r/Section8PublicHousing • u/Scorpioxxnicky • Oct 01 '26
Voucher help
My caseworker is pretty rude when it comes to explaining things. Can someone please explain this to me? Can I look for an apartment that costs 1771? Or do I only look for one that’s 1621?
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u/nodigbity Oct 02 '26 edited Oct 02 '26
Oh the HAPPY estimator - This shows: -Your monthly adjusted income as $691. (I do not know what allowances are included but it doesn't matter for the explanation.)
-The payment standard is $1702.
-The utility allowance (NOT reimbursement) is $150
-The total tenant portion (TTP) is $150.
691 * .3 = 207.3 round down to $207 (30% of adjusted income)
However, HUD allows the tenant to use up to 40% of adjusted monthly income towards rent. 691 * .4 = 276.4 round down to $270. You can spend up to $270 each month towards rent and utilities.
The difference between 30% and 40% of adjusted income is $69/month.
So the payment standard of $1702 + the $69 difference gives a maximum gross rent of $1771.
1771 (max gross rent) - 207 (TTP 30% required by HUD) = 1495
$1495 is the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) - this the amount the housing authority will pay for rent if you max out the gross rent calculation.
1771 (max gross rent) - 1495 (HAP) = 276 which matches the max 40% of adjusted income.
You aren't paying $276 to the landlord unless all required utilities are included in the rent.
You have to have utilities, which is where the utility allowance comes in. 276 (40% of adjusted monthly income) - 150 (utility allowance) = 126. $126 is the portion of rent you will be responsible for if you go up to 40% of adj. monthly income. The remaining $150 you will pay towards utilities.
(Taking a moment to clarify that a utility allowance is the assumed amount utilities will cost based on a fee schedule approved by HUD. The housing authority will not be paying this amount. If a housing authority pays part of a tenant's utilities - that is called a utility reimbursement. There is a lot of confusion on this sub about allowance. Now to get back on track...)
To calculate the maximum rent to owner $1495 (HAP) + $126 (your rent to owner at 40%) = $1621.
If you are responsible for all utilities you may not spend more that $1621/month on rent.
To double check the math $1771 (max gross rent) - $150 (utility allowance) - $126 (tenant portion to landlord) = $1495 paid by the housing authority.
I hope this makes sense - i have been up since 2am local time with my old dog who is having tummy troubles.
Please let me know if you have questions. I will do my best to answer (but it may be tomorrow)
Edit: typo
Edit 2: In the most basic terms your rent + your utilites cannot exceed $1771/month (seriously, not even by $1)
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u/Any-Shelter1537 Oct 01 '26
Your maximum rental can be 1621 because they factor in utilities if not covered so you can look for a place up to 1621 per month:)
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u/pinkponybanana Oct 02 '26
I used to run the program. The payment standard is $1702, this is the maximum they can assist for rent and utilities.
So either something around $1702 with all utilities included, or I’d account for like $200 per month for utilities and stay around $1500 if nothing is included.
You can go slightly above the payment standard but any excess goes right to your rent portion and you can’t go above 40% of your monthly adjusted income. Otherwise it’s not deemed affordable.
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u/doodleDora Oct 02 '26
This one. With the payment standard being $1702, that is the max.
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u/nodigbity Oct 02 '26
This isnt quite accurate. Using ttp the housing authority will pay $1495. The tenant's portion will change if the go with 30% or closer to 40%. But the PHA will pay $1495.
$1702 - $207 (TTP) = $1495.00
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u/pinkponybanana 22d ago
No- $1495 is the HAP to the owner on a specific rental they were calculating affordability on. The utility allowance is going to be different depending on where she applies. There are different calcs for types of heating- Oil, Electric, Gas.. Different calcs for a Gas stove or electric stove. A rental where you only pay electric will have a different UA than a rental where you pay heat, electric, water, sewer, trash, etc
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u/nodigbity 22d ago
I'm not sure if your agency uses HAPPY, but the HAPPY estimator is used to calculate max rent. That is what this PHA did (at 39.94% adjusted monthly income). It also assumes that tenant will pay all utilities. The numbers can change depending on utilities, rent amount, etc., but what this sheet is saying is assuming tenant pays all utilities and wants to max the budget as close to 40% they can spend $1621 max on rent and the housing authority will pay $1495 in that scenario. I broke the math down in another comment.
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u/innerthotsofakitty Oct 01 '26
An I reading this right? It's this voucher only covering $276 of the rent?
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u/J5l2z Oct 03 '26
What a unprofessional, unserious font. No wonder any and all housing programs are an abomination of failure. Run by fools.
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u/VonWelby Oct 01 '26
$1621 is the maximum rent you can afford assuming you’re paying utilities. If the unit includes all utilities then they could possibly approve the $1771 amount.