If a Public Housing Authority denies your application, terminates your voucher, refuses to approve a unit, or reduces your subsidy, you usually have a right to challenge the decision. Federal regulations guarantee two types of review: informal review (for applicants) and informal hearing (for participants). This guide explains how to use them.

Informal review vs. informal hearing

• Informal review (24 CFR §982.554), for applicants who have been denied initial admission. Applies when a PHA determines you are ineligible.
• Informal hearing (24 CFR §982.555), for participants who already have a voucher and have been notified of termination, reduction, or denial of a significant action.

The two have different procedural protections, but the spirit is the same: you have a right to be heard before the PHA's decision becomes final.

When you have a right to informal review (applicants)

Applicable when the PHA:

• Denies your application on eligibility grounds
• Denies admission based on criminal or drug-related history
• Removes you from a waitlist for failure to respond (though this one is often challenged)

When you have a right to informal hearing (participants)

Applicable when the PHA:

• Terminates your HCV assistance
• Determines your family is not qualified for a specific unit size
• Determines that a family-member addition is improper
• Denies a request to approve a unit or tenancy
• Recalculates your income or rent portion (if the recalculation is contested)

The process, step by step

1. Receive written denial or termination notice. By federal law, the notice must tell you the reason for the decision, your right to request review/hearing, and the deadline for doing so (typically 10–14 calendar days from the notice date).
2. Request the review/hearing in writing by the deadline. Note the date of your notice and the date of your request, keep a dated copy.
3. Gather evidence. Any documents that support your position: pay stubs, letters, lease agreements, witness statements, inspection reports, court documents.
4. Attend the hearing. You can bring a friend, family member, attorney, or advocate. You can present testimony, call witnesses, and submit documents. The PHA will present its case through a hearing officer.
5. Receive a written decision. Usually within 10–30 days. The written decision must state the factual basis and the reason for sustaining or reversing the action.

What protections you have at the hearing

• Reasonable advance notice of the time and place
• Right to review the PHA's evidence and documents in advance
• Right to present evidence, testimony, and witnesses
• Right to be represented by an advocate or attorney
• Right to have the decision based solely on the evidence at the hearing

The hearing officer

The hearing must be conducted by a neutral person, someone who was not involved in the underlying decision, and who is not a subordinate of the decisionmaker. In many PHAs, the hearing officer is a contract attorney or a dedicated hearings officer inside the PHA who does not work in the HCV administration branch.

Common grounds that win

• Procedural error. The PHA did not follow its own administrative plan or gave insufficient notice.
• Mitigating circumstances in drug / criminal denials, rehabilitation evidence, time elapsed, changed circumstances.
• Erroneous calculation, income was miscounted, deductions not applied, assets miscategorized.
• Reasonable accommodation, the participant has a disability and the termination reason is related to that disability; the PHA must consider an accommodation before terminating.

What happens if you win

If the hearing officer decides in your favor, the PHA must reinstate assistance as if the denial or termination had never happened. If the PHA disagrees with the hearing officer's decision, it has limited grounds to override (generally only if the officer's decision was contrary to HUD regulations or law). If the PHA does override, that override itself is subject to judicial review.

What happens if you lose

The PHA's decision becomes final. You may still appeal to state court under Article 78 (in NY), mandamus (in CA), or equivalent administrative-review proceedings in your state. These are harder to win and usually require an attorney. Legal-aid organizations can often help at no cost.

Getting help

• Legal-aid organizations. Most counties have a free legal-aid office that handles housing cases. Search "[your county] legal aid housing" online.
• Tenant-advocacy groups. NHLP, NLIHC, and local tenant unions often provide guidance.
• HUD-approved housing counselors. Free counseling. Find one at hud.gov/findacounselor.
• Fair-Housing agencies. If the PHA's action appears to involve discrimination, file with HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.

Related guides

• How to Apply for Section 8
• Section 8 Inspections
• Voucher Portability

Source: 24 CFR §982.554 (informal review), 24 CFR §982.555 (informal hearing), HUD PIH Notice 2015-09 (termination procedures). Last reviewed April 15, 2026 24 CFR §982.554 (informal review), 24 CFR §982.555 (informal hearing), HUD PIH Notice 2015-09 (termination procedures). Last reviewed April 15, 2026

Quick reference, appeals process and timelines

Appeal-timeline glossary

Action	Deadline
Request informal hearing after termination notice	14 days from notice receipt
Submit written grievance (post-hearing)	10 to 30 days per local plan
Receive written hearing decision	14 days post-hearing
File HUD program-violation complaint	No deadline (parallel track)

Documentation worked example

Suppose your PHA terminates assistance for "unreported income" at ,200 monthly above the household reporting threshold of 00. Bring to your hearing: pay stubs covering the disputed period, written employer verification of start date, the termination notice itself, your previous 12 months of recertification packets, and any text messages with PHA staff. Calculate your back-paid rent share at $360 (30% of ,200 adjusted income) per month. You are entitled to written decisions, witnesses, and legal representation at every step.

Common reasons for termination notices

Family obligation violations: unreported income or household composition changes; failure to allow inspection access; unpaid tenant rent share; lease violations propagated by landlord eviction; criminal-activity notifications under one-strike rules; failure to attend annual recertification appointment; failure to update contact information.

When to escalate beyond the PHA

Always request the hearing in writing within 14 days. Verbal requests do not toll the deadline.

Cross-reference with portability rules, inspection-failure remediation, and the PHA directory for jurisdiction-specific contact information.