Section 8 Income Limits by State 2026: Eligibility Requirements

Wondering if you qualify for Section 8 based on your income? Income limits vary by state, county, and household size—so there's no single cutoff. This guide explains how income limits work and how to find the limits for your area.

How Section 8 Income Limits Work

HUD sets income limits based on the Area Median Income (AMI) for each metropolitan area and county. There are three main categories:

• Extremely Low Income (ELI): 30% of AMI or below - highest priority
• Very Low Income (VLI): 50% of AMI or below - standard eligibility
• Low Income: 80% of AMI or below - limited availability

By law, housing authorities must provide at least 75% of new vouchers to families at the Extremely Low Income level.

Why Location Matters

Income limits vary dramatically based on local costs of living. For a 4-person household, the VLI limit in San Francisco is $78,550 while in rural Mississippi it might be $31,050. Yes, you can qualify for Section 8 in San Francisco while earning $78,000/year—because the median income there is so high.

How Household Size Affects Limits

Larger families have higher income limits. The 4-person limit is the "base": 1 person gets 70%, 2 persons 80%, 3 persons 90%, 4 persons 100%, 5 persons 108%, 6 persons 116%, 7 persons 124%, and 8 persons 132% of the 4-person limit.

State-Specific Income Limits

Examples of VLI limits (4-person household): California $40,000-80,000, Texas $35,000-55,000, Florida $35,000-50,000, New York $40,000-65,000, New Jersey $45,000-60,000, Massachusetts $50,000-65,000, Indiana $35,000-45,000, Ohio $35,000-48,000 depending on area.

Look up exact income limits for your area →

For one-person households, see the single-person income limits in every state.

What Counts as Income?

Counted: Wages, Social Security, SSI, pensions, unemployment, child support, regular cash contributions.

Not counted: Food stamps (SNAP), one-time payments, foster care payments, student financial aid for tuition.

What If I'm Over the Limit?

If you're above the Very Low Income limit, you probably won't qualify for a new voucher. However, some PHAs have Low Income (80% AMI) slots in limited circumstances, and if you already have a voucher and your income increases, you can keep it until you exceed certain thresholds.