. Most other criminal history does not automatically disqualify you, though your PHA may deny you based on a pattern of criminal activity or lease violations. Each PHA makes this call differently.

Key Takeaways

  • Your household income must fall below a limit set by your local Public Housing Authority, usually 50% of the area median income for your county.
  • You must be a U.S. citizen or have may be able to access immigration status such as lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee status.
  • You cannot have been evicted for drug-related criminal activity in the past three years or have a methamphetamine manufacturing conviction in a federally-assisted home.
  • Your PHA maintains a waiting list that can be years long; being on the list does not mean you will receive a voucher soon.
  • Some PHAs have additional local rules about credit history, prior evictions, or lease violations that may affect your standing.

Income Limits and How They Are Calculated

Your household's gross monthly income — before taxes, not after — is what counts. This includes wages, self-employment income, Social Security, unemployment benefits, child support, and most other regular money coming in. Some income is excluded: certain disability benefits, foster care payments, and money set aside for a disabled family member's care do not count.

The income limit itself changes every year and varies by family size and location. A family of four in rural Kansas will have a different limit than a family of four in suburban Boston. Your PHA publishes these limits on its website or will tell you over the phone. If you are close to the limit, ask your PHA to calculate your household's income before you spend time on the rest of the process.

If your income is above the limit now but you expect it to drop — for instance, you are about to leave a job — you cannot count on that future income. The PHA looks at your current situation. Some PHAs will let you reapply later if your circumstances change.

Immigration Status Requirements

Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) are may be able to access. So are refugees and asylees. Certain other categories — such as victims of human trafficking, victims of domestic violence with a pending visa, and some parolees — may also may have access to, but the rules are specific. If you have any immigration status other than citizenship, bring your immigration documents to your PHA and ask them to review your case.

Undocumented immigrants cannot receive Section 8 vouchers. Mixed-status households — where some members are citizens or may be able to access immigrants and others are not — can sometimes receive a voucher, but the PHA will calculate the income and family size using only the may be able to access members. This can change whether you fall within the income limit.

Criminal History and Lease Violations

A drug-related eviction in the past three years is an automatic bar. This means an eviction where the reason given was drug use or drug dealing, not an eviction where you simply could not pay rent. After three years from the eviction date, you may be able to reapply.

A conviction for manufacturing methamphetamine in a federally-assisted home is permanent disqualification. You cannot receive Section 8 ever, even decades later. Other drug convictions do not automatically disqualify you, though your PHA may deny you if it sees a pattern of drug-related activity.

Your PHA can also deny you for "a pattern of lease violations" — meaning repeated problems with prior landlords, such as nonpayment, property damage, or disturbances. What counts as a pattern varies by PHA. Some look only at evictions; others consider any lease violation. Ask your PHA what it considers when reviewing your history.

How Waiting Lists Work

Most PHAs maintain a waiting list. When you meet the basic rules, you go on the list. The list can be years long — in some cities, five to ten years is normal. Your PHA will tell you the current wait time when you inquire, though that number changes as people receive vouchers and leave the list.

Some PHAs close their waiting lists when they become too long. If the list is closed, you cannot apply until it reopens, which may not happen for years. Call your PHA or check its website to see whether the list is open. A few PHAs use a lottery system instead of a first-come, first-served list, but most do not.

Being on the waiting list does not mean you will eventually receive a voucher. Your PHA may remove you if you do not respond to mail, if your circumstances change so you no longer meet the rules, or if you turn down a voucher when it is offered. Stay in touch with your PHA and respond to any letters they send.

Special Circumstances That May Help or Hurt

Some PHAs give priority to people experiencing homelessness, people fleeing domestic violence, or people with disabilities. These priorities vary widely. If any of these situations apply to you, mention it when you contact your PHA — it may move you higher on the waiting list or open a separate application window for you.

Conversely, some PHAs deny vouchers to people with recent evictions for nonpayment, even if the eviction is older than three years. Others look at credit reports or require references from prior landlords. These local rules are not federal law; they are policies your PHA has chosen. Ask your PHA what its specific rules are before you assume you will be denied.

If you have a disability, you may be able to request reasonable accommodations in the application process — for instance, help filling out forms or an extension to gather documents. Your PHA is required to provide these. Ask when you call.

What Happens After You Are Approved

Approval for the waiting list is not approval for a voucher. When a voucher becomes available and your name reaches the top of the list, your PHA will contact you. At that point, you will go through a more detailed review: your income will be recalculated, your immigration status will be verified again, and your background will be checked more thoroughly.

If you still meet the rules at that time, you will receive a voucher. Your PHA will explain how to use it: you find an apartment that meets program standards, the landlord signs a lease with you, and your PHA pays the landlord a portion of the rent. You pay the rest, usually 30% of your household income.

The voucher is not permanent. Your PHA will recertify your income and household composition every year. If your income rises above the limit, you may lose the voucher. If your household size changes, your rent share may change. Stay in contact with your PHA and report changes promptly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be homeless to get Section 8?

No. You can be renting now, living with family, or in any other housing situation. Some PHAs give priority to people experiencing homelessness, but homelessness is not a requirement. You must meet the income and citizenship rules, and you must be on the waiting list.

What if I have a felony but it was not drug-related?

Your PHA can consider it, but it is not an automatic disqualification. The PHA looks at the nature of the crime, how long ago it was, and whether you have a pattern of criminal activity. Call your PHA and describe your situation; they can tell you whether it will likely be a problem.

Can I apply to more than one PHA at the same time?

Yes. Each PHA maintains its own waiting list. If you live near a county line or are willing to move, you can apply to multiple PHAs. Being on multiple lists does not hurt you, but tell each PHA if you receive a voucher from another one so they can remove you.

What if my income is just barely over the limit?

You do not meet the income requirement and cannot receive a voucher right now. If your income drops later, you can reapply. Some PHAs will let you reapply immediately if your circumstances change; others require you to wait a certain period. Ask your PHA about its reapplication policy.

Do I need a job to get Section 8?

No. You can be unemployed, retired, disabled, or receiving benefits. Your household income is what matters, not whether you are working. Social Security, disability payments, unemployment benefits, and other income all count toward the limit.