How is my rent calculated for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program?

Your Public Housing Agency (PHA) looks at your income, the rent for the home, and the cost of utilities to figure out how much Section 8 will pay.
The PHA looks at your monthly adjusted income. This is the income the PHA uses after allowed deductions.
You usually pay about 30% of your monthly adjusted income toward rent and utilities.
The PHA looks at the payment standard-The payment standard is the amount the PHA uses to decide how much housing assistance you may receive.
The PHA also looks at the gross rent-Gross rent means the rent you pay to the landlord plus the cost of utilities you are responsible for paying.
The PHA calculates the amount of Section 8 assistance-The maximum assistance is generally based on the lower of these two amounts:
The payment standard minus 30% of your adjusted monthly income
OR
The gross rent minus 30% of your adjusted monthly income.
You usually pay about 30% of your adjusted income for rent and utilities. The PHA pays the remaining eligible amount, up to the amount allowed by the Section 8 rules.

Please note, the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) waitlist is currently closed.
Please register on the HCV website to be notified when any Section 8 program in the state opens its waiting list.

More resources
How do I apply for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher?
What is a Section 8 HCV?
Learn more about the waiting list.
Learn more about Section 8 HCV. (link back to webpage)
Find the local housing office that serves the town you live in.