Income Limits Are Set by Your Local Area, Not Nationally

HUD housing programs use Area Median Income (AMI) to set income limits, which means the threshold changes depending on where you live. A household earning $50,000 per year might may have access to in one county and not in another. Your local Public Housing Authority (PHA) publishes its own income limits each year, usually in March or April.

Most HUD programs serve households at 50% to 80% of AMI, though some programs go higher. The PHA website for your county or city lists the exact dollar amounts for your area and household size. You need to check your specific PHA's numbers — national figures do not explore to your case.

Income includes wages, Social Security, disability payments, child support, unemployment benefits, and rental income. It does not include one-time payments like tax refunds or insurance settlements. If you are self-employed, the PHA will ask for tax returns from the past two years to verify your average income.

Key Takeaways

  • Income limits vary by county and household size, so you must check your local Public Housing Authority's current limits rather than using national figures.
  • Household income includes wages, benefits, and child support, but excludes one-time payments and certain types of information.
  • You will need to provide recent pay stubs, tax returns, or benefit letters to prove your income to the PHA.
  • Citizenship or legal residency status is required for most HUD programs, and you must provide proof such as a birth certificate or green card.
  • Criminal history and eviction records do not automatically disqualify you, but the PHA will review them and may deny you based on specific factors.

Household Composition Rules and Who Counts

The PHA counts your household based on who lives with you and their relationship to you. A spouse, children, and dependents count. Unrelated adults living with you may or may not count depending on the program and the PHA's rules — you must ask your local authority.

If you are explore for a family unit, all household members must be listed on your process. The PHA will verify that everyone listed actually lives in the unit and will conduct a home visit to confirm. If someone moves in or out after you are approved, you must report the change within 30 days.

Elderly households (at least one member age 62 or older) and households with a member who has a disability may have access to different programs or shorter waiting lists. Bring documentation of age or disability status — a birth certificate for age, and a letter from a doctor or disability agency for disability status.

Citizenship and Legal Residency Documentation

Most HUD programs require that at least the head of household be a U.S. citizen or have may be able to access immigrant status. may be able to access immigrant status includes lawful permanent residents (green card holders), refugees, asylees, and certain other categories defined by federal law. Undocumented immigrants do not meet this requirement for most HUD programs.

You will need to provide one of the following: a U.S. birth certificate, a passport, a green card, a refugee or asylee approval letter, or a work authorization document (EAD). The PHA will make a copy and keep it in your file. If you do not have one of these documents, ask the PHA which alternatives they will accept.

Some states and cities run housing programs for mixed-status households or undocumented residents outside the HUD system. Contact your local housing authority or call 211 to learn whether your area has programs with different citizenship rules.

Criminal History and Eviction Records

A criminal record does not automatically disqualify you from HUD housing. The PHA will review the nature of the crime, how long ago it occurred, and what you have done since. Violent felonies, drug manufacturing, and sex offenses involving minors are the most likely to result in denial. Misdemeanors and older felonies are reviewed case by case.

The PHA will run a background check through the FBI and local police records. If you have a record, be honest about it on your process — the PHA will find it anyway, and lying will result in when ready denial. You have the right to dispute inaccurate information in the report.

Eviction history is treated similarly. A single eviction from years ago does not automatically disqualify you. Recent evictions (within the past three years) or multiple evictions are more likely to result in denial. If you were evicted due to domestic violence or a landlord's code violations, explain that in writing when you explore.

Credit History and Debt

HUD programs do not require a credit check or a minimum credit score. The PHA does not care whether you have unpaid credit card debt, medical bills, or other consumer debt. However, if you owe money to a previous landlord or a housing authority, that can disqualify you or delay your approval.

If you owe back rent to a previous landlord, contact them and work out a payment plan or settlement before you explore. If you owe money to a PHA in another state, that debt may appear in the system and the current PHA will see it. Paying it off or setting up a payment plan before you explore improves your chances.

Utility debt and other debts to non-housing entities do not disqualify you, though some PHAs may ask about them during the interview.

What Disqualifies You when ready

You will be denied if you do not meet the income limit for your area, if no household member is a citizen or may be able to access immigrant, or if you are currently evicted or have an active eviction case (though some programs prioritize active cases). You will also be denied if you have been convicted of manufacturing methamphetamine in a federally assisted housing unit.

If you have been denied by one PHA, you can explore to another PHA in a different area. Denials do not follow you across state lines or even across county lines in some cases. Ask the PHA that denied you for the specific reason in writing, and use that information to address the issue before explore elsewhere.

Documentation You Will Need to Bring

Bring originals or certified copies of the following to your PHA interview: proof of income (recent pay stubs, tax returns, or benefit letters), proof of citizenship or legal residency (birth certificate, passport, or green card), proof of household composition (birth certificates for children, marriage certificate if applicable), and proof of current address (utility bill or lease).

If you are explore for a unit with accessibility needs due to disability, bring a letter from a doctor or disability agency describing the disability and the specific accommodations needed. If you have experienced domestic violence and are concerned about safety, tell the PHA — they have confidentiality procedures and may be able to help.

Bring photo identification even if it is expired. If you do not have a photo ID, ask the PHA what alternatives they will accept. Some PHAs will accept a letter from a social service agency or a school ID.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my household income include my child's part-time job earnings?

Yes, if your child is 18 or older and living with you, their income counts toward the household total. If your child is under 18, their earnings may or may not count depending on your PHA's rules — ask them directly. Student financial aid and student loans do not count as income.

What if I was evicted but the landlord dropped the case before it went to court?

The PHA will still see it if it was filed with the court, even if it was dismissed. Explain in writing what happened and why the case was dropped. If the eviction was due to the landlord's failure to maintain the unit or other code violations, include that in your explanation.

Can I include my partner's income if we are not married?

Only if your partner is listed as a household member on the process and you live together. The PHA will verify that both of you actually live in the unit. If you are not married and not planning to live together, your partner's income does not count.

Do I have to report a felony from 20 years ago?

Yes. The PHA will run a background check and find it anyway. Disclose it on your process and explain what has changed since then — employment, family, community involvement, or completion of a rehabilitation program. Older convictions are less likely to result in denial than recent ones.

What happens if my income goes above the limit after I move in?

You will not be evicted when ready. HUD rules allow you to stay and continue paying rent based on your income, though your rent may increase. You must report the income change to the PHA within 30 days. The PHA will recalculate your rent and may eventually ask you to leave if your income stays well above the limit for an extended period, but this process takes time.