Can You Lose Your Section 8 Voucher? Reasons and Hearings
A family can lose Section 8 assistance for breaking program rules, for certain criminal activity, or when assistance payments stop for a long period. Before a PHA ends assistance, families generally get written notice and a chance to ask for an informal hearing. State and local laws add their own rules; see the "Section 8 and eviction records" page for your state on this site.
What the law says
- Participants must follow HCV rules on income, who lives with them and the lease; obligations include using the home as the primary residence, allowing only listed family members to live there, allowing inspections, reporting changes promptly, and completing a yearly review. HUD, Housing Choice Vouchers: Information for Tenants
- The PHA may terminate program assistance for the family in accordance with HUD requirements; if it does, the lease automatically terminates. HUD, HCV Program Guidebook: Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) Contracts
- The HAP contract ends automatically if the family is absent from the unit for longer than 180 calendar days (or the PHA's maximum), or when 180 calendar days have passed since the PHA's last housing assistance payment. HUD, HCV Program Guidebook: Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) Contracts
- If payments stop because of the family's circumstances, they may resume if the family's income, size, composition or other circumstances change during the remaining HAP contract term. HUD, HCV Program Guidebook: Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) Contracts
- A PHA may terminate assistance to the family in cases of tenant-caused damage to the unit. HUD, Notice PIH 2024-26 REV-1: NSPIRE Administrative Procedures for HCV Programs (Aug. 9, 2024)
- A PHA may refuse or terminate assistance on any of the grounds in 24 CFR 982.552 or 982.553; for example, a PHA may have a policy to terminate or deny assistance if a family member was evicted from federally assisted housing in the last 5 years. HUD, HCV Program Guidebook: Moves and Portability
- In deciding whether to deny assistance for a family's action or failure to act, PHAs may consider the circumstances, such as seriousness, each member's role, disability-related mitigating circumstances, and the effect on uninvolved family members. HUD, HCV Program Guidebook: Eligibility Determination and Denial of Assistance (November 2019)
- Actual or threatened domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault or stalking may not be treated as a serious or repeated lease violation or good cause to terminate the victim's assistance. HUD, HCV Program Guidebook: Housing Assistance Payments (HAP) Contracts
- Families receive written notice of a PHA decision and generally have 10 to 14 days to request an informal review (for eligibility or assistance amount decisions) or an informal hearing (for serious matters such as termination); at a hearing you can present evidence, call witnesses and have representation. HUD, Housing Choice Vouchers: Information for Tenants
- An informal hearing is not required when a voucher has expired without the family leasing a unit. HUD, HCV Program Guidebook: Moves and Portability
FAQ
What are common reasons people lose Section 8?
HUD's "keeping your voucher" rules list family obligations such as reporting income and household changes, letting only listed family members live in the unit, paying rent on time, allowing inspections, and completing the yearly review.
Can I appeal a termination?
Yes. You get written notice and generally 10 to 14 days to request an informal hearing, where you can present evidence and witnesses and bring a representative.
Does my voucher end if my income rises?
When 30 percent of your adjusted income reaches the payment standard, or your share reaches the gross rent, payments stop ("zero HAP"); the HAP contract ends automatically 180 calendar days after the PHA's last payment; payments may resume if your circumstances change before then.
Can I lose my voucher for being away from home?
The HAP contract ends if the family is absent longer than 180 calendar days or the PHA's shorter maximum.
Can domestic violence against me cost me my voucher?
No. VAWA protections stop such incidents from being treated as lease violations or good cause to end the victim's assistance.
Who do I contact if I can't resolve a problem with my PHA?
HUD lists the PIH Customer Service Center and then your local HUD office.
Related
- Do I Need a Lawyer for an Eviction?
- The Fair Housing Act: Your Rights Against Housing Discrimination
- How to Apply for Section 8: Eligibility, Waitlists and Income Limits
- Can a Section 8 Tenant Be Evicted? Rules and Notices
- Section 8 Income Limits Explained (2026)
- Section 8 Inspection: What Inspectors Check (NSPIRE)
- Renting to Section 8 Tenants: Rules for Landlords
- Section 8 Payment Standards and Fair Market Rent Explained
- Moving With a Section 8 Voucher (Portability): How It Works
- What Are Squatters' Rights?
- What Is a Security Deposit?
- Landlord-Tenant Law by state
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.