Rental Assistance Application Checklist

This checklist gathers the 10 documents from the "Gather documents" step on How to Apply and the 3 questions from the "Quick eligibility self-check" on Eligibility, worded exactly as on those pages.

Quick eligibility self-check (3 questions)

If you can answer "yes" to all three of the following, start applying immediately:

1. My household income is at or below 50% of the Area Median Income for my metro (see your state page for the dollar figure).
2. At least one household member is a U.S. citizen or has eligible immigration status.
3. No household member is barred by the two federal lifetime exclusions (meth production on federally assisted property, lifetime sex offender registration).

Gather documents (10 items)

Every PHA application asks for the same core documents. Get them together before you start:

• Government-issued photo ID for every household member 18 or older.
• Social Security cards (or ITINs) for every household member.
• Birth certificates for every minor in the household.
• The last 60 days of pay stubs from every working household member.
• The most recent federal tax return (Form 1040 plus all schedules).
• Current bank statements for every account.
• Award letters or benefit verification for any other income — Social Security, SSI, SSDI, TANF, child support, unemployment, pensions.
• If you're homeless, written verification from a shelter, outreach worker, or 211 specialist.
• If you have a disability, a written verification from a treating provider stating that the disability is expected to last at least 12 months and meets HUD's definition.
• If you're a veteran, your DD-214.

Source: the "Gather documents" step of How to Apply and the "Quick eligibility self-check" on Eligibility; the rules those pages describe come from HUD, USDA and state housing finance agency program data.