Program Income Limits

The income limits used to determine eligibility vary by program and are as follows: the Below Market Interest Rate (BMIR) income limit, the low-income limit, and the very low-income limit. A family’s eligibility for assistance is based on the income limit applicable to the type of housing assistance the family is to receive. A family may be income-eligible for one program but have too high an income for another program.

In addition to the three income limits used to determine eligibility, there is a fourth – the extremely low-income limit – used for income-targeting in Section 8 projects but not for eligibility (see paragraphs 4-5, 4-15, and 4-25). These four income limits are presented in Figure 3-2.

HUD Occupancy Handbook Chapter 3: Eligibility for Assistance and Occupancy

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Section 1: Program Eligibility

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