Neal Caffrey

Section 8 Eligibility Calculator

Calculators

Section 8 Eligibility & Rent Estimator

Household Basics
Enter the HUD AMI for your county (Defaults to approx national avg).
Total income before taxes (Wages, SS, SSI, TANF, etc.)
Deductions & Allowances
Children <18, or full-time students, or disabled adults (not head/spouse). ($480 deduction each).
Qualifies for $400 deduction & medical expense allowance.
Expenses allowing a member to work or attend school (unreimbursed).

Results

Eligibility Status
Adjusted Monthly Income $0 Used to calculate rent share
Your Estimated Rent Share (TTP) $0 Total Tenant Payment (per month)
Logic Breakdown
Note: This tool uses HUD calculation standards but uses estimates for Area Median Income unless you provide exact local data. Actual eligibility is determined by your local Public Housing Authority (PHA). “TTP” is the minimum you contribute; if you choose a unit costing more than the Payment Standard, you pay the difference.

What Is Section 8 Housing?

Section 8 is formally known as the Housing Choice Voucher Program. It is a federal rental assistance program run by HUD and managed locally by Public Housing Authorities (PHAs).

The program helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities afford safe housing. If you qualify, you pay part of the rent, and the government covers the rest.

Eligibility depends mainly on income, family size, and certain deductions.

Why a Section 8 Eligibility Calculator Matters

A Section 8 eligibility calculator gives you three big advantages:

  • It estimates whether your income falls within HUD limits
  • It shows how deductions lower your countable income
  • It estimates how much rent you would likely pay each month

This does not replace an official PHA decision, but it gives you a strong preview. That means fewer surprises and better planning.

What This Section 8 Calculator Does

The calculator you provided is more than a basic income checker. It closely follows HUD rules and does four important things:

  1. Adjusts income limits based on household size
  2. Applies HUD-approved deductions
  3. Estimates eligibility tier and priority
  4. Calculates your Total Tenant Payment (TTP)

Each result is explained in plain language inside the tool.

Step-by-Step: How the Calculator Works

1. Area Median Income (AMI)

AMI is the income midpoint for your county. HUD bases all Section 8 limits on this number.

  • The calculator defaults to a national average
  • You can enter your local AMI for better accuracy

All eligibility limits are calculated as a percentage of AMI.

2. Household Size Adjustment

HUD increases or decreases income limits based on how many people live in the home.

The calculator uses official scaling factors, for example:

  • 1 person uses about 70% of the base limit
  • 4 people use 100%
  • 8 people use about 132%

This keeps the results realistic for different family sizes.

3. Gross Household Income

This is your total income before taxes, including:

  • Wages
  • Social Security
  • SSI or SSDI
  • TANF or other assistance

The calculator requires this number because all HUD calculations start here.

HUD Deductions Explained Simply

Deductions are where many people qualify when they otherwise would not. The calculator applies these automatically.

Dependent Deduction

  • $480 per dependent
  • Includes children, students, or disabled adults
  • Does not include the head of household or spouse

Elderly or Disabled Household Deduction

  • Flat $400 deduction
  • Applies if head or spouse is 62+ or disabled

Childcare Expenses

  • Fully deductible if they allow work or school
  • Must be unreimbursed

Medical Expenses (Elderly or Disabled Only)

  • Only counts above 3% of gross income
  • The calculator handles this threshold for you

All deductions are subtracted to find your adjusted income, which matters more than gross income for rent calculations.

Income Categories and Eligibility Status

The calculator places you into one of four HUD income tiers:

Extremely Low Income (30% AMI)

  • Highest priority
  • Strong chance of assistance

Very Low Income (50% AMI)

  • Main Section 8 target group
  • High priority

Low Income (80% AMI)

  • May qualify
  • Often placed on long waitlists

Over Income Limit

  • Likely not eligible

The results show this clearly using color-coded status badges.

Understanding Your Estimated Rent Share (TTP)

TTP stands for Total Tenant Payment. HUD uses the higher of:

  • 30% of adjusted monthly income
  • 10% of gross monthly income

The calculator compares both and shows your estimated monthly rent contribution.

Important note:
If you choose a unit that costs more than the local payment standard, you pay the difference.

Why the Logic Breakdown Is Important

Many calculators just give a number. This one explains the math.

You see:

  • Gross income
  • Each deduction applied
  • Final adjusted income

This transparency helps you understand why you qualify or why you do not.

Accuracy and Limitations

This calculator is well-designed and HUD-aligned, but keep these points in mind:

  • Local PHAs set final income limits
  • Waitlist rules vary by city
  • Preferences can change priority

Always confirm results with your local housing authority.

Who Should Use This Calculator?

This tool is especially useful if you are:

  • Thinking about applying for Section 8
  • Unsure if your income is too high
  • Supporting an elderly or disabled household
  • Trying to estimate rent before applying

It saves time and removes guesswork.