What is the maximum income for section 8 housing – An unexpected accident, injury, disability or job loss can leave you scrambling to pay rent and utility bills. In case your emergency fund or savings runs out it would be difficult to afford rent and you may end up losing your home. In this type of scenario, you can receive assistance from this Section 8 housing choice voucher program.
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program is designed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development for very low-income individuals and families so that they can receive help with monthly rent. However, not all individuals or families are eligible to receive assistance under the program. Candidates who meet the income criteria and other essential eligibility conditions can receive housing vouchers through the program. This program will throw light on the income limitations of Section 8 HCVP and how you can qualify for the program.
Highlights of this Post
What Is Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program?
The Housing Choice Voucher Program offers financial assistance to low-income families in America so that they can afford safe, decent, sanitary and affordable housing. The housing constitutes townhouses, single-family homes, apartments, and condominiums and is not limited to housing units located in subsidized housing projects.
The housing choice voucher program is funded by the HUD and administered by local public housing authorities. Eligible families who receive a housing choice voucher program are responsible for finding a housing unit or apartment of their preferred choice where the landlord agrees to rent under the Section 8 program.
The housing subsidy is paid to the participating landlord on behalf of the eligible family by the PHA. The difference between the actual rent charged by the participating landlord and the amount subsidized by the Section 8 housing choice voucher program is paid by the eligible family.
How Much Help Does The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program Provide?
The Housing Choice Voucher Program does not specify a particular amount that eligible individuals and families can receive to pay their monthly rent. Public housing authorities that administer the program in different states of America have established a particular payment standard which is also the baseline amount required to rent a moderately priced home in the local housing market.
An individual receiving Section 8 vouchers can rent a housing unit that is above or below the payment standards set by local public housing authorities in their state. Generally, the recipients of the program have to pay 30% of their monthly adjusted gross income for their rent and utility bills.
In a few states, this payment standard can reach up to 40% in case the rent exceeds the payment standard. For instance, housing authorities in Los Angeles have set the payment standard at $2248 for two-bedroom units. Qualified individuals with a monthly income of $2800 have to pay around $840 towards monthly rent and utilities as per the 30% rule.
Similarly in the state of Philadelphia, the housing authorities determine the payment standards of housing units based on fair market rents according to the zip codes. The payment standards are divided into basic midrange, traditional, opportunity or high-opportunity housing rents based on the location of the property.
A two-bedroom housing unit situated in a basic rental area has a payment standard of $1012. Similarly, two-bedroom units located in a high-opportunity rental area in Philadelphia comprises a payment standard of $1870. Qualified individuals with an income of $1900 per month and choosing a housing unit in the midrange rental area with a payment standard of around $1287 have to pay $570 towards rent and utilities.
Recommended: Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Program
Income Limits For Section 8 Housing
The income limitation is an important factor in determining the eligibility criteria for the Section 8 housing program. Income limits are determined by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development which takes the median income for your area of residence into account.
To be eligible for Section 8 housing program applicants should have household income at or below 50% of the area median income. Few housing authorities have set restrictive income limitations therefore applicants are required to check with their local Housing Authority and learn about the income limit information.
The income limit for Section 8 housing varies from one state to another and also depends on the household size and income of the applicant. In New York, income limitations range from $33,950 for a single-person household to around $8300 for a household comprising eight people.
For instance, a 3-member household in the state of New York belonging to a very low income (50% of the median) should have an income of $43300 to qualify for Section 8 housing. Similarly, a 3-member household in New York belonging to low income or 80% of the median should have an income of $68900 to qualify for Section 8 housing. The income limits for eligibility purposes are decided by calculating the income of all the family members including Social Security benefits, wages, child support and other sources of income.
What Are The Other Eligibility Criteria To Qualify For Section 8 Housing?
Even though the income limitation of the program is a primary factor that determines whether you are eligible to receive assistance or not there are other criteria that you need to fulfil to qualify for assistance such as the following
-
Citizenship Status
The eligibility criteria of the Section 8 housing choice voucher program are limited to citizens of the United States and qualified non-citizens with legal immigrant documents. While applying for the Section 8 housing program individuals have to sign a certification form stating whether they are a citizen of the United States or an eligible alien.
Besides, public housing authorities will also ask for additional documents to verify their citizenship status such as registration cards, Social Security cards, US passports or Resident alien cards.
-
Family Status
Applicants of the Section 8 housing choice voucher program have to meet the definition of a family as per HUD guidelines. As per HUD, family is an individual or a group of people that meets the following conditions.
- Have family
- Have at least one family member who is disabled
- Have at least one household member who is 62 years or above in age
- Lived with individuals receiving assistance under Section 8 but presently living alone after the family members have moved out
- Have been displaced from their home.
- Eviction History
Individuals or families are required to have a positive rental history to qualify for the Section 8 housing choice voucher program. The program disqualifies individuals who have been evicted from public housing due to drug-related or criminal activity cases.
Moreover, if you have been convicted of manufacturing methamphetamine in the HUD-subsidized public housing project you will be automatically denied Section 8 assistance by your PHA.
Recommended: Texas section 8 Housing Vouchers for low income
How To Apply For the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program?
To apply for the Section 8 housing voucher program interested individuals need to contact their local public housing agency. The public housing authorities will let you know if the program is accepting new applicants and what are the different documents that you need to submit along with your application.
Based on your area of residence you may need to apply for the program in person, by mail or online. Follow the below-mentioned steps to apply for the Section 8 housing choice program.
-
Fill The Application
Individuals who want to apply for the Section 8 housing choice voucher program have to fill out an application provided by their local Public Housing Authority. You need to mention the following details in the application form.
- Your name, address and details of all the household members living with you
- Date of birth, place of birth, Social Security number, gender and contact information of all the household members
- Your military or veteran status
- Native language, race and ethnicity
- Your present housing status (mention if you are navigating homelessness or forced eviction)
- Criminal history
- Names of your current and previous landlords
- Residency status
- Name, contact information and details of your employer
- Details of your source of income
It is necessary to fill in accurate and thorough information in the Section 8 housing choice voucher application form as omitting any relevant information can result in the denial or cancellation of the application.
-
Submit Relevant Documents
After filing your application you need to provide supporting documentation to your public housing authorities. These include:
- Proof of citizenship such as birth certificates, passport or legal immigrant status
- Income verification documents like tax returns, pay stubs, bank account statements and wage statements
- State government-issued IDs and Social Security numbers for all the members of the household
- Copies of the lease or present rental agreement
- Check The Waiting List
Candidates who will get approval for Section 8 housing choice vouchers will be added to the waiting list. The waiting list for Section 8 vouchers is a pool of all families and individuals who have been approved for rental vouchers.
Depending on the availability of fund and rental housing units the public housing authorities will call you to give you the voucher. Public housing authorities can close the waiting list to new applicants if there are not enough resources or housing units available. Getting on the waiting list doesn’t mean individuals can secure a house right away.
Recommended: Section 8 waiting list How to apply for
What Factors may disqualify my Section 8 application?
Section 8 offices take into consideration a family’s rental history. Families are disqualified if at least one member of the household was evicted from a Department of Housing unit in the last five years, if their assistance was terminated by a housing authority for any reason, or if they owe money to a housing authority.
People with criminal records may have difficulty receiving housing, but it does not automatically disqualify them. Persons who have been arrested but have never been convicted are more likely to qualify than those who have been convicted.
Drug users, alcoholics, violent individuals, and those with a criminal record may be less likely to qualify. Recently convicted households are ineligible for assistance. Drug-related criminal activity that has been the cause of eviction from federally assisted housing in the past three years will be disqualified unless there is a special circumstance.
Any individual listed on a state’s lifetime sex offender registry also cannot apply. Contact your housing office if you aren’t sure what information to include in your Section 8 application.
Also Read : Section 504 Home Repair Program low income
Useful links to get you started with your Section 8 application
In order to apply and receive a Section 8 housing voucher, you must conduct thorough research and follow-up. Gather all of your paperwork ahead of time. Whenever you have questions, write them down and contact the local housing office. Please bookmark the following links.
Find housing offices by state:
- HUD.gov
- Fact Sheet of Housing Voucher
- Detailed document of Section 8 income limits,
- Broken down by state about the Housing Voucher Program: HUD.gov/program
Conclusion
The Section 8 housing choice voucher program is designed to make housing secure and affordable for low-income individuals and families. Applicants need to meet the income limits and other eligibility criteria of the program to qualify for assistance. The income limitation of the program is subject to your financial situation, your area of residence and your family composition. If you’re not sure whether you qualify for Section 8 housing or not you can contact your local public housing agency in your state and learn about the criteria and other details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Section 8 housing Voucher program for?
Housing choice vouchers Section 8 provide participants with a payment that is sent directly to the property owner. The amount is equal to the amount of rent that exceeds 30 to 40 percent of a family’s income. To be eligible for the program, households must have family incomes equal to or less than fifty percent of the median income for their county or metropolitan area.
What is the Section 8 income limit?
The government sets forth specific guidelines in order to determine if someone qualifies for Section 8 assistance. Following is a distribution of the percentages corresponding to each income level and the local median:
- The extremely low income level is 30 percent of the area median income
- The extremely low income level is 50 percent of the area median income.
- The low income level is 80 percent of the area median income.