Can free housing be counted as income?

[whatsgoingon 1]

hi everyone,

we would like to find out if we don't need a joint sponsor,

My wife works but she doesn't make enough to sponsor me and she has section 8 housing.

I researched online and this is what i found

Yes, sponsors receiving housing and other benefits in place of salary may count those benefits as income. The sponsor may count both taxable and non-taxable income (such as housing allowance). The sponsor must prove the nature and amount of non-taxable income. Evidence of such income can be a W-2 Form (such as Box 13 for military allowances), Form 1099 or other evidence.

Does that mean if her salary plus the housing meets the requirement, she can be the sole sponsor?

or how does it work?

If a joint sponsor is still needed, it's not a problem because we have one.

I just want to make sure

thank you

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

that is for people like the military that part of your "pay" is a housing allowance. Section 8 is not that , rather is a means tested benefit. She may have to move when you arrive as you don't usually qualify for section 8 housing.

[whatsgoingon 1]

that is for people like the military that part of your "pay" is a housing allowance. Section 8 is not that , rather is a means tested benefit. She may have to move when you arrive as you don't usually qualify for section 8 housing.

ok thanks for the clarification

[pushbrk 12,898]

In short, you do not count section 8 housing benefits. Mentioning it, could even hurt your case. Get a qualified joint sponsor, then plan on your family no longer qualifying for section 8 housing after you arrive. The "family" might qualify, but would have to go through a re-qualification process. Better to get a job and support yourselves.

[whatsgoingon 1]

In short, you do not count section 8 housing benefits. Mentioning it, could even hurt your case. Get a qualified joint sponsor, then plan on your family no longer qualifying for section 8 housing after you arrive. The "family" might qualify, but would have to go through a re-qualification process. Better to get a job and support yourselves.

of course! that is my job as the husband.

We do have a joint sponsor, i just wanted to make sure

[whatsgoingon 1]

i have another question

does the joint sponsor include me and him only as household size (he is single with no kids)?

or is my wife and 2 children included too?

What ever the correct answer is, how much does he have to make to sponsor me?

[pushbrk 12,898]

This is covered well in the I-864 instructions. A single person with no children, who has not previously sponsored any immigrants and is sponsoring only you, now, would have a household of two.

[Unlockable 7,314]

He would have to include everyone.

Total of 5:

Him

You

Your wife

Child 1

Child 2

Minimum annual income of $35,550.

Correction: I now see that YOU are the beneficiary. So it is only you and him. His minimum income would have to be over $20,000.

Edited August 8, 2016 by NuestraUnion

[whatsgoingon 1]

so who is correct? pushbrk you say 2 and nuestraunion you say 5 ????

[whatsgoingon 1]

ok this is much better, as there are more options for joint sponsors

[PRC Rabbit 40]

There is a lot of misinformation about Section 8  circulating on VJ.  There are also different types of Section 8 programs administered by different states. 

According to HUD, Section 8 is not Means-tested although there may be a State with a local program  that  placed an income threshold on their version of the program.

  

https://www.nationallatinonetwork.org/asscessing-resources/public-benefits/federal-benefits/federal-means-tested-public-benefits

 

A  separate source of income is required to be eligible for  Section 8 because the benefit is paid on a percentage basis directly to landlord.  Recipients never see any of the money. With  federal funding drying-up in recent decades, Section 8 funding has been 're-directed' to help private industry  renovate old housing developments.  The actual Section 8 funds paid  monthly go directly to landlords  paying off  the Notes that financed  the  renovations. More often than not, Section 8 is now a mechanism to finance housing renovation owned entirely by private sector companies.

 

Edited January 8, 2019 by PRC Rabbit