You may need to complete a preliminary Section 8 application in Montana if you have a low income and you are paying more than half of your earnings on your housing. It is also a very good idea to apply if you are in danger of losing your housing or you are homeless.

You are allowed to apply for Section 8 in two different ways: online or by mail. Fortunately, many waitlists in MT for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program are currently open. In any case, it is always helpful to review the application guidelines in order to be certain of the necessary steps. To learn more about the application process, continue reading below.

When can I submit a Section 8 application in Montana?

You are allowed to submit a Section 8 housing application at any time of day through the MT Housing website. It is important that you set out enough time to complete it, as you may not be allowed to exit the site and finish the application later.

Note that if you want to fill out the Section 8 application online for free, your Public Housing Agency (PHA) must be currently accepting new applicants. In other words, the form will be unavailable if the waitlist is closed.

If you are applying by mail, you can send out your form in the mail during any time of day. However, you will need to pick up a paper application at a field agent office, which will only be open during business hours. You can also request an application to be mailed to you.

What documents do I need to apply for Section 8 in Montana?

Many sections of the Montana HUD application will require information about your income, housing expenses, family and more. As a result, you will need to reference a variety of documents to make sure that you are accurately filling out your application. Reference documents include:

• A Social Security card or documents issued by the Social Security Administration (SSA).
• Employment documents that display your income, such as a recent paycheck.
• Proof of pensions, military pay, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and other forms of unearned income.
• Recent bank statements.
• Receipts for mortgage or lease payments.
• Recent bills for housing expenses.

Whether you complete the Section 8 application online or by mail, you may need to present these documents to a caseworker at your PHA later on. This usually happens after you have submitted the pre-application. Learn more about required documentation by downloading or comprehensive guide.

Tips for Completing the Montana Section 8 Housing Application

Whether you apply for Section 8 online or by mail, it will be helpful to understand how the Montana Department of Commerce handles applications. Importantly, the form you must fill out to be considered for the HCV program is a preliminary application. It is used to ensure that you are eligible for a spot on the waitlist.

If you reach the top of the waitlist, your eligibility will be reevaluated. This is because it may take one to three years to reach the top, during which time your income level may change.

In order to apply for Section 8 housing, it will also be helpful to learn what kind of information you must disclose. For instance, you will need to specify a head of the household to represent your family. He or she must be at least 18 years of age.

It is also useful to know that you do not need to report the earned incomes of family members who are 17 years of age or younger. However, their assets and the annual income received from those assets must be reported. These include checking accounts and savings accounts.

Before you complete the MT Section 8 application form, you may also contact the MT Department of Commerce or your local PHA directly. Important questions to ask include:

• Which types of applicants receive preference in my county?
• Will I qualify for housing choice preference based on my circumstances?
• How long does it take to receive a decision on my preliminary application?
• How long is the average waiting time for vouchers in my county?

Understanding the Montana Section 8 Application Process

Completing a preliminary low income housing application could take as little as 15 minutes if all your personal documents are readily available. However, be mindful that this process may take longer depending on the complexity of your situation and the size of your family. To learn more about the different submission methods available in Montana, continue reading below.

How to Apply for Section 8 Online in Montana

If you want to fill out a HUD housing application online, visit the MT housing website at any time of day. You may also visit your county’s website if it still offers its own online application portal. For instance, Billings county still has a separate application site.

If you apply for low income housing online, you will not need to create an account before applying. This may save you a small amount of time, but it also means that you need to complete the form in one sitting. To prevent yourself from losing your work, make sure that you have a stable internet connection and all your documents are readily available.

How to Apply for Section 8 Housing by Mail

To sign up for Section 8 in Montana by mail, first fill out the physical application form made available by your housing agency. You may also submit a request to have a copy sent to your home address. To make a request, contact your local housing authority through one of the following methods:

• Submitting a comment online
• Over the phone
• By fax
• Using the TDD number if you are deaf or hard of hearing

What happens after I apply for Section 8 in Montana?

Once you have completed a housing authority application, you must wait to receive a response. Then, you will either receive a spot on the waitlist or a denial notification.

If you are placed on the waitlist and want to check your position on the list, visit the MT housing’s waitlist-check portal. To do so, you will need to enter a user ID and password.

In the event that you experience a change in circumstance that could affect your waitlist position, you must submit a change form. Some of the most common reasons to submit this form include a change in your household size, income or contact information.