Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
The Housing Choice Voucher is the largest federal rental assistance program. HUD funds it, but your local public housing authority runs it, so you apply to a housing authority, not to HUD. With a voucher you rent a regular private apartment and pay roughly 30% of your household income toward rent and utilities. The voucher pays the rest directly to the landlord. The catch is supply. There are far fewer vouchers than people who need them, so almost every housing authority keeps a waiting list, and most lists in Washington are closed or open for only a short window. Seattle is the exception and keeps its list open year round, picking names at random. Even once you are on a list, the wait is usually a year or more, so a voucher is worth starting but it will not solve a rent increase that is weeks away. For help that can come faster, look at emergency rental assistance and call 211.
Who qualifies
What it covers
How to apply
Find your housing authority
Section 8 is run by your local housing authority, not by HUD directly. Pick your county to see where to apply.
Where to go from here
Adult Day Center
Adult day centers are daytime programs for adults who need some level of supervision and care but not skilled nursing or rehabilitative therapy. Services typically include personal care, social activities, education, routine health monitoring, therapeutic activities, meals and snacks, transportation coordination, first aid, and emergency care.
Adult Day Health
Adult day health is a daytime program for adults who need skilled nursing care or licensed rehabilitative therapy. Centers provide skilled nursing services, physical/occupational/speech-language therapy, brief psychological or counseling services, plus the personal care, meals, social activities, and health monitoring offered at adult day centers.
Apple Health Classic Medicaid (SSI-related / Aged, Blind, Disabled)
"Apple Health" is Washington's name for all of its state medical assistance programs, including Medicaid. "Classic Medicaid" is the part of Apple Health for people who are 65 or older, blind, disabled, or who need long-term care. These programs count your income the same way Supplemental Security Income (SSI) does, rather than using the tax-based rules that apply to younger adults and families. The state Health Care Authority runs most Apple Health programs. The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) runs SSI-related coverage, the state-funded Medical Care Services program, and the Medicare Savings Programs that help pay Medicare costs. If you have both Medicare and Apple Health, Apple Health acts as your second layer of coverage and picks up costs Medicare does not, such as deductibles, copays, hearing aids, and dental. It can also pay for long-term care.
Apple Health for Workers with Disabilities (HWD)
Apple Health for Workers with Disabilities lets working adults age 16 or older who are blind or disabled buy into Medicaid. It provides full Apple Health coverage. Unlike most disability-based Medicaid, it has no asset test and no upper income limit. You qualify based on your disability (using the federal disability rules) and being employed, full or part time, including self-employment. You pay a monthly premium that goes up with income but never goes above 7.5% of your total income. American Indians and Alaska Natives pay no premium. While you are enrolled, you can put earnings into a separate designated account that will not count toward your eligibility for other Medicaid programs.
Not sure this one fits your situation? Your local Area Agency on Aging can check what you qualify for and point you to the right programs, for free. No one will sell your information, and no one will cold-call you.
Source www.hud.gov/helping-americans/housing-choice-vouchers-tenants
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