On SSI or SSDI: how Section 8 and other programs count it as income

Many people miss out on housing help

Some people on SSI or SSDI skip applying for housing programs because they believe benefit payments do not count as income. That belief is wrong, and it costs people housing help they could use. SSI, SSDI, and Social Security all count as household income when a public housing agency, or PHA, checks whether a family is eligible.

Programs like Section 8 are built around income. The lower a household's income, the more likely the household is to qualify. Benefit income is not a problem — it is part of the picture the PHA uses to decide how much help a family needs.

Key facts about these programs

Why does SSI or SSDI count as income? Why benefit income counts: PHAs measure total annual gross income against the area median income for the local area. SSI, SSDI, and Social Security are part of that total, just like wages or any other regular payment.

How do programs for disabilities work? How the main programs work: The Housing Choice Voucher, often called Section 8, pays part or all of the rent. The PHA pays its share directly to the landlord, and the family pays the difference. A family generally pays about 30 percent of monthly adjusted income toward rent and utilities. After a voucher is issued, the PHA gives at least 60 days to find a unit. Public housing is a separate program, also run by PHAs, with its own process. HUD also funds Section 811, which provides supportive housing for persons with disabilities, and Section 202, which serves adults 62 and older. Income-restricted apartments are another option; each building has its own application and waiting list, usually managed at the property's office.

Where do I apply for them? Where to apply: Your local public housing agency (PHA) manages Housing Choice Vouchers and public housing. Search for your PHA by city or county to find the right office. Local HUD offices can give more advanced help when needed.

How to show benefit income and ask for help

When a PHA reviews an application, it verifies income with documents. An award letter from the Social Security Administration shows the monthly benefit amount and is the standard proof for SSI or SSDI. Bring the most recent award letter to the application appointment, or upload it if the PHA accepts online submissions. The PHA may also ask for pay stubs if there is any wage income in the household.

Applicants have rights throughout the process. If the PHA denies an application, the letter must state the reason and the deadline to request an informal review. If assistance is ever ended, the participant has the right to an informal hearing before help is terminated. Both rights are noted in the letter the PHA sends.

• Reasonable accommodations: Anyone who needs a change in how the PHA communicates or processes paperwork because of a disability can ask for a reasonable accommodation. The request goes to the PHA in writing.
• Waiting lists: Waiting lists are common because HUD and PHAs have limited resources. A PHA may temporarily close its list. Check the PHA website to see if the list is open. Some specialized programs, such as Section 811 or Section 202 properties, have their own lists and may have different wait times.
• Income limits: In general, a family's income may not exceed 50 percent of the area median income. By law, a PHA must give 75 percent of its vouchers to applicants at or below 30 percent of the area median income. Limits change by area, family size, and year; check the current limits with your PHA.

What to do next

Taking a few steps in the right order makes the process easier. No PHA charges a fee to put someone on a waiting list — anyone who asks for money to speed up an application is not the PHA.

• Gather documents before contacting a PHA: a current award letter showing SSI or SSDI income, proof of identity for each household member, and proof of address.
• Find and contact your local PHA to ask whether its Housing Choice Voucher or public housing waiting list is open, and ask about any targeted programs such as Section 811 or Section 202 that may apply to your household.
• Ask the property manager at income-restricted apartment buildings about their own waiting lists, since those lists are separate from the PHA's list.
• Call 211 if help is needed right away — the helpline connects people to local rental and utility help in most of the United States.