Applying is free

You never have to pay to apply or to get on a waiting list. HUD's Office of Inspector General warns that housing authorities and government agencies "will never ask you to pay for admission to housing assistance programs or to join a waitlist."

Scammers post fake "Section 8 waitlist open" ads on social media to collect money or personal information. Don't answer those ads, and don't give your Social Security number or date of birth in response to one. Instead, call the PHA at the number on its official website and ask whether the list is really open. You can report fraud to the HUD OIG Hotline at 1-800-347-3735 or at hudoig.gov/hotline, and you can do it anonymously.