Utility Allowance Verification

To be eligible for the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA), the obligation of only one heating or cooling utility expense is required to be verified. To be eligible for the Limited Utility Allowance (LUA), the obligation of at least two non-heating or non-cooling utility expenses are required to be verified.

NOTE When LIHEAP or Power AZ payments of at least $20 annually are received in the application month or any of the 12 months before the application month and are verified for budgetary units with a participant who is elderly or has a disability, the budgetary unit is eligible for SUA.

Any of the following can be used to verify the utility allowance:

● A utility bill.

● A landlord’s statement when the statement identifies that the landlord is paid an amount for utilities separate from the amount paid for rent.

● A lease agreement that shows a portion of the amount paid is used to pay specific utilities.

● A Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) payment.

● A Power AZ payment.

● When the utility expense is billed to someone outside the budgetary unit, verify who is responsible to pay the expense with a statement from the person billed for the expense.

NOTE The signed statement must include the type of utility expense and must state that the budgetary unit has the responsibility to pay the utility expense.