Maryland Section 8 eligibility is based in large part upon the applicant’s stated need according to various criteria established on the federal, state and local levels. HUD (Department of Human and Urban Development) along with the Maryland Housing Authority administer the program which is offered as voucher-based housing assistance. What are the qualifications for low income housing in Maryland counties? For most counties in the state, while a large portion of the application and the determination of Section 8 eligibility is based on income, other criteria must also be met. Section 8 eligibility requires that the applicant meet citizenship standards and pass a background check. Credit is often not a factor but that qualification can vary from county to county. When applicants ask themselves, “Do I qualify for Section 8 housing and should I apply?” it is important to learn about the requirements for Section 8 eligibility and then being gathering the necessary documentation and filling out the applications.

What Are the Maryland Section 8 Requirements?

What are the requirements for Section 8 in Maryland? Applicants must first meet basic income requirements. Based on the answers to the questions surrounding income, the applicant can make a better determination of Section 8 eligibility and whether they should continue on in the process. MD Section 8 eligibility is based on a combined family income that is at least 80 percent that of what other median salaries are. Very low income Section 8 eligibility in Maryland is considered to be family income that falls between the 30-50 percent mark. Each housing authority in each county determines additional guidelines, thus checking criteria in your specific county is advised.

Section 8 eligibility in Maryland is also based on family composition. Families that have very young children, the disabled and the elderly are given preference. Section 8 eligibility is awarded first to those whose need is determined to be the greatest. However, families that do not fall into these categories for Section 8 eligibility may still qualify on other levels.

In addition to income and family structure, Section 8 eligibility rules state that the applicant must be a legal U.S. citizen. The citizenship requirement only extends to the primary applicant. Section 8 eligibility applicants who are former felons can still apply for benefits, but must understand that their cases will be examined closely for several things. First, the Section 8 eligibility regulations stipulate that the crime must not have been of a serious nature, not have involved a sexual offense and the felon must not have engaged in criminal activity since his or her release. Since Section 8 eligibility takes into account an applicant’s family composition, anyone who has a family member with a criminal record may stand a higher chance of rejection especially if that family member currently resides in the household.

Lastly, Section 8 eligibility in Maryland is determined based upon an applicant’s past rental history. Reports of abuse, neglect or damage to property will result in a lack of Section 8 eligibility being offered to the applicant. Other factors that that affect a person asking themselves “Do I qualify for Section 8 housing,” include late payments, defaulted payments and criminal activity at previous residences.

What are the Qualifications for Low Income Housing in Maryland?

One of the most commonly asked questions is: What do I need to apply for Section 8 housing in Maryland?” New applicants worry that they will not have the required documentation to apply for housing. With the Section 8 eligibility process, documentation is of the up most importance, thus taking the time to gather the necessary information is time well spent. Each week, denial letters are sent out to applicants because the petitioner simply did not fill out the forms correctly, or the documentation provided could not be verified. The Section 8 eligibility agents at the public housing authority take the documentation provided along with the Section 8 eligibility application and they verify that the information on the application and the documents are true and valid. If a piece is missing from the Section 8 eligibility application, then the application will be denied. The following is a listing of some of the common types of documentation that may be needed but be aware that each individual PHA may have additional documents they require.

• An accounting of all current debts and assets
• Proof of income (pay stubs, tax returns)
• Social security cards/numbers for all household members
• A list of all government aid being received
• Current transcripts (if applicable)
• Proof of residency
• Official birth certificates for all household members

Learn More About Section 8 Requirements in Maryland

Since each locality in the MD Section 8 eligibility program determines eligibility criteria, the applicant is advised to check with the local offices directly to confirm the types of documents needed. One of the first steps to determine Section 8 eligibility in any Maryland county is to look at the median salary range of the county in which the applicant lives. Median salary rates are published online and are easy to obtain. Once located, the Section 8 eligibility applicant need only figure where their combined annual salary falls in comparison. If the applicant’s income falls to only within 80 percent of the average salary for the area, then the potential candidate can be reasonably assured that they should proceed with their application. Section 8 eligibility in MD requires that once an applicant has been admitted to the program that he or she respond promptly to all correspondence that is sent to them and that the Section 8 eligibility application is kept updated if new information arises.