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Title 7: SNAP Page 53 Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Employees’ Manual Chapter E: Income Deductions Revised September 27, 2024 Shelter Expenses Remember that they cannot receive a shelter or utility deduction if opting to use the homeless standard. Work with the household to determine which option is most beneficial. In some situations, this may require you to run a SPAD if the answer is not clear. However, some homeless households may choose the standard simply to ease the verification requirements. Document the household’s choice in the case file. NOTE: There is no expectation that you ask clients if they consider themselves homeless. The homeless standard only needs to be discussed if the household has indicated homelessness. Remember that if a household chooses to use actual expenses, verification is required in order to get the deduction. If you document that they chose actual expenses, but they fail to provide the requested verification, they do not receive a deduction and they do not get the homeless standard. If they later contact you and want the homeless standard, document the change and allow the homeless standard following normal guidelines for acting on changes.

1. Tim is homeless and stays at a shelter at no charge, but does have a cell phone. He would be paying his own cell phone regardless of where he was living, so this is not an expense of staying at the shelter. Therefore, he is not entitled to the homeless standard deduction. If verification of his telephone expense is provided, he should be coded to receive the telephone standard. 2. Mary is homeless and pays $50 per month to pitch a tent at a campsite. She also pays for her own phone. She could either claim actual shelter expenses of $50 and the phone standard or choose to get the homeless standard deduction. Explain the options to her.

Since the homeless standard is greater than her actual expenses, the standard is the most beneficial. Mary chooses the homeless standard, so no further verification is required. Document the case with her choice and allow the homeless standard. 3. Bob is homeless and stays with friends. They charge him $150 per month but he also has his own phone. Depending on how much income he has, it appears the homeless standard would likely be most beneficial to him since it is a straight deduction. If you are unsure, complete a SPAD.

After having the options explained, Bob chooses to receive the standard deduction. No further verification is required. Document the case with his choice and allow the homeless standard.