Alabama
Navigating affordable housing in Alabama requires understanding statewide income limits.
Alabama 2026
Income Limits for Section 8
This guide facilitates finding these limits for specific counties or MSAs in Alabama. This is crucial for eligibility in housing programs like Section 8. Only US citizens and specified categories of non-citizens with eligible immigration status may participate.
Alabama’s income limits (IL) for affordable housing vary by location, influenced by factors like area median income and living costs. Providers determine eligibility for Section 8 based on total annual gross income and family size. The household income cannot exceed the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s income limits.
There are three IL categories:
- Extremely Low-Income (ELI): HUD defines ELI incomes as those that “do not exceed the greater of 30 percent of the median family income for the area or the federal poverty guidelines as published by the Department of Health and Human Services.”
- Very Low Income (VLI): VLI incomes are 50 percent of area median incomes.
- Low Income (LI): LI incomes are 80 percent of area median incomes.
Statewide Income Limits for Alabama
The statewide income limits for Alabama are as follows. You can find your specific county or MSA here.
FY 2026 State Income Limits
| Income Category | 1 Person | 2 People | 3 People | 4 People | 5 People | 6 People | 7 People | 8 People |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extremely Low Income (30% of median) | $18,800 | $21,500 | $24,200 | $26,850 | $29,000 | $31,150 | $33,300 | $35,450 |
| Very Low Income (50% of median) | $31,350 | $35,800 | $40,300 | $44,750 | $48,350 | $51,950 | $55,500 | $59,100 |
| Low Income (80% of median) | $50,150 | $57,300 | $64,450 | $71,600 | $77,350 | $83,100 | $88,800 | $94,550 |
Income limits can differ from exactly 30%, 50%, or 80% of the statewide median family income, because HUD applies ceilings and floors. Source: HUD FY 2026 Income Limits — Alabama. Last updated: August 2026.
