What Are the 4 Requirements for a Household to Qualify for Section 8

Section 8 is a government-subsidized housing program designed to assist low-income families in securing safe and clean housing by covering a portion of their rent.

The primary aim of the program is to help families afford rental properties of their choice within the private market. There are specific qualifications that a household must meet to be considered an eligible applicant for a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher through a local Public Housing Authority (PHA).

Here are the four main qualifications for Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers

1. Type of Household

Initially, applicants need to clarify their family structure based on the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) definition of a family.

According to HUD, a family is defined as one or more persons living together. Interestingly, there is no requirement for blood relations to qualify as a family. Individuals, single persons, roommates, or parents with children all fit into the HUD’s definition of a family.

The term household might better encapsulate HUD’s definition of a family.

Senior or Elderly Household

If one or more members of the family or household are over 62 years of age and designated as the head of the household on the Housing Choice Voucher application, the family would qualify as a senior household.

Disabled Household

If one or more individuals listed as the head of the household are disabled, the family would be classified as a disabled household.

Applicants who are considered a Family

If none of the heads of the household are elderly (over 62 years) or disabled on the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher application, the household will simply be regarded as a family.

2. Financial Status

Since Section 8 is aimed at assisting low-income families with rent, eligibility for a housing choice voucher primarily hinges on a family’s income level in relation to the local area median income.

HUD outlines three basic income levels for local PHAs to consider when evaluating applicants:

• Extremely low-income: Households applying for Section 8 housing choice vouchers with an income at 30% of the area’s median income.
• Very Low-income: Applicants whose income stands at 50% of the area’s median income.
• Low-income: Applicants with incomes that reach 80% of the area’s median income.

The size of the family on a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher application significantly affects the income classification designated by the PHA.

For instance, a household with multiple adults earning a combined income of $40,000 would be classified as having a lower income than a single adult with a $30,000 income.

Also, per HUD’s direction, a majority of Section 8 resources will be allocated to applicants classified as extremely low-income.

What constitutes a family’s income?

Essentially, any income reported on taxes will be considered by the PHA and influence the family’s income level.

This includes salaries, commissions, tips, investments, inheritances, unemployment benefits, insurance claims, lawsuit settlements, retirement income, social security, disability benefits, welfare checks, workers’ compensation, and winnings, among others.

Only adults mentioned on the application are required to report their income.

3. Qualification Citizenship Status

To qualify for Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, you must be a U.S. citizen or possess eligible immigration status.

If you believe your family holds eligible immigration status for Section 8, you will need to provide the local PHA with certain documents for verification.

This includes a signed statement declaring your eligible immigration status, relevant Immigration and Naturalization Service documents, and a signed agreement permitting the release of your INS information for the purpose of determining your Section 8 eligibility.

4. Qualification, Background, Rental and Criminal History.

Automatic disqualifications include:

Family members with convictions for drug-related offenses or evicted from a property within the past three years will be deemed ineligible for Section 8.

Individuals convicted of manufacturing methamphetamines in subsidized housing are also ineligible.

Moreover, any family member required to register as a sex offender for life is disqualified. Each PHA will conduct its own verification interviews and apply its qualification process following HUD’s guidelines for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher applicants.

It’s crucial to reach out to your local PHA where you intend to apply for more specific details regarding the application procedure.