Can You Be Married On Section 8?

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Can you be married on Section 8? Yes, you can be married and receive Section 8 housing assistance. Marital status doesn’t disqualify you from the program, but the addition of a spouse can impact your eligibility, rent calculation, and the size of your voucher.

Can You Be Married On Section 8 Housing? The Answer Isn’t Always Straightforward

Can You Be Married On Section 8 Housing?

If you’re already on Section 8 and get married, or if you’re applying as a couple, there are specific rules you’ll need to follow. Knowing the rules is especially important if your spouse has a criminal record or income that affects your household’s total.

Let’s walk through what you need to know if you’re already married and applying as a couple, planning to marry, or living with a spouse while on Section 8.

Can Married Couples Get Section 8?

Absolutely. The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program is open to individuals, couples, and families. What matters most is your household income, family size, and citizenship status, not whether you have a ring on your finger.

If you’re applying as a couple, both spouses must:

  • Provide proof of income and assets
  • Undergo a background check
  • Show proof of marriage
  • Submit documentation showing citizenship or legal immigration status

What Happens If You Get Married While On Section 8?

If you’re already receiving Section 8 and get married, you’ll need to report that change to your housing authority and provide information about your new spouse.

Getting married while you’re on Section 8 doesn’t automatically change your eligibility, but it does require immediate notification to your Public Housing Authority (PHA).

Your spouse cannot live with you until you receive approval. Allowing them to move in with you before the PHA completes their checks is a violation of the Section 8 rules you agreed to follow and could result in the loss of your housing voucher.

Here’s what typically happens after marriage:

  1. You Notify Your Caseworker

You’re required to report any changes to your household within 10 to 30 days, depending on your housing authority’s rules. This includes marriage, moving someone in, or changes in household income.

  1. Your Income is Recalculated

Section 8 is income-based, so your spouse’s income and assets (even if you file taxes separately) will be added to your household total. If your new combined income exceeds the program’s limits for your household size, you could lose eligibility.

  1. Your Spouse Undergoes a Background Check

Your housing authority will run a criminal background check on your partner. If your spouse doesn’t pass the background check, they can’t live with you in Section 8-funded housing.

  1. Your Rent May Increase

Even if you remain eligible, your rent portion might go up because Section 8 vouchers only cover the amount the PHA determines is needed based on your income.

  1. Your Spouse is Added to the Lease and Voucher

Once approved, your spouse officially becomes part of your household and must comply with all lease and Section 8 rules.

Section 8 Rules On Getting Married To A Felon

Marriage to someone with a felony conviction won’t automatically disqualify you from Section 8, but it can complicate things.

When you report a new spouse to your housing authority, they’ll need to pass a criminal background check.

Some crimes, like sex offenses that require registration or methamphetamine production in federally assisted housing, are automatic disqualifiers.

Other felony convictions, like drug possession, theft, fraud, or even violent crimes, may not automatically exclude someone, especially if the conviction is old or the person has completed parole without issues. Each housing authority sets its own criminal background policy and will consider:

  • The type and severity of the crime
  • How much time has passed since the conviction
  • Whether the person poses a risk to the community or property

If your spouse fails the background check, your caseworker may deny their addition to your household. That doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll lose your voucher, but your spouse will not be allowed to live with you in Section 8 housing.

Can Section 8 Find Out If You’re Married?

Yes, and they probably will, especially if you fail to report it. PHAs cross-check information with various government databases during annual recertification, including:

  • IRS and Social Security records
  • SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid data
  • Employment and wage records

If your spouse is listed on your taxes, uses your address for government benefits, or is connected to your household in other records, your housing authority will discover the relationship.

Additionally, landlords, neighbors, and social workers may report suspicions about unreported household members. If you’re found to be living with an unapproved occupant (including a spouse), it can lead to penalties including:

  • Repayment of overpaid benefits
  • Termination of your voucher
  • Eviction from subsidized housing

Always Report Changes To Your PHA

It’s tempting to try to stay under the radar if you know that your spouse’s income means you’ll have to pay more of your rent, or you suspect their criminal background will mean you can’t live together, but by trying to hide the truth, you’re only storing up trouble.

When you get Section 8, you need to follow the rules carefully. Always report changes to your household composition and income as soon as they happen. Your housing assistance depends on it.

If you’re unsure how your new marriage might affect your eligibility or rent, don’t guess; reach out to your Section 8 caseworker. It’s better to ask up front than risk losing your voucher later.

Read Also: How Does Section 8 Find out if Someone is Living with You?