Does SSDI Affect Section 8 Housing? 

SSDI, or Social Security Disability Insurance, is a monthly benefit payment given to those whose medical condition keeps them from working. The amount you receive is based on the amount you’ve paid into Social Security while employed and your age. The National Alliance on Mental Illness stated that on average, SSDI recipients received $900 in 2009. With the Census Bureau reporting that the national median rent was $842 that same year, obviously SSDI isn’t always enough to cover the basics like prescriptions, food, and housing. In order to offer housing/rent assistance, HUD, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, provides Housing Choice Vouchers, previously known as Section 8, for low-income individuals. 

SSDI 

To be approved for SSDI’s monthly benefit, you must meet the definition of “disability” set forth by the Social Security Administration. This means you must have a condition that keeps you from being able to hold down a job or train for a new job. The condition must last a year or more or be expected to end in death. You can apply for SSDI online or at your local Social Security office. It may take up to five months to receive an approval or denial. SSDI affects the amount you receive in your housing voucher because the program is income-based. If your SSDI falls above the maximum income requirement, you may not qualify for a housing voucher. 

SSI & SSP 

When applying for SSDI, you also have the option of applying for SSI, or Supplemental Security Income. Instead of being based solely on disability, SSI and SSP are income-based. You may qualify if you’re both disabled and low-income. You can receive both SSD and SSI at the same time. While it may reduce your SSDI benefit, you may find that you raise the amount of your total monthly benefits. Again, because SSI and SSP and income, they may affect your housing voucher. 

Living Assistance for Disabilities 

Housing Choice Vouchers are funds distributed to local low-income individuals and families, including those with disabilities, by the federal government. You can find the program at your local Public Housing Authority, or PHA, office. If you meet local requirements and income guidelines, your voucher can be used for almost any rental property, as long as it’s deemed healthy and safe by the PHA. Those on SSDI or SSI and Section 8 have their voucher paid directly to their landlord and then pay the difference in rent. 

If you own your home, rather than rent, you may qualify for the Homeownership Voucher program instead. The local PHA can help you apply if the program is offered in your area. To qualify, you must meet minimum credit and income requirements and be living in your first home. Once approved, the PHA can help you secure your mortgage and apply payments. 

If you have questions about SSDI or SSI, it may help to speak to a disability expert at the Disability Help Center. Our experienced attorneys can guide you through the application process. Or, if you’ve already been denied, we will assist you with your appeal and fight to get you the benefits you so rightly need and deserve. Call us today at 1-888-418-8860 or contact us online to set up a free initial consultation.