More than 10 million American households headed by people age 65+ spend more than a third of their income on housing. This leaves them with less money to spend on other needs, like food and medical care. 

The good news: HUD's Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program helps older adults, people with disabilities, and families with low income find and pay for affordable, decent private housing. 

If you are burdened by high housing costs, Section 8 housing may be able to provide you with better living conditions and a better quality of life. If your application is approved, your local housing authority will give you vouchers to pay for part of your monthly rent.

Can HUD's Section 8 housing program help you?

When you apply for HUD's Section 8 housing program, the program looks at your financial need, your citizenship status, and who lives in your household. In general, you must:

  • Have very low or low income 
  • Have U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status
  • Fit the definition of a family provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (this can include single people)

In most cases, you must also live in the area the housing authority covers. And since the program focuses on providing safe housing, all adults applying must complete a criminal background check. 

Housing assistance is in demand, and some areas have waiting periods. Local housing authorities have the right to help people who are homeless or living in unsafe or unsanitary conditions first.

What are the Section 8 housing income limits?

To get help from HUD's Section 8 housing program, you must have very low or low income. That means your income is not more than 50–80% of the median income for the area where you want to live. 

You do not have to figure out the income limit on your own. Your local housing authority can tell you the income limits for your county. You can visit the HUD website and select your state to see a list of housing authorities near you.

Are you ready to learn more or apply?

You can get more details about Section 8 housing here on our free, private, online tool. BenefitsCheckUp, the site you're currently on, connects millions of older adults and people who have disabilities with benefits programs that can help them worry less and age better.

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