Section 8 Income Limits 2024: How to Check If Your Income Qualifies

Section 8 income limits are the maximum income your household can have and still qualify for a Housing Choice Voucher in your area. For 2024, these limits are set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and then used by your local public housing authority (PHA) to decide who qualifies and how much assistance they can receive.

Income limits vary widely by county and metro area, so two families making the same amount of money can get different decisions depending on where they live. The only reliable way to know if you meet the 2024 limit is to check the HUD income limit charts for your area or ask your local housing authority directly.

How Section 8 Income Limits Actually Work in 2024

HUD publishes income limits each year, broken into “extremely low,” “very low,” and “low” income levels. For Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, your local housing authority typically focuses on the “very low income” and “extremely low income” limits.

Income limits are based on two main things:

1. Your household size (how many people will live with you), and
2. Your area’s median income (what people in your county/metro generally earn).

Key terms to know:

• Public Housing Authority (PHA) — Local or regional agency that runs Section 8 in your area.
• Area Median Income (AMI) — The middle income in your area; income limits are usually set as a percentage of this.
• Very Low Income (VLI) — Typically 50% of AMI, adjusted by household size.
• Extremely Low Income (ELI) — Typically 30% of AMI, adjusted by household size.

In practice, your PHA compares your gross household income (before taxes) to the HUD chart for your area and household size; if your income is at or below the listed maximum, you generally pass the income test, though other eligibility rules still apply.

Where to Check Your Exact 2024 Income Limit

Two official systems control and explain 2024 income limits:

• HUD — Sets and publishes the official 2024 income limit numbers for each county/metro.
• Your local Public Housing Authority (PHA) — Uses those numbers to screen Section 8 applicants, manage waiting lists, and determine voucher amounts.

To find your actual income limit for 2024:

1. Search for your local housing authority’s official portal by typing “[Your County/City] housing authority Section 8 income limits 2024” and choosing a site that ends in .gov or belongs to a known public housing authority.
2. On most PHA or HUD pages, look for a link or PDF titled something like “Income Limits 2024”, “Section 8 Income Guidelines,” or “HUD Income Limits.”
3. Locate your county or metro area on the chart, then look across the row for your household size (1 person, 2 people, etc.) and the very low income column; this is often the main income test used for Section 8.

If you cannot find the chart, a practical next step today is to call your housing authority’s Section 8 office and ask: “Can you tell me the 2024 Section 8 income limit for a [X]-person household in [your city/county]?” and write down the exact dollar amount they give you.

What You Need to Prepare Before You Call or Apply

Even if you’re just checking income limits, PHAs commonly ask for basic information or documents, especially if you move directly into a pre-application or full application. Rules and verification details can vary by location and situation, but these items are widely used.

Documents you’ll typically need:

• Proof of income — Recent pay stubs (usually last 4–6 weeks), benefit award letters (SSI, SSDI, unemployment, TANF), or self-employment income records.
• Photo ID and Social Security documents — Driver’s license or state ID for adults, and Social Security cards or official documents showing SSNs for each household member (where applicable).
• Household composition proof — Birth certificates for children, custody papers if relevant, or other paperwork showing who legally lives in your household.

When you contact your PHA about income limits, having these ready makes it easier if they say, “You appear to qualify, do you want to submit a pre-application now?” and can reduce delays later when they verify your income against the 2024 limits.

Step-by-Step: How to Check and Use 2024 Income Limits

1. Identify your official housing authority

Your first action today can be to identify which housing authority serves your exact city or county.
Search “[Your city/county] public housing authority Section 8” and confirm the site is an official government or housing authority site (look for .gov or clear references to HUD programs).

2. Get the 2024 income limits for your area

Once you’re on the correct PHA or HUD-linked portal:

1. Look for a section labeled “Section 8,” “Housing Choice Voucher,” or “Rental Assistance.”
2. Open the 2024 income limits or “Income Eligibility” chart.
3. Find the row for your county/metro and locate the column for your household size.
4. Note the dollar amount listed under “Very Low Income (50% of AMI)” and, if shown, “Extremely Low Income (30% of AMI).”

This number is the maximum gross annual income your household can have to be considered income-eligible for that level; your PHA may prioritize those in the extremely low category when deciding who gets help first.

3. Compare your income to the limit

Now compare your own income to the 2024 limit you found:

1. Add up all gross monthly income for everyone in the household who works or gets benefits that count (wages, Social Security, unemployment, some child support, etc.).
2. Multiply that total by 12 to estimate your gross yearly income.
3. Compare that number to the very low income limit for your household size and area.

If your household income is at or below the published amount, you typically meet the income part of eligibility, though you still must pass other checks like citizenship/eligible status, background, and program-specific rules.

4. Take the next official step if you appear income-eligible

If your income appears to be under the 2024 limit, your practical next action is to ask the PHA exactly how they handle new Section 8 applicants right now. Some are accepting full applications, while others only take waiting list pre-applications during limited open periods.

You can say on the phone:
“I checked HUD’s 2024 income limits and I appear to be under the very low-income level for my household. Can you tell me how to get on the Section 8 waiting list or apply in this area?”

The staff member will typically:

• Confirm whether their Section 8 waiting list is open or closed.
• Tell you whether to apply online, by mail, or in person.
• List which documents you’ll need to submit when your name is selected from the list.

After you submit your application or pre-application, you should usually receive a confirmation number or written notice; later, if your name comes up on the list, the PHA will schedule an interview or briefing and fully verify your income against the 2024 limits and any updated figures at that time.

Real-world friction to watch for

Real-world friction to watch for
A common snag is that people rely on rough guesses of their income and then discover during verification that overtime pay, gig work, or informal cash income pushed them over the 2024 income limit. To avoid this, gather all pay stubs and benefit statements before applying, and ask the housing authority directly which income sources they count so you can give a precise and honest figure from the start.

When You’re Stuck or Need Extra Help

If you’re confused by the charts or your income situation is complicated (irregular work, self-employment, multiple part-time jobs), you have a few legitimate support options:

• Local housing authority front desk or customer service line — They can walk you through how they read the 2024 HUD income limits and how they count your income types.
• HUD field office — In some areas, a regional HUD office can explain how income limits are set and point you back to the correct PHA. Search for “HUD field office [your state]” and use contact information from a .gov site.
• HUD-approved housing counseling agency — These nonprofit agencies often help people understand rental assistance rules, review your income documents, and explain what to expect from the Section 8 process.

Because Section 8 involves housing and money, watch for scams: avoid anyone asking for upfront fees to “guarantee” a voucher, or websites that are not clearly linked to a housing authority or HUD. Only trust applications and portals connected to official government or PHA sites, and never send personal documents through unofficial channels or social media.