Shared Utilities

The budgetary unit is entitled to a utility allowance based on utility expenses verified when either situation occurs:

● More than one budgetary unit lives in the same residence and shares utility expenses.

● One budgetary unit shares a housing unit with others who do not receive NA.

A utility allowance is allowed regardless of the percentage of the utilities paid.

When one budgetary unit pays the expense and receives a monthly amount from another budgetary unit for utilities, each budgetary unit is allowed a utility allowance.

See Shelter Cost Sharing for information on how money for shelter costs exchanged between participants in the same budgetary unit or different budgetary units, or nonparticipants, is treated as unearned income.

When budgetary units that incur utility expenses live in separate housing units (house, apartment, trailer, etc.) and share a meter with each other, each budgetary unit with an obligation to pay is entitled to a utility allowance.

NOTE This situation is common when two separate housing units are located on the same property or when the homeowner rents out a separate apartment within their residence.