What Is Date and Time
Date and time is the method used by Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) to rank applicants on the Section 8 waiting list based on when their application was received. The earlier your application was submitted, the higher your position on the list.
How It Works in Section 8
When you apply for a Section 8 housing choice voucher, the PHA records the exact date and time your application is received. This timestamp determines your place on the waiting list. If the PHA receives 500 applications in a week, the applicant who submitted their form first will rank ahead of everyone else who applied that week, assuming no other ordering method (like lottery) is used.
Most PHAs use date and time ordering because it is straightforward and legally defensible. The PHA documents when each application arrives, either in person, by mail, or through an online portal. Some housing authorities accept applications only during open enrollment periods and use date and time to sort applicants received during those windows. Others maintain continuous applications and process them on a first-come, first-served basis year-round.
Practical Implications for Landlords and Tenants
- For tenants: Submitting your application early increases your ranking position. Even arriving an hour earlier in the day can move you ahead of dozens of other applicants if the PHA tracks time to the hour or minute.
- For landlords: Understanding how your local PHA orders the waiting list helps you anticipate which tenants may become available for a voucher. A tenant ranked higher on the list moves through the program faster, meaning you will have a confirmed tenant sooner.
- Waiting time varies by PHA: Large urban PHAs may have waiting lists of 5-10 years or longer, while smaller rural authorities may process applications within months. Your position based on date and time directly affects how long you wait.
- Documentation matters: Keep proof of when you submitted your application. If there is a dispute about your ranking, the PHA should have a timestamped record, but having your own evidence protects you.
Date and Time vs. Lottery
Some PHAs use lottery selection instead of date and time ordering. With lottery, all applications received during a set period (often monthly or quarterly) are treated equally and selected randomly. This is fairer in some contexts because speed of submission does not advantage some applicants over others. Date and time ordering, by contrast, rewards applicants who learn about the program and apply quickly.
Common Questions
- Does the PHA count the time I called to ask about applications? No. Only the date and time your completed application is actually received counts. Calling the office, requesting materials, or asking questions does not change your ranking timestamp.
- If I submit my application online at 11:59 p.m., does it count as that day or the next morning? The PHA's system clock determines this. Online portals typically timestamp applications when received by their server. If your submission goes through at 11:59 p.m., that is your official time, even if the PHA staff does not review it until the next morning.
- Can I move up on the waiting list once ranked? Not based on date and time alone. You maintain the position assigned when your application was received. However, some PHAs apply preferences (such as for people with disabilities or homeless applicants) that can move you higher regardless of when you applied.