Section 42 income limits explained!
So we recently told you about a great Section 8 alternative called Section 42. These days, it can take years of waiting before you can get approved for a Section 8 voucher. But what do you do in the meantime?
One great alternative is Section 42, which you can read about HERE.
So now that you are interested in Section 42, the next step is to see if you qualify. Like Section 8, there are strict income limits set up to determine who may take advantage of this program.
Landlords whose properties are under the Section 42 umbrella can only rent to people who are at or below the income limits.
Now, the income limits differ for each state and even each county!
The best place to go is directly to the official HUD website. However, their website can be very complicated and hard to navigate. So to get directly to the income limit module, click here
Then, input your state and county. On the next screen you’ll see information for 50 and 60 percent income limits. Those are NOT the final numbers you need to pay attention to. The 50 and 60 percent text will be highlighted in blue.
Click directly on those words to take you to a new page. THAT is the information that you need. It will vary depending on the state and depending on how many bedrooms your family would require.
Have any questions? Leave a comment below and we’ll do our best to answer them.
Hi!
I have been living in a Section 42 complex for two years, but do not qualify for reduced rent. I have been paying market value and will continue to do so. I just received my renewal notice and an attached letter stating I must complete recertification documentation including information about any investments etc. I was not required to do this when I moved in or when I renewed my lease last year. Why now? Especially considering I don’t receive Section 42 assistance. Thank you!
My mother lives in a section 42, she only makes about 13k a year from SS. We just sold her home and she has about 60k in her savings now. We draw $500/month from it to pay her rent. She just got her renewal contract and they ask for all kinds of information. Does her saving/investment account disqualify her at all?
The link at the end of this article goes to Section 42 info as of 2013. Is there a newer one? thank you.
I’m having trouble getting into section 42 or Lihtc ,they say because im on disability i dont qualify so with my daughter ,even getting a one bedroom at 854.00 a month and paying my own bge. They say they go by people not bedrooms so they are trying to tell me instead of 31,000 a year I have to make 38,000 for 2 people? I read they go by rooms not people . Or isnt that income high. I make 31,000 or less . I’m from md.
I am a single mother of a 6 year old little boy, he has a disability developmental delays, spectrum autism, I work full time, but even having a full time job doesn’t help with all my bills, I would like to know if anyone has the number for section 42 for Dane county so I can apply, thank u very much.
L
Live in section 42 housing. Newer building opened for two years in GA. We do not get any written notice of a rent increase. Last year it was 10% increase. So it’s recertification time again. Again no written notices of revert or increase but have been told there will be one. I think they wait for the increase to be approved or something. But seems like we should have some protection to sign the new lease at the current schedule instead of waiting for the increase to come through. But don’t know what to do about it.
Can I live in a section 42 apartment with a section 8 voucher?
I have been struggling with employment. In 2017, I have worked 5 of the past 10 months. My income barely crossed $13,000. My son is health challenged (denied disability) and only worked 3 months. His income $3,000. My sweetheart, unmarried, is on SSI-disability and only gets $1100/mon.
Between us, this year, we may make $35,000. We have lived in Sect 42 housing since 2011, but the management dropped the ball on our recertification in March. We just got new papers. Our rent is $924/m, with $50/M pet rent. This is an increase of $140/m! Will we gather any assistance with Sect 42? Or do we need to request Sect 8?
I currently live in section 42 housing and after my new lease agreement was signed in Jan 2017 my income changed significantly and I sent numerous letters,emails and faxs providing proof and expected a rent decrease, that never came. so in May when I had another significant decrease in income, I again sent proof by mail and fax with again no response or decrease of monthly rent! Now in August I lost all income and I mailed proof 1st week of September this year of $0 income and now I’m getting a form to have a family member fill out stating that I must have a family member sign stating that I am receiving an amount of money from them or I do not qualify to remain a tenant under section 42 anymore???? Does anyone know anything about not qualifying if u have 0 income??!! Also due to my income going down though out the year and no change in my rent I am behind on rent! once I sent them that I have no income, they sent me pay or leave within 5 days! according to my income I was being charged 40,50 and 60 percent of my income throughout the year?! when it’s supposed to be based on 30 percent. Can I fight this eviction?!
Sweetheart, Section 42 is only a tax break for the apartment building, NOT for you. All they care about is if you have enough to pay rent that they specified. It doesn’t work like Section 8! If you have no way to pay on a Section 42, they will evict you. No problem. Good Luck!
You have to have a minimum of 50 dollars. Have a family state on paper they give you 50 dollars a month. It
I currently live in a section 42 apartment, but my husband is up for a promotion that would put us over the income limit. Will we be forced to move at that point?
no you wont 🙂 you only have to qualify at move in.
I’ve been living in my section 42 apartment for 5 years and was just told I need to be out in less than 2 months because my pension earned well last year and threw me over the limit. Please tell me there’s a mistake! I also thought that restrictions were higher getting in than maintaining.
Probably not, if you just lie.
Our landlords have our social security number so couldn’t they look up our tax returns? Is it legal for them to do that?
Question if someone can give me a direct answer, if you been on the section 8 waiting list since 2009 to current and you move out of the same county where you are waiting on the list, and you have no choice but to move to another country cause of the cost of living is to high in the same county you are waiting in, is it possible to have your application on the waiting list transferred to another county were the cost of living is a little more affordable to live while still waiting although you have to live in a cheap motel until you can afford to pay rent . So if anyone have been through this before or no anything about how this work would be very appreciated to answer this question for me please…
Thanks!
Interesting question but I don’t think you can port your waiting list status.
When u get a voucher, If the voucher specifies 1 bd, can u rent a two bd and pay the rent for the extra room yourself. If u have a 2 bd, will u b required to move to a 1 bd, or can u stay and pay the extra rent on ur own. Can u rent a house? Thank you.
You can do any of the above, as long as you pay the difference and the landlord is willing to accept your size voucher.
Shouldn’t be a problem.
That’s so messed up and it hurts me to my heart cause I am a developmental delayed adult with four kids and physical and mental illnesses that I suffer from and I think that don’t sound fair exspeailly after 15 years Ian so sorry my pray and thoughts goes out to you
You are such a sweetheart
I am 61 and disabled. My parents are 83 and 80. We all have serious health conditions. My parents live roughly 80 miles one way to most of their doctors. I live approximately 38 miles from mine. My question is, I currently have a Section 8 voucher. Could my parents move in with me and we apply as a family for Section 8?
I wanted to know can a section 8 voucher be ported from one state to another due to an family emergency?
In some cases, yes.
I have been on section 42 rental payments for about 4 yrs. I would like to
know how in the world, after paying 332.00 a month, my rent is going up
this coming year to 389.00 a month. That is a 57.00 a month increase! Under
what circumstances can this happen??? I live on social security only, 823.00
per month. I was under the impression, that my rent amount was capped.
The rental amount only needs to be “below market value.” I’m assuming the market value where you live has gone up in the past 4 years, thus the price increase.
Or, it’s possible your rent was so below market value that your landlord can now raise your rent and still be considered below market value.
The market rate for housing in my area went up considerably in 2018. My apartment’s property management company mailed us the explanation of how the Section 42 rent is calculated, when HUD does the new calculations for “fair market value”, and what percentage lower than that is allowed for Section 42 apartments. I suggest you ask (or demand) that your manager or landlord give you the papers that explain that. It is probably on a HUD website too. It isn’t easy to understand while reading it, so the landlord has to be able to explain it to you.
I’m a single Mom. I have two jobs ;make minimun . I dont know how people do it. I would like to find a place, a place where my daughter and i feel safe.
It is so unfair that your situation exists. Unfair that so many people are wealthy and have so many legal loopholes to cut their taxes – tax money that would go to taking care of low income people and families, as well as other things that Charities and Non-Profit Organizations have to take care of. And Americans, in general, don’t want to pay more taxes so there is never enough tax money to help out the financially strapped, underemployed and underpaid people.