Section 8 looks at your household income, citizenship, and criminal history — not your credit score or rental past

Section 8 has three main qualification gates. First, your household income must fall below a threshold set by your local Public Housing Authority (PHA) — usually 50% of the area median income, though some PHAs go up to 80%. Second, you must be a U.S. citizen, national, or have may be able to access immigration status. Third, you cannot have certain criminal convictions or drug-related offenses on your record. The PHA does not check your credit, does not require a job, and does not penalize you for past evictions or unpaid rent.

The income limit varies by location and household size. A family of four in rural Mississippi faces a different ceiling than a family of four in San Francisco. Your PHA publishes its current limits on its website, usually in a document called the "Income Limits" or "Rent Limits" table. You can also call your PHA directly and ask what the cutoff is for your household size.

If you are over the income limit today, you may still be able to join the waiting list in some PHAs — they sometimes admit households at up to 80% of area median income and then wait for income to drop, or they grandfather in existing tenants whose income rises after they are admitted. Rules differ by PHA.

Key Takeaways

  • Your household income must be below the limit set by your local Public Housing Authority, usually 50% of area median income for your county.
  • You must be a U.S. citizen, national, or have may be able to access immigration status documented through USCIS.
  • Certain felony convictions — particularly drug manufacturing or violent crimes — can disqualify you permanently, though other convictions may not.
  • Section 8 does not require a credit score, employment history, or clean rental record, and does not penalize you for past evictions.
  • The waiting list in your area may be closed, and even if you meet all requirements, you may wait months or years for a voucher.

How your household income is counted

The PHA counts income from wages, self-employment, Social Security, unemployment benefits, child support, and most other regular sources. They do not count income from temporary information programs like TANF or SNAP. They also do not count the first $480 per year of income earned by a minor household member (as of 2024, though this figure adjusts annually).

The PHA looks at your household's total gross income before taxes. If you are self-employed, they typically use your net income after business expenses. If you receive irregular income — seasonal work, occasional side jobs — they average it over the past 12 months. If you just started a job, they may use your current wage and project it forward, or they may ask for a letter from your employer stating your expected annual income.

If your income is below the limit, you move forward. If it is at or above the limit, you are turned down at that stage. Some PHAs have a second category called "over-income" — households that exceed the limit but were already admitted before their income rose — and those households may stay in the program under certain conditions, but new applicants over the limit do not get vouchers.

Citizenship and immigration status requirements

You must be a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national, or a non-citizen with may be able to access immigration status. may be able to access statuses include lawful permanent residents (green card holders), refugees, asylees, Cuban/Haitian entrants, and certain other categories defined by federal law. The PHA will ask you to provide proof — usually a green card, passport, refugee travel document, or asylum approval letter.

If you are not sure whether your status qualifies, contact your PHA before you explore. They have a list of may be able to access categories and can tell you whether your documents will work. You will need to provide original documents or certified copies; photocopies alone are usually not accepted.

If you are undocumented, you cannot receive a Section 8 voucher. Some states and cities run their own rental subsidy programs that do not have federal citizenship requirements, but Section 8 itself is federal and the rule is firm.

Criminal history and drug-related disqualifications

The PHA will run a criminal background check. Certain convictions are automatic disqualifiers. You are permanently barred if any household member has been convicted of manufacturing methamphetamine on the property where you want to live. You are also barred if any member has a felony conviction for drug manufacturing or distribution within the past three years (some PHAs extend this to five years or longer under their local policy).

Other criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify you, but the PHA has discretion to deny you based on a pattern of criminal activity, violence, or behavior that threatens the safety of other residents or staff. A single theft conviction from 15 years ago is unlikely to trigger a denial. A series of assault convictions or a recent drug felony is more likely to. The PHA must give you a chance to explain or dispute the record if they plan to deny you based on it.

Sex offender registration does not automatically disqualify you under federal law, but many PHAs have local policies that do. Check with your PHA about their specific rules. If you have a criminal record and are unsure, ask the PHA whether it will be a barrier before you invest time in the full process.

Waiting lists and how long they stay closed

Meeting all the requirements does not mean you get a voucher when ready. Most PHAs have a waiting list, and many of those lists are closed to new applicants. When a list is closed, you cannot explore at all — you have to wait until the PHA reopens it, which may be months or years away.

Some PHAs open their lists for a few weeks every year or every few years. Others open them only when funding becomes available. A few large PHAs keep their lists open year-round but with wait times of several years. You can find out whether your PHA's list is open by calling them, visiting their website, or checking the HUD.gov PHA directory, which links to each authority's contact information and sometimes lists their current status.

If the list is closed, you have no choice but to wait. Some PHAs maintain a "pre-process" list that you can join to be notified when the main list reopens. Ask your PHA whether that option exists in your area.

What Section 8 does not require

Section 8 does not require a credit score, a job, or proof of income stability. You do not need to show that you have never been evicted or that you have paid past rent on time. You do not need a co-signer or a guarantor. You do not need to own a car, have a phone, or have a bank account. The program is designed to help people in difficult financial situations, so the absence of traditional financial credentials is not held against you.

You do need to provide proof of your income (pay stubs, benefit letters, tax returns, or a letter from your employer), proof of your citizenship or immigration status, and proof of your identity (a state ID, passport, or driver's license). You will also need to identify a landlord who is willing to rent to you and accept the Section 8 voucher. The landlord must pass their own screening — they can refuse to rent to you for reasons unrelated to Section 8, such as a criminal record or poor rental history — but the PHA's decision about you is separate from the landlord's decision.

Special circumstances: elderly, disabled, and family preferences

Some PHAs give preference to elderly households (usually age 62 or older), households with a member who has a disability, or families with children. These preferences do not lower the income or citizenship requirements — they just move you higher on the waiting list if the list is open. A few PHAs have separate programs or set-asides for these groups, but most use a single list with preferences built in.

If you are elderly or disabled, ask your PHA whether they have a preference policy and whether it applies to you. Bring documentation of disability if you have it — a letter from a doctor, a disability benefits award letter, or a state disability ID. The PHA will ask you to verify the disability, but they do not require a specific diagnosis or level of severity; they only need to confirm that you have a disability as defined by federal law.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Section 8 check my credit score?

No. Section 8 does not pull a credit report or consider your credit score. The PHA only verifies your income, citizenship status, and criminal history. Your credit history is irrelevant to Section 8 qualification.

Can I be denied for a past eviction?

Not because of the eviction itself. Section 8 does not disqualify you for prior evictions or unpaid rent. However, if the eviction was related to drug use or criminal activity, the PHA may deny you on those grounds instead. A landlord you approach later may refuse to rent to you because of the eviction, but that is the landlord's choice, not Section 8's rule.

What if I am over the income limit by a small amount?

You will be denied at that stage. There is no "close enough" — the limit is the limit. However, if your income drops below the limit later, you can reapply when the waiting list reopens. Some PHAs also allow you to join a waiting list even if you are slightly over-income, with the understanding that you will only receive a voucher if your income falls below the limit before one becomes available.

Do I have to be unemployed to may have access to?

No. You can have a job and still may have access to for Section 8 as long as your household income is below the limit. Many Section 8 recipients work full-time; the program is for low-income households, not only for unemployed people.

Can my family members' income count against me if they do not live with me?

No. Only people living in your household count toward your income total. Adult children, parents, or other relatives who live elsewhere are not included. However, anyone living in the unit with you — even if they are not related — counts as part of your household and their income is included.