Check Your Income Against the Right Ladder
Program and regulatory figures verified September 25, 2026. Details change; confirm your scenario with us.
The hard part of an Illinois income test is not the arithmetic. It is knowing which of four published limits applies to you.
The check
| Ladder | Limit | Your position |
|---|---|---|
| General programs (Repayable, Deferred, Forgivable) | $170,100 | Inside |
| IHDAccess Home (6% to $15,000) | $121,500 | Over |
Targeted addresses use higher IHDAccess Home limits. Check the address with IHDA's lookup tool.
Which ladder applies
If you are using IHDAccess Repayable, Deferred or Forgivable, the general limit governs and household size is irrelevant. A family of six and a single buyer face the same figure.
If you are using IHDAccess Home, the tighter limits apply and household size matters. That is the program paying 6% to $15,000, and it is first-time-buyer only unless you are Exempt.
A targeted address changes the AccessHome row upward, and for households of three or more it rises to equal the general limit. Targeted areas.
Whose income goes in the box
IHDA counts the total income of any person expected to live in the home and be liable, or secondarily liable, on the note. So it is not simply your income, and it is not everyone in the house either. It is the overlap of those two conditions.
This is exactly why adding a co-borrower to strengthen a file works against you. The full explanation.
One timing note
The test is applied against the limit in effect at the time of loan closing rather than at application. A raise, a bonus or a new job between the two dates is relevant. So is a limit change. Current limits and their effective date.
IHDA's own income calculator, published in the IHDA Document Library, is required on every file and must be completed, signed and dated, so treat this page as orientation rather than the official calculation. Send us the numbers and we will run the real one.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know which IHDA income limit applies to me?
It depends on the program and the county of the subject property. IHDAccess Repayable, Deferred and Forgivable use the general limit, which does not vary by household size and runs from $157,640 in most counties to $190,120 in Kendall. IHDAccess Home uses lower limits that do vary by household size, from $112,600 for one or two people in most counties up to $135,800 in Kendall.
Whose income counts toward the IHDA household income limit?
IHDA counts the total income of any person who is expected to live in the qualified dwelling and be liable, or secondarily liable, on the note. Both conditions must apply. An occupant who is not on the note and a non-occupant who is on the note are treated differently, and IHDA does not permit non-occupant co-borrowers at all.
Does household size change the Illinois DPA income limit?
Only for IHDAccess Home. The general limit that applies to IHDAccess Repayable, Deferred and Forgivable is stated for any household size, so a single buyer and a family of six face the same figure. IHDAccess Home publishes separate limits for one to two people and for three or more, with the larger household allowed a higher limit.
Is IHDA income measured before or after tax?
IHDA requires its own income calculator to be used on every file, completed, signed and dated, and that calculator determines compliance income from the documented income sources. Because the calculation includes items such as income from assets and treats bonus and overtime in a particular way, the safest answer is to have it run rather than estimated. Pay stubs within 60 days of close covering the most current consecutive 30-day period are the usual documentation.
What if my income changes between application and closing?
It can matter. The guide states the borrower must have a total household income that does not exceed the applicable limit in effect at the time of loan closing, so the test is applied at closing rather than at application. A raise, a new job or a bonus received in between is relevant, and so is any change to the published limits during that period.
Mike Certo · NMLS #260555 · Cornerstone First Mortgage NMLS #173855 · Equal Housing Lender. Educational content about financing, not a loan commitment and not legal or tax advice. IHDA program terms, income limits and purchase price limits are set by the Illinois Housing Development Authority and change; figures here carry the date we verified them and IHDA's own disclaimer applies, that funding and availability are subject to change and are not guaranteed until a complete reservation is placed. Loans are subject to borrower and property qualification.