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MS 5485

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Volume 2 - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) MS 5485 - R. 10/1/25 – OMTL - 681 Treatment of Homeless Households with Shelter Costs

A Homeless Standard allowance is available for homeless households who incur shelter expenses, in lieu of a deduction for shelter expenses. The allowance is deducted from net income after the child support deduction and before the medical deduction, rather than appearing as a shelter deduction. If the only utility expense incurred by a homeless household is a telephone expense, then the household is only entitled to the Telephone Standard deduction.

A. Homeless households that reasonably expect to incur a shelter expense for rent or utilities are allowed to use the Homeless Standard allowance. Households claiming shelter expenses greater than the Homeless Standard may choose to use their actual rent expense and the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) or Basic Utility Allowance (BUA), if eligible. When a homeless household reports they are responsible for shelter expenses, Worker Portal budgets using both the Homeless Standard allowance and the allowable shelter expenses, then automatically determines which deduction to use so the household receives the higher SNAP benefit. When the Homeless Standard allowance is used, the household is not entitled to any additional shelter deduction. If Worker Portal determines the benefits to be the same with each allowance, the homeless shelter allowance will be used. Accept any form of verification the household provides, such as a receipt, collateral contact, or written statement. If the homeless household pays only one utility and chooses to take the actual utility bill as a deduction, the actual amount of the utility expense must be verified.

Example: An individual is homeless, but a friend lets the individual stay at their house at night and requires them to pay the water bill.

B. Homeless households receiving free housing and utilities throughout the month are not eligible for the Homeless Standard allowance unless they state that they reasonably expect to incur a shelter cost during the calendar month.

C. The Homeless Standard allowance is $199 per month. This figure may be updated annually when the shelter cap is adjusted by the Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA).

D. For non-homeless households eligible to use the SUA who also share utility expenses with a homeless household, do the following:

1. Allow the non-homeless household the SUA.

2. Advise the homeless household which of the allowable deductions Worker Portal determined will benefit them the most.

Note: If Worker Portal determines the same benefit amount when budgeting the two deductions, the Homeless Standard allowance will be used.