When first learning about the Section 8 eligibility guidelines, an applicant may be tempted to ask, “What are the qualifications for low income housing in Illinois?” and “Do I qualify for Section 8 housing?” often because there is so much conflicting information pertaining to affordable housing programs. Section 8 eligibility is not difficult but there are a lot of regulations and criteria that applicants must be aware of. If an applicant is not organized, his or her chances of being issued a rejection letter are significant. Section 8 eligibility in IL is comprised of three main areas that will be different depending on where an applicant resides within the state.

What are the Illinois Section 8 requirements?

What are the requirements for Section 8 in Illinois? Section 8 eligibility is tested by seeing if an applicant passes all requirements in the area of income, residency, and background inspections. Applicants must pass all three Section 8 eligibility requirement categories or they will not be admitted into the Section 8 low-income housing program. Section 8 eligibility also takes other factors into account when determining need, such as households containing young children, the disabled, or the elderly. If a household contains one or more of these types of people, they will be considered a higher priority in Section 8 eligibility than other applicants.

What are the requirements for low income housing in Illinois? In the state of Illinois applicants must be United States citizens or legal residents and they must be residents of Illinois. If applicants are not, they cannot apply for Section 8 eligibility in Illinois. If an applicant is moving in from out of state where they originally received Section 8 eligibility benefits, he or she must provide documented proof that he or she were receiving benefits. Rental history is also very important in the low-income housing eligibility process. An applicant’s Section 8 eligibility may be impacted if he or she have a rental history involving eviction, failure to pay, late payments, or damage to a property.

Section 8 eligibility in Illinois is also based on a family’s median income salary. An applicant must make at or below 50 percent of the median income for his or her area to be considered for Section 8 eligibility in Illinois. Median income numbers can be higher or lower depending on the area. If an applicant is unsure of what the median income for his or her area is, he or she must contact the housing authorities for the information, or perform an online search. Representatives keep a Section 8 eligibility income median list on hand that has information for every county in Illinois.

Section 8 eligibility is also extended to past felons. Any applicant who has no charges of sexual misconduct or methamphetamine manufacturing can apply for Section 8 in Illinois. Understand that any applicant with a criminal record or with a household member with a criminal record will have his or her Section 8 eligibility impacted, whether it results in being considered a lower priority case or receiving a Section 8 denial letter altogether. Applicants with household members who are previously convicted felons will be evaluated with those charges in mind. However, if that family member leaves the household and there are no other charges of misconduct, an applicant will not be evaluated with the criminal charges. The severity of crimes and the time at which they were committed will be taken into account with the housing authorities as they consider Section 8 eligibility for an application.

What are the qualifications for low income housing in Illinois?

Some applicants may worry that they are unable to meet all of the standards set forth on local, state, and federal levels as they ask themselves “What do I need to apply for Section 8 housing in Illinois?” It is a real concern; multiple Section 8 denial letters are sent out due to issues with documentation or an application that has been filled out erroneously. Documentation is important because that is what the housing authorities use to verify the information on the Section 8 application. Any discrepancies on the Section 8 application and the documentation will result in a Section 8 denial letter. It is recommended before filling out an application that an applicant instead gathers all required documentation. A general list of required Section 8 eligibility documentation includes:

• Social Security cards for everyone living in the home
• Proof of residency in the county (utility bill, or letter from a shelter)
• Official birth certificates for everyone in the household
• Identification for everyone living in the home
• A listing of any other government benefits
• Current transcripts (if applicable)
• Pay stubs and tax returns (three months’ worth if applicable)
• A listing of current debts and assets

This Section 8 eligibility documentation list is not a definitive list. Some counties may ask for more specific forms of documentation or other Section 8 eligibility documents that have not been listed above. For a complete list of Section 8 eligibility documents, an applicant should contact his or her nearest public housing authority.

Learn More About Section 8 Requirements in Illinois

Section 8 eligibility is a long process with a lot of documentation and regulations attached. However, if an applicant exercises some due diligence and asks for help when appropriate, the eligibility process is quite manageable. To answer the most important question of “Do I qualify for Section 8 housing in Illinois?” an applicant must first deduce their area’s median income and then their own median income to compare the two. If they qualify, the next thing to do is to contact the housing authority to start the application process.