[Shadow Wraith]

Does anybody know that when you have the meeting for one's local rental voucher (Section 8) meeting, is income the only thing they look at? I have enormous medical bills, huge amounts of student loans, high cost of live in general. Does any of that matter? Otherwise, I might as well forget it since I make $7000 too much (annually). To make matters worse, my previous employer could cut off my long term disability at any time. In addition, since they have me down for a mental disability only, they are trying to limit me to 2 years. What this means is about 40% of my income has the potential of dropping whenever my long term disability company decides to drop me.

[jbug]

I know here in Arkansas they look at my overall income/expenses. I am on SSDI and Medicaid. They look at all my income and take into account how much I spend on utilities, medical expenses and that includes medicine, if I had a car payment I think they figure that in too. I can't remember how much your rent can be percentage wise of your income. I know my income every month is 765.00 and I pay 126.00 for rent. Every year I have to reapply for my section 8. But it isn't anything big you just have paperwork and they come inspect my apartment to make sure it is clean and still up to code.

Jan

[shezbut]

Hi Shadow Wrath,

Let me answer your Q in general. Section 8 housing takes income, medical bills, medications into consideration. I rent an apartment, which would go for $1400/month to the average Joe. Since I have SSI, the rent becomes 1/3 of my monthly income.
Any $ I have going towards medical bills and prescriptions is subtracted from that amount.

My state considers the car to be a luxury ~ none of those fees (insurance, gas, mechanics) are deductible.

I get $674/month from SSI. Due to last year's high medical bills, I now pay $87.00 per month for rent. In the meantime, I did declare bankruptcy to remove the never-ending medical bills. Up until then, I also paid what I could afford to pay. They may have wanted $6,560 now, I simply didn't have the money. I'd send $100 a month to a few providers and be broke until my next check..

Yes, there is recurring paperwork to be filled out. I just got another form from Social Security, to see if there's anyone else they can go after to pay my bills. NO, my situation hasn't changed. A little annoying to have to fill out the paperwork every 6 months to one year, but that's just the way that it is for all of us.

[madisgram]

hi shadow, have you verified with your previous employer re terms of your long term disability payment? i've been on LTD with my previous employer for 10 years. i am also on SS disability. i'd definitely check re your LTD terms if you haven't already. mental disability should be considered no different from a physical disability.

[Perna]

I think, in Oklahoma, it is based on income:

"Although the lease agreement is between the resident and their landlord, THA subsidizes the resident’s rent payments. Therefore, a Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) contract exists between THA and the landlord. The Section 8 Program provides the landlord with guaranteed rent as long as the landlord is in compliance with their HAP contract and the resident is in the unit. For example, if the rent for a three bedroom house is determined to be $550 per month and the client's payment (based on their income) calculates to be $75 per month, then THA pays the difference of $475 per month directly to the landlord."

From (Tulsa Housing Authority example): http://www.tulsahousing.org/HousingO...9/Default.aspx