The Basic Requirements for 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 certain level set by your local housing authority, you must not have been evicted for drug-related activity in the past three years, and you cannot owe money to any housing authority. Beyond those, each local program sets its own rules about criminal history, credit, and rental references — so what disqualifies you in one city may not in another.

The income limit is the one that changes most often and varies the most by location. Your local housing authority publishes its current income limits every year, usually in spring. A family of four might have a limit of $45,000 in one county and $65,000 in another, depending on the area's median income. You will need to check your specific housing authority's website or call them to learn your household's limit.

Immigration status is strict: you must be a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident, a refugee, an asylee, or hold a visa category that permits it. If you are undocumented or on a temporary visa, you will not be able to get Section 8. Some mixed-status households — where some members are citizens and others are not — may be able to receive a partial subsidy, but this varies by state and requires you to speak directly with your housing authority.

Key Takeaways

  • Your household income must be below your local housing authority's limit, which changes yearly and differs by county.
  • You must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, refugee, asylee, or hold an may be able to access visa — undocumented immigrants cannot receive Section 8.
  • You cannot have been evicted for drug-related activity in the past three years or owe money to any housing authority.
  • Each housing authority sets its own rules about criminal history and rental references, so requirements differ by location.
  • Most housing authorities have waiting lists that can be months or years long, and some close their lists when they reach capacity.

Income Limits and How They Are Calculated

Your household income includes wages, self-employment income, Social Security, unemployment benefits, child support, and most other regular money coming in. It does not include one-time payments like tax refunds or insurance settlements. If you are self-employed, the housing authority will usually ask for tax returns from the past two years to verify your income.

The income limit is based on your household size and the area's median income. A housing authority publishes a chart showing the maximum income for a family of one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, and eight people. If your household is larger than eight, there is usually a formula to add more. You can find your local limit by visiting your housing authority's website or calling their intake line.

Income limits are typically set at 50 percent of the area median income, though some housing authorities use 60 percent. This means the limit is lower in expensive areas and higher in less expensive ones. If your income is right at the limit, you may still be able to get on the waiting list — the housing authority will verify your exact income when you submit your information.

Criminal History and Drug-Related Evictions

The strictest rule is about drug-related evictions: if you or anyone in your household was evicted for drug activity within the past three years, you cannot get Section 8. This is a federal rule that applies everywhere. The three-year clock starts from the date the eviction was finalized in court, not from the date you moved out.

For other criminal convictions, the rules vary by housing authority. Some will deny you for any felony conviction. Others will look at the type of crime, how long ago it happened, and whether you have stayed out of trouble since. Crimes involving violence, sex offenses, and manufacturing drugs are treated more seriously than property crimes or drug possession. The best approach is to call your local housing authority and ask whether your specific situation would disqualify you — they can often tell you over the phone.

If you have a criminal record and want to know whether you can get Section 8, write down the type of crime, the year it happened, and whether it resulted in a conviction. When you call your housing authority, have that information ready. Some housing authorities have written policies you can request, which spell out exactly what they will and will not accept.

Debts to Housing Authorities and Rental History

If you owe money to any housing authority — whether it is your current one or one in another state — you will be denied Section 8 until you pay it back. This includes unpaid rent from a previous Section 8 lease, overpayments the authority says you owe, or damage charges from a prior unit. The housing authority will check a national database when you explore.

Rental references and credit history are handled differently by each housing authority. Some will not rent to you if you have been evicted in the past five or seven years. Others care more about whether you have paid rent on time recently than about old evictions. A few housing authorities do not check credit at all. When you contact your housing authority, ask whether they have a written policy on rental history and credit — if they do, you can read it before you explore.

If you have a bad rental history, it does not automatically disqualify you everywhere. Some housing authorities will overlook an old eviction if you can show you have been paying rent on time for the past two years. Others will work with you if you can provide a letter from your current landlord saying you pay on time. Call your housing authority and describe your situation — they may tell you that you can still get on the waiting list.

Waiting Lists and How Long They Take

Even if you meet all the requirements, you cannot get a voucher right away. Almost every housing authority has a waiting list, and most are closed — meaning they are not taking new names. When a list is closed, you have to wait until it opens again, which can be months or years away. Some housing authorities open their lists for a few weeks every year or two. Others open them only when funding becomes available.

You can find out whether your housing authority's waiting list is open by visiting their website or calling their main number. If the list is closed, ask when it is expected to open next. Some housing authorities will put you on a notification list so they can email or call you when applications start again. If your list is open, you can submit your information right away, but approval still takes time — usually two to four months.

While you are waiting, your income and household composition can change. If your income goes up above the limit, you will be removed from the waiting list. If your household size changes, you will need to report it. Housing authorities send letters asking you to confirm your information every year or two, and if you do not respond, they remove you from the list.

How to Find Your Local Housing Authority and Check Requirements

Your local housing authority is run by your city or county, not by a federal office. To find it, search online for "[your city or county] housing authority" or visit HUD.gov and use their Public Housing Authority directory. You can also call 211 and ask for the housing authority in your area.

Once you find the right office, visit their website first. Most housing authorities publish their income limits, waiting list status, and policies about criminal history and rental history. If the information is not online, call their intake line and ask. Be ready to tell them your household size and ask for the current income limit and whether the waiting list is open.

If you are homeless or living in a shelter, some housing authorities have separate rules or faster processing. Ask whether your housing authority has a preference for people in your situation. Some also have local preferences — for example, they may prioritize people who work in the city or have lived there for a certain amount of time. These preferences can help you move up the waiting list faster.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as household income for Section 8?

Household income includes wages, self-employment earnings, Social Security, unemployment benefits, child support, alimony, and regular payments from pensions or annuities. It does not include one-time payments, tax refunds, or money from selling property. If you receive benefits like TANF or SNAP, those do not count as income themselves, but the cash information does.

Can I get Section 8 if I have an eviction on my record?

It depends on why you were evicted and how long ago. If it was for drug-related activity within the past three years, you cannot get Section 8. For other evictions, each housing authority decides. Some will deny you for any eviction in the past five years; others will overlook an old eviction if you have paid rent on time recently. Call your housing authority and describe what happened — they can tell you whether it disqualifies you.

How long does it take to get approved for Section 8?

If the waiting list is open and you meet the requirements, approval usually takes two to four months. The housing authority will verify your income, check for debts to other housing authorities, and review your rental history. During this time, you should respond to any letters they send and provide documents they request. If the waiting list is closed, you may wait months or years before you can even explore.

What if my income is slightly above the limit?

Most housing authorities will not accept you if your income is above their limit. However, some have a grace period or will count certain deductions that lower your countable income. Call your housing authority and ask whether there are any deductions or exceptions that might bring you under the limit. It is worth asking before you assume you are ineligible.

Do I need good credit to get Section 8?

Not all housing authorities check credit. Some care only about whether you have been evicted or owe money to a housing authority. Others do pull a credit report and may deny you for unpaid debts or collections. Ask your housing authority whether they check credit and what they look for. If they do check, ask whether you can explain negative items on your report.