Am I eligible for Section 8? The full list of requirements

Last updated June 21, 2026

Most people know that Section 8 is an income-based program. But income is only one of several things housing agencies check when you apply. Criminal history, immigration status, past evictions, and debt to prior housing programs can all affect eligibility — and the rules aren't always what people expect.

Here's a plain-language breakdown of what actually determines whether you qualify.

Income limits: the primary requirement

To qualify for a Housing Choice Voucher, your household's gross income must be below the income limit for your area and household size. HUD sets these limits annually for every county in the country based on Area Median Income (AMI).

There are three limit tiers:

Extremely Low Income: 30% of AMI
Very Low Income: 50% of AMI
Low Income: 80% of AMI

To receive a voucher, you must be at or below the Very Low Income limit (50% of AMI). But federal law also requires that housing authorities give at least 75% of their new vouchers to households at or below the Extremely Low Income limit (30% of AMI). In practice, this means most voucher recipients have incomes well below 50% of AMI.

Income limits vary significantly by location. The same household income can be below the limit in a rural county and above it in a high-cost metro area.

Who counts as a household member

HUD uses a broad definition of "family" — it doesn't require blood relation or a specific household structure. A single person, a couple with no children, a multigenerational household, or unrelated adults sharing a unit can all qualify if their combined income falls within the limits.

The income of all household members who are 18 or older is counted (with some exceptions for full-time students). Children's income is generally not counted.

Citizenship and immigration status

At least one member of your household must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen to receive assistance.

Eligible non-citizens include:

Lawful permanent residents (green card holders)
Refugees and asylees
People granted withholding of deportation
Certain other immigration statuses defined in HUD's regulations

If your household is a mixed-status family — some members are eligible and some are not — you can still receive a partial benefit. The subsidy is calculated based only on the eligible members of the household, so your portion of the rent may be higher than it would be if everyone were eligible.

Undocumented immigrants do not qualify for assistance. However, their presence in the household doesn't necessarily disqualify eligible members from receiving a proportional benefit.

Criminal history

This is one of the most misunderstood parts of Section 8 eligibility. A criminal record does not automatically disqualify you — but certain specific histories do.

Mandatory permanent bars (federal law, no exceptions):

Being subject to a lifetime sex offender registration under state law
Having been convicted of manufacturing methamphetamine in federally assisted housing

These two are absolute bars. Every housing authority in the country must deny assistance.

Eviction-based bar:

If anyone in your household was evicted from federally assisted housing within the past three years due to drug-related criminal activity, you're ineligible until three years have passed from the eviction date.

All other criminal history: PHAs have discretion. They write their own policies — called administrative plans — that define which criminal histories they'll consider and how. Some PHAs have broad exclusions; others are more limited. HUD has encouraged agencies to avoid blanket exclusions and instead conduct individualized assessments that consider the nature of the offense, how long ago it was, and evidence of rehabilitation.

If you've been denied for criminal history, ask the PHA for a copy of its administrative plan to understand exactly what triggered the denial, and know that you have the right to request an informal hearing.

Prior evictions from private housing

An eviction from a private (non-federally-assisted) rental doesn't automatically disqualify you, but PHAs can and often do consider rental history in their eligibility determination. A recent eviction — especially one involving property damage, unpaid rent, or lease violations — may result in denial. What carries more weight varies by agency.

Debt to a housing authority

If you owe money to any PHA — from a prior voucher or public housing unit — for unpaid rent, damage to a unit, or overpayments made on your behalf, most housing authorities will deny your application until the debt is repaid.

This applies even if the debt is to a different PHA in a different state. PHAs share information through HUD's Enterprise Income Verification system, so prior balances tend to surface during screening.

If you have an old debt from a prior housing program, contacting the agency that holds it and arranging a repayment plan may make you eligible again. Get any repayment agreement in writing.

Social Security numbers

HUD requires that all household members who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens disclose their Social Security number as a condition of receiving assistance. Household members who do not have SSNs — typically undocumented family members — are not required to disclose, but they won't be counted as eligible members for purposes of calculating the subsidy.

What doesn't disqualify you

A few things people commonly assume are disqualifying but aren't:

Employment status: There is no work requirement for the Housing Choice Voucher program. Retirees, disabled individuals, and people who aren't working can all qualify based on income.
Marital status: Single parents, single adults, unmarried couples, and any other household structure can qualify.
Type of income: The program counts wages, Social Security, disability payments, child support, and most other income sources. The source doesn't matter — only whether the total falls within the limit.
Having children: Not required. Singles and childless couples qualify.

If you're denied

If a housing authority denies your application, they must tell you the reason in writing, and you have the right to request an informal hearing to challenge the decision. This is especially important for criminal history denials, where the individualized assessment requirement gives you real grounds to argue your case.

See what to do if you're removed from a Section 8 waiting list for how the hearing process works — the same informal hearing rights apply to application denials.