Annually the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) establishes income limits for determining an applicant household’s eligibility to receive housing assistance through the Public Housing Program. Established income limits are based on household size at the time of program admission, therefore any change in a household’s composition prior to receiving an offer of housing assistance will have an impact on a household’s income eligibility.

For the Public Housing Program, HUD utilizes the Low Income Limit, which is by definition a household that earns 80% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI). The FY2018 HUD established Low Income Limit by Household Size for the Chicago-Naperville-Joliet MSA, became effective on April 1, 2018, and is cited below. Currently, there is no minimum household income requirement to receive an offer of housing assistance through the Public Housing Program. Households reporting zero income are just as eligible to receive housing assistance as those who don’t exceed the established income limit for their household size.

FY2018 HUD Low Income Limit
(Effective Date: April 1, 2018)

Household Size Income Limit
1 Person $47,400
2 Person $54,200
3 Person $60,950
4 Person $67,700
5 Person $73,150
6 Person $78,550
7 Person $83,950
8 Person $89,400