If you’re applying for an apartment and your income comes from SSI, disability, gig work, or self-employment, you’ve probably wondered whether a landlord will even look at your application. The short answer: yes, non-traditional income counts. But you need to know how to document it.
Here’s what actually works when you’re trying to rent in Memphis without a traditional pay stub.
What counts as income for a rental application
Most apartment communities in Memphis — including Apartments Near Me — accept several types of income beyond W-2 employment. What matters is that your income is documented and consistent. Common accepted sources include:
- SSI or SSDI: Your Social Security award letter (the one that shows your monthly benefit amount) is the standard document. Bring a current one — ideally dated within the last 30-60 days. If you’re receiving back pay, that typically doesn’t count toward the monthly income calculation.
- Disability benefits from other sources: VA disability, long-term disability through an employer, or workers’ comp benefits all work. Same rule: bring the official letter or payment statement showing the recurring monthly amount.
- Gig economy work: If you drive for Uber or Lyft, deliver for DoorDash or Instacart, or do any similar platform-based work, your bank statements showing deposits over the past 2-3 months are your income proof. Some landlords also accept the earnings summary you can download from the app itself.
- Self-employment or cash income: Three to six months of bank statements work here. If you file taxes, bring your most recent return (Schedule C or the full 1040 if it shows your business income). Cash-paid work is harder to document — bank deposits are the best evidence you have.
- Child support or spousal support: A court order plus proof of recent receipt (bank statements or payment history from the state payment portal) is what you need.
- Pension or retirement income: Award letter or recent statement, same as SSI.
How much income do you need?
Most Memphis apartments use a 2x or 2.5x income-to-rent ratio as a guideline. So if rent is $700/month, they’re typically looking for monthly income of around $1,400-$1,750. This isn’t a hard cutoff everywhere — some communities work with residents on a case-by-case basis, especially if you have a strong rental history or can pay a larger deposit.
If your income is close to the threshold, being upfront about it from the start is better than having it come up as a problem later. Ask the property what their income requirement is before you pay an application fee.
What to bring to the office
Getting your documents together before you apply saves a lot of back-and-forth. For a Memphis apartment application, plan to bring:
- Government-issued photo ID
- Your income documentation (whichever applies from the list above)
- 2-3 months of bank statements if you’re using gig or self-employment income
- Contact info for your previous landlord (if applicable)
If you have a complicated income situation — for example, you work part-time and also receive SSI — bring documentation for everything. Landlords can add together different income sources; they just need to see each one is real and recurring. For a broader checklist of what to have ready before you walk in the door, here’s our guide for first-time renters in Memphis.
One thing that actually helps
Be upfront. If your income is unconventional, say so when you call to schedule a showing or when you walk in. Ask whether the property accepts SSI or gig income before you apply. A property that works with your situation will tell you. One that won’t saves you an application fee if they say so up front.
Apartments Near Me works with residents who have non-traditional income sources. If you have questions about what documentation you need before applying at any of our communities — Cottonwood, Thompson Heights, Thompson Court, Stonebrook, The Villages, Summit Park, or Winbranch — call us or stop by the leasing office. We’ll walk you through what to bring. And if you’re also wondering what shows up on a background check during the process, here’s what landlords actually look at and how to get ahead of it.
