The Basic Requirements Section 8 Programs Check

Section 8 has four hard requirements: you must be a U.S. citizen or may be able to access noncitizen, your household income must fall below a set limit (usually 50 percent of your area's median income), you cannot own real estate, and you must be at least 18 or an emancipated minor. Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) also run background checks for criminal history and prior lease violations. If you meet these four things, you move forward. If you don't, you will be denied.

The income limit is the one that changes. A single person in rural Mississippi might have a limit of $24,000 per year; a family of four in San Francisco might have a limit of $96,000. Your local PHA sets the exact number based on what the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development publishes for your county. You find your PHA by searching "public housing authority" plus your county name, or by calling 211.

Citizenship rules are strict. U.S. citizens and nationals always may have access to. Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) may have access to. Refugees and asylees may have access to for five years from their status date. Conditional residents and T visa holders may have access to. Undocumented immigrants do not. If you are unsure of your status, bring your immigration documents to the PHA office and ask them to review it with you before you submit anything.

Key Takeaways

  • Your household income must be below 50 percent of your area's median income, and the exact limit depends on your county and household size.
  • You must be a U.S. citizen, national, or certain categories of lawful immigrant; undocumented status disqualifies you.
  • The PHA will check your criminal history and rental history, and prior evictions or felonies may result in denial.
  • You cannot own real estate, and the PHA will verify this through public records before you receive a voucher.
  • Your local PHA is the only place that can tell you whether it is currently accepting new requests; many have closed waiting lists that reopen unpredictably.

Income Limits and How They Are Calculated

The PHA counts all income your household receives: wages, self-employment, Social Security, unemployment, child support, alimony, and cash information. They do not count food stamps, some education benefits, or certain disability payments. If you are self-employed, they will ask for tax returns from the past two years to verify your income.

The income limit is usually 50 percent of Area Median Income (AMI) for your county. Some PHAs set it at 60 percent. A few set it lower. You do not calculate this yourself — the PHA tells you the number when you call or visit. If your household income is at or below that number, you pass the income test. If it is above, you do not.

Household size matters. A single person's limit is lower than a couple's, which is lower than a family of four. The PHA counts anyone who lives with you and is related to you, plus any children you have custody of. Roommates who are not related do not count as household members.

Criminal History and Rental History Checks

The PHA will request your criminal history from local and state police. Certain convictions result in automatic denial: drug manufacturing or distribution within the past three years, violent felonies, and sex offenses. Other convictions may result in denial depending on how recent they are and what the crime was. Misdemeanors are usually not disqualifying unless they are recent or numerous.

The PHA also contacts your current and previous landlords. They are looking for unpaid rent, property damage, or lease violations. An eviction judgment against you is grounds for denial in most cases, though some PHAs will reconsider if the eviction was more than five years ago and you have paid back the debt. If you have been evicted, bring documentation showing you have paid the landlord what you owed.

You have the right to see what the PHA finds and to dispute it if it is wrong. If you know you have a criminal record or an eviction, ask the PHA what their specific policy is before you submit your request. Some will deny you outright; others will consider the circumstances. Honesty at the start is better than having your request denied after weeks of waiting.

Citizenship and Immigration Status Documentation

Bring your original documents to the PHA office. If you are a U.S. citizen, bring your passport, birth certificate, or naturalization papers. If you are a lawful permanent resident, bring your green card and passport. If you are a refugee or asylee, bring your I-94 form and passport, or your employment authorization document (EAD) if you have one. If you are a conditional resident, bring your conditional green card.

The PHA will make a photocopy and return the original to you. They will not file anything with immigration authorities. Their job is only to verify that you fall into a category Section 8 allows. If you do not have documents, ask the PHA what alternatives they accept — some will take a letter from your immigration attorney or a copy of a pending asylum case.

If you are unsure whether your status qualifies, call the PHA and describe your situation without submitting a formal request. They can tell you yes or no before you spend time gathering documents. This is a free conversation and does not go on any record.

Real Estate Ownership and Asset Limits

You cannot own real estate and receive Section 8. This includes a house, a condo, a mobile home, or land. The PHA will search public property records in your county and any county where you have lived in the past two years. If they find your name on a deed, you will be denied.

If you own property but are in the process of selling it, tell the PHA. Some will give you a important date to complete the sale before they issue a voucher. If you own property jointly with someone else (such as an ex-spouse), you may still be denied even if you do not live there. The PHA's rule is ownership, not occupancy.

Section 8 does not have a strict asset limit like some other programs do, but the PHA may ask about savings, investments, or vehicles if your income is very low and your assets are very high. This is rare and usually only happens if something looks inconsistent in your process.

How to Request Section 8 and What Happens Next

Contact your local PHA directly. You can find it by searching online for "public housing authority" plus your county name, or call 211 and ask for the PHA phone number. Call and ask whether they are currently accepting requests. Many PHAs have closed waiting lists — they are not taking new requests at all. If the list is closed, ask when it typically reopens. Some reopen once a year; others reopen when someone leaves the program.

If the list is open, the PHA will either mail you a request form or ask you to come to their office to fill one out in person. You will need to provide your name, address, income, household members, and Social Security numbers. You will also need to sign a form allowing them to check your criminal history, rental history, and immigration status.

After you submit your request, the PHA will verify your information. This takes two to four weeks. They will contact your employer to confirm your income, call your landlord to ask about your rental history, and run your background check. If everything checks out, you go on the waiting list. If something does not match, they will call you to clarify.

The waiting list can be very long. In some cities, the wait is two to five years. In others, it is shorter. The PHA will tell you your position on the list when you ask. You stay on the list until a voucher becomes available, at which point the PHA will contact you and you will move to the next step: finding a landlord who accepts Section 8.

Reasons You Might Be Denied

The PHA will send you a written denial if you do not meet the requirements. The letter will state the reason. Common reasons are: income too high, criminal conviction within the disqualifying period, eviction judgment on record, failure to show up for an appointment, or false information on your request.

You have the right to request a hearing if you disagree with the denial. The hearing is before a PHA official who was not involved in the original decision. You can bring documents, witnesses, or an advocate. You have 30 days from the denial letter to request the hearing. If you cannot read or understand the letter, call the PHA and ask them to explain it to you.

If you are denied because of criminal history or an eviction, you may be able to request reconsideration after a certain amount of time has passed. Ask the PHA what their policy is. Some will reconsider after three to five years if you have stayed out of trouble and paid back any debts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I be on the waiting list for more than one PHA?

Yes. If you live near a county line or are planning to move, you can request Section 8 from multiple PHAs. Each waiting list is separate. When a voucher becomes available from one PHA, you can accept it and withdraw your request from the others. Tell each PHA you are on other lists so they know you may not be available when they call.

What if my income goes up after I am approved but before I get a voucher?

Tell the PHA when ready. If your income exceeds the limit before you receive a voucher, you may be removed from the waiting list. If your income goes up after you receive a voucher and are living in an apartment, your rent contribution will increase, but you will not lose the voucher.

Do I have to live in the same county as the PHA I request from?

Usually yes, but some PHAs serve multiple counties. Ask the PHA whether they serve your address. If they do not, they will tell you which PHA covers your area. Some PHAs also allow you to use a voucher in a different county after you receive it, but you must request it from the PHA in your home county first.

Can I request Section 8 if I am currently homeless?

Yes. Homelessness does not disqualify you. Bring mail addressed to you at a shelter, a friend's address, or a mailing address where the PHA can reach you. Some PHAs prioritize homeless households, so mention your situation when you call.

What if I was denied years ago — can I request again?

Yes. If you were denied for income, you can request again if your income is now lower. If you were denied for a criminal conviction or eviction, you can request again after the disqualifying period has passed. Call the PHA and ask whether your situation has changed enough to reapply.