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PHA Pre-Application: How to Get on a Housing Waiting List

By KPCB StaffCombined Expertise In The Low Income Housing Space For 10 Years · How we write our guides

Family signing for a PHA pre-application

A PHA pre-application (also called a preliminary application) is the short form you fill out to get on a public housing agency's waiting list for public housing or a Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher. It asks for basic facts about your household and income. It does not prove you qualify, and it is always free to submit.

The two things that matter most: answer every question honestly, and keep your contact information up to date with the housing agency for as long as you are on the list. If the agency can't reach you when your name comes up, you can be removed.

What a pre-application is and what it does

Many public housing agencies (PHAs), especially ones with waiting lists, use a pre-application as the first step. HUD describes the process in two parts:

  1. You fill out the pre-application. This puts you on a waiting list, or on several lists if you apply for more than one program.
  2. When your name comes up, the PHA asks you to complete a full application, also called an eligibility form, and to bring documents that prove what you reported.

The PHA uses your pre-application to decide preliminary eligibility and whether you qualify for any local preferences. Your actual eligibility is checked later, when a unit or voucher is available. You must still be eligible at the time the PHA offers you housing.

Some PHAs use one pre-application for all their programs. Others have a separate form for each program. Ask your PHA which kind it uses.

What the pre-application asks for

Forms differ from one agency to the next, but HUD lists the information most pre-applications ask about:

  • Contact information for the head of household: phone number, email and mailing address
  • How many people are in your household and your estimated yearly income
  • Your assets, such as bank accounts
  • Whether anyone in your household has a disability and needs a reasonable accommodation, including accessibility needs under Section 504
  • Whether anyone is a veteran, age 62 or older, or a full-time student
  • Your current housing situation, such as homeless, in a shelter, in temporary housing, or staying with family or friends
  • Anything that might qualify you for a local preference

You usually don't need to send documents with the pre-application. Those come later, with the eligibility form. It still helps to have pay stubs and benefit letters nearby so your income estimate is accurate.

Who counts as your household

List everyone who will live with you: adults and children, relatives and non-relatives. Include their ages and how they are related to you. The PHA uses this to figure out the unit size you qualify for, and household members can affect which preferences apply.

Income: report all of it

HUD warns that the income and asset information on housing applications gets checked against other government and private records. Include wages, Social Security, SSI, SSDI, TANF, unemployment, child support, pensions, veterans' benefits and money you get on behalf of your children. If you expect a raise or a new job, report that too.

Signing a form you know is false is fraud. HUD warns that it can mean paying back the assistance, losing the right to future help, and criminal charges that can bring fines or prison time. If you're unsure how to report something, ask the PHA before you submit.

To get a rough idea of whether your income is low enough, see our guide to Section 8 income eligibility or look up your county on HUD's income limits page. Limits vary by area and household size, and only the PHA decides if you qualify.

How to submit a pre-application, step by step

1. Find your local housing agency

Use HUD's PHA contact list to find the agencies serving the area where you want to live. You can apply to any PHA program you're eligible for, in any city or state. HUD notes that you have to contact each PHA yourself to learn how it takes applications.

2. Check which waiting lists are open

Some PHAs keep their lists open all the time. Others open them for a short window and then close them. When a Section 8 list opens, the PHA must announce it publicly, including where and when to apply. Check the PHA's own website and social media, local newspapers, and social service offices.

Because the wait can last years, HUD suggests applying to as many programs as you qualify for when lists open. A single PHA may run several lists, and some housing developments keep their own. The PHA must offer to put you on every open list that has units suitable for you.

3. Learn the PHA's preferences

Preferences decide the order in which people are pulled from the list. HUD says common ones include elderly applicants, people with disabilities, working families, veterans and families experiencing homelessness. Each PHA sets its own, and its website should list them.

Not meeting a preference doesn't get you rejected. It can affect your place in line. A PHA may give preference to local residents, but it can't deny you just because you live somewhere else. If you work, or have been hired to work, in the PHA's preference area, the PHA must treat you as a resident of that area.

4. Fill out the form

PHAs may offer the pre-application on paper, online or both. If a disability makes the usual method hard for you, ask for another way to apply. The PHA must accept an application through an alternative method as a reasonable accommodation. PHAs must also give meaningful access to people with limited English, so ask for help in your language if you need it.

Read each question carefully. If something on the form doesn't make sense, call the PHA and ask. Your PHA can help you complete its forms.

5. Keep proof that you applied

Save your confirmation number, a screenshot of the confirmation page, or a copy of the paper form with the date you turned it in. Write down the PHA's name, phone number and which lists you applied to.

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.

What happens after you submit

When lists get far more applications than they can handle, some PHAs hold a lottery and randomly pick a set number of applications to put on the list. Others add people by the date and time they applied. The PHA will tell you whether your application was selected.

Being on the waiting list doesn't mean you're eligible. Waits can last several years, and HUD notes that some PHAs close their lists when they get too long. Our guide on how to confirm you're on a Section 8 waitlist explains how to check your status.

Staying on the list

HUD's advice for keeping your spot:

  • Answer every letter, email or call from the PHA by the deadline it gives.
  • Check your status from time to time to make sure you're still listed.
  • Tell the PHA right away if your address, phone number, email, income or household changes.

Each PHA writes its own policy on when it removes names, and HUD rules let PHAs remove people who don't respond to requests for information or updates. If someone in your household has a disability and that disability is why you missed a request, the PHA must put you back in your old spot on the Section 8 list. If this happens to you, tell the PHA, ideally in writing.

Applying for or receiving other housing help does not hurt your Section 8 application. A PHA can't refuse to list you, remove you, take away a preference or move your place in line because you applied for, received or turned down other housing assistance.

When your name comes up

The PHA will contact you to fill out the eligibility form and gather documents. HUD lists documents PHAs commonly request:

What the PHA checksCommon documents
IdentityPhoto ID, Social Security card, birth certificate, proof of citizenship or eligible immigration status
HouseholdMarriage certificate or divorce decree, guardianship or custody papers, school enrollment records
Income and benefitsTwo current, consecutive pay stubs; TANF, unemployment, child support or alimony records; Social Security, SSI or SSDI letters
Assets and expensesMost recent bank statement, savings and investment statements, child care and medical expense records

Some documents take a while to get, such as a replacement Social Security card or birth certificate. If you know you're missing one, start working on it early. Your PHA may ask for different items, so read its list closely when it arrives.

For public housing, the PHA will usually also ask for names and addresses of your current and past landlords, and it may visit your home. If you accept a unit, you'll sign a lease and may have to pay a security deposit.

If you get a voucher, you then look for a rental that meets program rules. Our guide to the steps to Section 8 covers that part.

If you're denied

The PHA must promptly notify you and explain why it denied you. For the voucher program, you can ask for an informal review, and the notice must explain how. For public housing, you can ask for an informal hearing. In both, you can explain why you think the decision is wrong. For free legal help, find a legal aid office through LawHelp.org.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Leaving out a household member or a source of income. The PHA checks what you report, and false information can cost you the assistance later.
  • Moving or changing phone numbers without telling the PHA. If the PHA can't reach you when your name comes up, you can lose your place.
  • Applying to only one list. You can apply to several PHAs and programs at once.
  • Paying someone to apply for you or to "move you up." Applying is free, and no one can sell you a better spot.
  • Missing a deadline in a PHA letter. Check your mail and email often, including spam folders.
  • Assuming the pre-application approved you. It only puts you in line.

Frequently asked questions

Is a pre-application the same as applying for Section 8?

It's the first part. The pre-application gets you on the waiting list. The full application, or eligibility form, comes when your name reaches the top. To compare the two main programs, see public housing vs. Section 8.

Can I apply to more than one housing authority?

Yes. You can apply to any program you're eligible for at any PHA. You'll need to contact each one and follow its process. Some housing developments, including some project-based voucher properties, keep their own waiting lists. For tax credit apartments, see our guide to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit.

Do I need documents to fill out the pre-application?

Usually not. Most PHAs ask for documents later, with the eligibility form. Having pay stubs and benefit letters on hand helps you give an accurate income estimate now.

How long will I wait after I submit it?

It depends on the PHA and the program. HUD says waits can sometimes be several years. If you need a place to stay now, see our guide on what to do if you're facing homelessness.

What if I don't live in the area where I'm applying?

You can still apply. A PHA can give preference to local residents, but it can't turn you down only because you live elsewhere.

Can someone charge me to submit my pre-application?

No. Housing authorities never charge to apply or join a waiting list. If someone asks for money, report it to the HUD OIG Hotline at 1-800-347-3735. To see what other programs you might qualify for, try our benefit finder.

Sources

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