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SNAP CERTIFICATION MANUAL – SECTION 6000 6600 The Excess Shelter Deduction 6620.1 Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) Households may change standards at any point during the certification, no matter the length of the certification period, depending on eligibility for such allowances. For example, if the household reports a change in eligibility for the SUA, but still has utility expenses, the standard must be changed to the Basic Utility Allowance or Telephone Standard. If the Basic Utility Allowance (BUA), Standard Utility Allowance (SUA,) Homeless Living Allowance (HLA), or the Telephone Standard is chosen for a deduction, but required verification is not furnished, the deduction will be disallowed. 6620.1 Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) SNAP Manual 03/01/2026 Any household that incurs and is billed for, or expects to incur during the next heating and cooling season, the cost of heating or cooling separate from their rent or mortgage is eligible for the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA). Households billed less than monthly for heating costs, such as butane or propane, are entitled to the Standard Utility Allowance between billing months. A household with at least one (1) aged or disabled member may also be automatically eligible for the SUA if the household receives or expects to receive quantifiable low-income energy assistance payments from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or similar energy assistance programs in an amount of more than twenty dollars ($20) in the current month or in the immediately preceding twelve (12) months. A similar energy assistance program is a program designed to provide heating and cooling assistance through payment directly to or on behalf of low-income households. A quantifiable payment is one that the State agency quantifies in dollars. This includes measures set by LIHEAP to determine a household’s benefit amount for energy assistance. In-kind energy assistance, such as firewood or coal, may be considered another similar energy assistance program payment if such assistance can be quantified. The eligibility worker must document such was received or scheduled to be received in the current month and the amount and date received. If the payment is not received or scheduled to be received during the current month or in the preceding twelve (12) months, the household will not meet the LIHEAP qualifications for the SUA. NOTE: A household that does not include at least one (1) aged or disabled member is no longer eligible for the SUA based upon receipt of payment in any amount from LIHEAP or other similar energy assistance programs. If the household receives the SUA when not entitled, the eligibility worker must determine whether an overissuance has occurred. A household is also eligible for the Standard Utility Allowance if they are living in a multi-unit dwelling or an individual unit and receiving a qualifying weatherization program payment. The household must verify the weatherization payment in order to receive the SUA. The standard utility allowance must not be prorated when households who share a dwelling share utility cost. When households share a dwelling and utility costs, both SNAP households will be allowed to claim the full Standard Utility Allowance.