What Is The Monthly Cost Of Section 8 Housing?
In this housing resource guide, you will learn what is the most money that you will pay for Section 8 housing.
If you are considering applying for Section 8, you may wonder what is the cost of rent for someone who is on Section 8 housing.
This resource guide will answer that question to give you a better understanding of your monthly cost for this housing program.
How Much Will I Pay For Section 8 Housing?
The cost is usually 30 to 40% of the household’s adjusted income. Here is an example…
If your household income each month is $300 and you are responsible for 30% of the rent, then you would pay $90 for rent each month.
How Is Your Section 8 Rent Determined?
The Section 8 cost of rent that you would be responsible for is calculated after all allowances are taken out of the family’s gross income. This is the amount before your taxes are taken out.
Allowances and deductions can be made if:
- You have children under the age of 18 years old.
- The head of household is older than 62 years old.
- Certain medical expenses can be deducted from your gross income if you are a senior or have a disability.
- You have childcare costs.
- Or you pay for utilities.
What If My Income Increases While On Section 8?
You will likely pay more for the cost of housing to reflect the increased income. You could go from paying 30% to 40% or more. If your income exponentially increases then you will not automatically be removed from Section 8.
You can remain in housing for 6 months, but pay 100% of the cost. If your income remains high (which is a good thing!) then you would lose Section 8 housing.
The 6 month grace period is to ensure that you are self-sufficient. If your income were to fall during this 6-month window, then you would resume paying 30 to 40% of the cost of housing.
Conclusion
Section 8 recipients typically pay 30 to 40% of the cost of the rent. This amount is determined by factors like your monthly income, household size, and expenses that you have. Childcare, utilities, and medical expenses are all costs that can potentially lower your adjusted income, so make sure to list those when applying for Section 8.
If your income increases past the income limit while you have Section 8, you can stay in the program for 6 months. After this, if your income is still above the limits you will not be eligible for Section 8 housing.
Similar Articles That May Interest You:
- How Long Do I Have To Use My Section 8 Voucher?
- How Long Can I Receive Section 8 Housing?
- Can You Apply For Housing In A Different City Than The One You Live In?
- How To Get Section 8 Housing Immediately If You Are Facing Eviction
Nick Bryant is the author of Understanding Healthcare Is Half The Battle and a Senior Counselor with 13+ years of experience working in community health and mental health. He enjoys spending time with his family, watching WWE on Friday nights, and working toward a Google Data Analytics certification. If you have additional questions about community resources or government assistance programs, simply leave a comment below and he will follow up as soon as possible.
