Does Social Security Disability Offer Housing Assistance?

A disability can make it difficult to work, pay your bills, and keep up with housing costs. Many people with disabilities turn to Social Security for help, but Social Security disability doesn't provide housing assistance. Instead, other government programs offer far more support.

Fortunately, people with disabilities and low incomes can get housing assistance through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and other agencies. Additional government and nonprofit programs can help with other expenses, like utilities, food, and medical insurance.

Read on to learn about the types of housing for people with disabilities that HUD offers, including:

• public housing
• rental assistance through voucher programs, and
• specialized housing options for those experiencing homelessness.

You'll also learn how to get low-income housing for the disabled, who qualifies for assistance, and where to find help in your area.

Housing Assistance for Social Security Disability Recipients

States, counties, and local governments receive HUD funding to pay for programs that can help Social Security disability recipients. But to qualify for low-income housing for the disabled, you'll need to meet the program's eligibility requirements.

Two key HUD options for assistance are public housing and housing vouchers, each providing affordable housing options for people with disabilities who meet the income requirements.

Can I Get Public Housing While on Disability?

Public housing is a HUD program that provides safe, affordable rental housing for low-income families, the elderly, and people with disabilities. HUD provides funding to local public housing agencies (PHAs) to manage and operate these housing programs. The public housing agency makes the final decision about who qualifies and who's accepted.

HUD sets the following income limits for the program:

• low income: 80% of the median income for the metropolitan area or county, and
• very low-income: 50% of the median income for the metropolitan area or county.

In determining eligibility for public housing, the local PHA can also take into account your:

• status as a family, a senior citizen, or a person with a disability
• U.S. citizenship or immigration status, and
• rental history references.

Are Housing Vouchers Available for People With Disabilities?

HUD-funded housing vouchers are an important source of housing assistance for families with a disabled family member. The programs are designed to serve people with extremely low incomes (at or below the poverty line).

City and state public housing agencies decide who's eligible for a voucher. In general, a family income may not be higher than 50% of the median income for the metropolitan area or county they live in. The agencies also determine the amount of the housing assistance voucher.

The agencies take into account other factors such as:

• status as a family, a senior citizen, or a person with a disability, and/or
• U.S. citizenship or immigration status.

After being approved for a voucher, tenants will need to put 30% of their monthly adjusted gross household income toward rent and utilities. That percentage can go up to 40% if the rent is higher than the program limits.

What Are Housing Choice Vouchers?

Previously known as Section 8, the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program is HUD's main housing assistance program. It's designed to help "low-income families, elderly persons, veterans, and disabled individuals afford housing in the private market." HCV is run by more than 2,200 state and local housing agencies. About 2.3 million low-income households across the country receive housing choice vouchers.

Several types of housing vouchers are awarded based on who's eligible and administrative details.

Tenant-Based Vouchers

Tenant-based vouchers stay with the person or family who receives them, not the landlord or the unit. Before the family can use a tenant-based voucher, the local PHA must approve the unit, including verifying that:

• the rent is reasonable, and
• the unit meets HUD's inspection standards.

The PHA then enters into a Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract with the unit's owner and pays the subsidy portion of the rent directly to the landlord. If the family moves out, the HAP contract for that unit ends, and the voucher stays with the family as long as they continue to meet program requirements.

Project-Based Vouchers

Project-based vouchers (PBVs) are tied to specific units in certain buildings or developments and don't move with the tenant. The local housing authority enters into a long-term HAP contract with the property owner, not the eligible individual or family. The contract allows the landlord to rent to eligible low-income households, which can include:

• families
• elderly people, and
• people with disabilities.

Project-based vouchers can be more beneficial to disabled and elderly tenants because service providers can work more efficiently when residents with similar needs live in the same building.

Mainstream Vouchers

A mainstream voucher is a type of tenant-based assistance specifically for non-elderly adults with disabilities (ages 18 to 61) and households that include at least one such adult. Mainstream vouchers follow the same rules as Housing Choice Vouchers but are funded separately to help this population live independently in the community. HUD estimates that more than 66,000 people or households in the United States receive mainstream vouchers.

Non-Elderly Disabled Vouchers

Non-elderly disabled (NED) vouchers are similar to mainstream vouchers, but they're specifically for families in which the head or co-head of the household is a non-elderly adult with a disability. Under this program, local housing authorities administer NED vouchers for more than 50,000 families and provide rental assistance directly to the landlord.

Recent changes in HUD funding and voucher allocations have resulted in NED vouchers being issued less frequently, and many housing authorities now provide them only when previously allocated vouchers become available. Check with your local housing authority to see if NED vouchers are available in your area.

HUD-VA Supportive Housing Vouchers

The HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program combines HUD's HCV housing assistance with case management and clinical services from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). HUD-VASH vouchers are available to homeless veterans (or those at risk of homelessness) and their families. Like other voucher types, VASH vouchers renew annually based on leasing and program compliance.

How to Apply for Public Housing or Vouchers for People with Disabilities

Applying for public housing or housing vouchers typically involves working directly with your local public housing authority. PHAs manage applications, waiting lists, and program availability for both tenant-based and special-purpose vouchers, including housing for people with disabilities.

Here's how to get your application for housing assistance started:

1. Find your local PHA. You can locate the PHA where you live using HUD's PHA Contact Information page. You can search by state using the drop-down list or an interactive map.
2. Check the eligibility requirements. Requirements vary by program and by PHA. Some programs give first priority for public housing to seniors, people with disabilities, or families with low incomes.
3. Submit an application. Applications generally ask for your personal and financial information, household size, and documentation of eligibility. In most places, you can apply online, by mail, or in person.
4. Join the waitlist for public housing. Many PHAs have waiting lists due to high demand. Placement is usually based on application date or priority categories. A local PHA might also give preference to certain applicants, such as veterans or people experiencing homelessness.
5. Stay in contact with your PHA. Update your application promptly if your contact information or household circumstances change. Be sure to respond quickly to PHA requests to maintain your place on the waiting list.

Is There Housing Assistance for Homeless People With Disabilities?

Unfortunately, the need for housing assistance far exceeds the available funding, and many people wait months or even years to receive help. During this time, people with disabilities could become homeless or be in danger of becoming homeless while waiting for assistance.

HUD's Continuum of Care (CoC) program helps provide housing and supportive services to people experiencing homelessness (24 C.F.R. § 578.) The CoC program helps those with disabilities, such as:

• serious mental illness
• chronic health conditions (including substance use disorders), or
• HIV/AIDS.

CoC funds can support a variety of housing types—including permanent supportive housing, transitional housing, and rental assistance. The program also provides supportive services such as:

• case management
• health care, and
• substance use treatment.

Participants must usually be referred by an agency participating in the local CoC program. To find local Continuum of Care programs that provide housing and supportive services for people with disabilities at risk of homelessness, use HUD's CoC Grantee Areas map.

How to Find a Local Public Housing Agency

Because Social Security disability doesn't include housing assistance, low-income people with disabilities often face challenges securing affordable housing. Even after applying, it can take time for benefits to become available. The process can be stressful, but it is worthwhile for families and individuals who need this support.

For the most up-to-date information about housing assistance programs, contact the PHA in your area or call 2-1-1. You can find PHAs in your state using the HUD PHA Contact page.

Finding More Help

You can talk to a social services worker at your local Department of Social Services to find more programs that could help you. Social services workers are very knowledgeable about the resources in your area. Also, read about other sources of support in our article on financial assistance for people with disabilities.