What To Do After You Apply For Your Section 8 Housing Voucher

If it seems like Section 8 rental assistance is needed to keep your family off the streets, you’ll need to contact your local Public Housing Agency (PHA) now. They can help you start the housing voucher application process so you can make rent much more affordable.

Is simply completing your Section 8 application enough? Should you start to pack up your things so you can move to a new place soon?

Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. But we’ll try to give you some clarity with the following tips on what to do once you’ve applied for your voucher.

Steps to Follow Once You Submit Your Section 8 Application

1. Wait for your housing voucher application to be processed.

It could take a couple of weeks to a couple of months to process your Section 8 application. The purpose of this process is to see if you’re eligible for a housing voucher. If approved, you’ll be placed on a waiting list to get your voucher.

Since you probably want rental assistance as soon as possible, it’s best to complete your Section 8 application online. You can ask your PHA where to find it, if available.

What’s the reason behind applying online? Such applications usually get processed quicker than their paper counterparts.

2. Check to see if you were approved.

You can find out your waiting list approval status either by entering an online portal or receiving a letter in the mail.

Depending on your PHA, only those whose applications are approved may receive a notification by a specific date. If you don’t receive a notification, that means you did not make the waiting list.

Some waiting list placements are determined by a random lottery, while others by when the applications are received.

If you made the waiting list, be sure to document any information regarding your placement, online passwords to view your status, and so on. You’ll be needing it in the future to continuously check your status.

Can your application be rejected even if you meet all the eligibility requirements? If the demand for vouchers is too high, yes, it can.

You’ll usually know why you’re rejected, as the housing provider is required to give you the reason.

3. Calculate your wait time.

Your PHA may be able to tell you the actual placement you hold on the waiting list or how long of a wait you’ll be looking at. The waiting time will depend on demand and where you live.

Know that waiting times can sometimes be several years. This is why it’s essential to calculate yours so you can plan accordingly.

4. Check your waiting list status.

Some PHAs let you check your status online. Others will require you to call or visit them in person.

While you may not want to check your status daily, it’s essential to do it periodically to see if there are any notices you must respond to.

For instance, a PHA may require additional information on your situation. Or they may ask if you want to remain on the waiting list.

Without checking your status, you may not see these requests, and you may be automatically removed from the list and have to start over again.

5. Wait for your request to interview.

Once your place in the waiting list is reached, you’ll need to have a final, in-person interview to determine eligibility. If you do not respond to the notice to interview in time, you may lose your spot.