Sponsors (47)
The bill increases housing access and reduces rent burden for many veterans by excluding VA disability payments from income calculations in certain HUD programs, trading modestly higher federal housing costs, some administrative complexity, and uneven coverage limited to specified/new HUD units.
Veterans receiving VA disability benefits will have those benefits excluded from income calculations for specified HUD housing programs (Section 8(o)(19) and HUD rental units on newly built VA property), increasing their eligibility and reducing rent and out-of-pocket housing costs.
Households in the Section 8(o)(19) supported housing program are less likely to lose eligibility for other HUD housing assistance because VA disability benefits won’t be counted in those eligibility tests.
Excluding VA disability payments from income for HUD rental units on VA property may improve access to housing for homeless or at‑risk veterans, supporting health and safety and reducing homelessness risk.
The exclusion is limited to certain HUD programs and units created after enactment, so many veterans in existing HUD-assisted or non‑VA properties will not benefit, creating unequal access to housing relief.
More veterans qualifying for subsidy or reduced rent could modestly increase HUD program costs or voucher utilization, which may raise federal housing spending or pressure program availability for other low-income households.
Because the exclusion does not apply when calculating 'adjusted income,' HUD and public housing agencies will face added administrative complexity to apply different income rules across programs.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Excludes VA disability benefits under Title 38 from HUD income calculations for certain supported housing and for new HUD programs on VA property, while preserving an exception for adjusted income.
Excludes certain VA disability benefits from income calculations used by HUD for some supported housing and new HUD housing programs built on Department of Veterans Affairs property. It directs HUD to ignore disability payments from Title 38 when determining income and eligibility for specified supported housing programs and for rental units constructed on VA property under new HUD-administered programs, while preserving an exception that these exclusions may not apply when calculating "adjusted income." The change applies only to programs and units created or constructed on or after enactment.
Introduced February 4, 2025 by Brad Sherman · Last progress February 11, 2025