Page 216

MS 5490 [2]

individual can choose to verify a heating/cooling expense and not verify the total amount of energy assistance payments if they prefer.

Households that receive Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development utility payments are entitled to use the SUA regardless of whether or not they incur a primary heating or cooling cost that exceeds the amount of the reimbursement; or 7. Recipients residing in public housing who are billed for or anticipate incurring an out-of-pocket expense for excess utility charges for heating or cooling expenses do not have to incur a cost first. If the household states they do not expect to incur an out-of-pocket expense for excess utility charges, then they are not eligible to receive the deduction.

B. Households who are not eligible to use the SUA may be entitled to use the Basic Utility Allowance (BUA). These households include:

1. Residents in a public or private housing project who are billed only for excess utility usage for two non-heating/non-cooling expenses.

However, if the resident is in receipt of LIHEAP benefits and the household contains an elderly or disabled member, they are entitled to and must use the SUA;

2. Recipients who are billed only for utility expenses other than heating or cooling expenses. The household is not eligible to use the SUA, except when two or more households live together, share utility expenses, and one of the households is entitled to use the SUA; or

3. Recipients who are billed only for a supplementary heating expense. For example, a household's apartment has gas as its primary heat source, and this expense is included in the rent, but the household is billed for electricity to run a blower fan on the furnace. The household is not entitled to use the SUA.

C. If the household changes residences within the certification period, entitlement to the SUA must be re-evaluated. The household's entitlement to the SUA is evaluated as follows:

1. If the household is billed for its primary heating or cooling costs separate from its rent or mortgage payments at the new address, the household is entitled to and must use the SUA;

2. If the household includes an elderly or disabled member and has received LIHEAP benefits or been approved to receive LIHEAP benefits) regardless of any change in the household’s address that is greater than $20 annually in the current month or in the immediately preceding 12 months, as verified by the HEAP Master Report, the household is entitled to the SUA; or

Page 216

Official source

MS 5490 [2]

individual can choose to verify a heating/cooling expense and not verify the total amount of energy assistance payments if they prefer.

B. Households who are not eligible to use the SUA may be entitled to use the Basic Utility Allowance (BUA). These households include:

1. Residents in a public or private housing project who are billed only for excess utility usage for two non-heating/non-cooling expenses.

However, if the resident is in receipt of LIHEAP benefits and the household contains an elderly or disabled member, they are entitled to and must use the SUA;

C. If the household changes residences within the certification period, entitlement to the SUA must be re-evaluated. The household's entitlement to the SUA is evaluated as follows:

1. If the household is billed for its primary heating or cooling costs separate from its rent or mortgage payments at the new address, the household is entitled to and must use the SUA;