Section 8 for elderly and disabled households: deductions, priority, and accommodations

Last updated January 15, 2026

If you're 62 or older, or you or someone in your household has a disability, a few things about the voucher process work differently for you — usually in your favor, but only if you know to ask.

Income deductions that can lower what counts against you

PHAs are required to apply certain deductions when calculating "adjusted income" for elderly and disabled households, including:

• A flat elderly/disabled household deduction
• Unreimbursed medical expenses above a threshold percentage of income
• Costs for attendant care or auxiliary aids that enable a household member to work

These deductions can meaningfully lower your calculated rent share — but they generally aren't applied automatically. Bring documentation (medical bills, prescription costs, paid receipts for care) to your certification appointment and ask specifically how each deduction is calculated.

Waiting-list priority

Many PHAs maintain a local preference for elderly or disabled applicants, and some properties are designated specifically for elderly/disabled households. Ask your PHA which preferences exist and whether you qualify — this is one of the few places where a five-minute question can move you up a list that's otherwise years long.

Reasonable accommodations

You can request reasonable accommodations related to a disability — a ground-floor unit, a unit with grab bars or a roll-in shower, or an additional bedroom for a live-in aide who is not counted as a household member for income purposes. Requests typically need to be in writing and may require documentation from a medical provider; your PHA is required to have a process for this even if it isn't advertised prominently.

For how these categories interact with the rest of the eligibility picture, see Am I eligible? and Your rights & the rules.