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Division/Section Family Support Chapter No./Name 4 – Economic Independence (EI) Part No./Name B – Eligibility Factors Section No./Name B-600-FITAP-SNAP Income Document No./Name B-650-SNAP Deductions Effective Date September 1, 2026

8 of 22 • the current occupants of the home, if any, are not claiming shelter costs for SNAP purposes, and

• the home is not leased or rented during the absence of the household.

A household that has both an occupied home and an unoccupied home is only entitled to one utility standard. A utility deduction may be allowed for the unoccupied home only if the household is responsible for utility expenses for the home. The allowable utility expense for the unoccupied home will be the BUA amount.

B-654-6-SNAP - PO Homeless Shelter Deduction

Households in which all members are homeless and have a qualifying shelter expense as outlined in this section are eligible for and must be offered the homeless shelter deduction in lieu of the excess shelter expense deduction.

The homeless shelter deduction is an alternative to the excess shelter deduction for homeless households that do not receive free shelter throughout the month (i.e., homeless households with some shelter expenses). The homeless shelter deduction is $198.99 per month. Households that choose the homeless shelter deduction, must have it applied to their case.

For a SNAP household to receive the homeless shelter deduction, the household must:

• meet the definition of a homeless household as defined in E-291,

• have an out-of-pocket shelter expense, and

• choose the standard homeless shelter deduction.

A homeless household is eligible to receive the homeless shelter deduction even if the only shelter expense is a utility expense, including a cell phone expense. Households that receive free housing and utilities throughout the month are not eligible for the homeless shelter deduction.

A homeless household may choose to claim their actual costs instead of claiming the homeless shelter deduction, if their actual costs are higher and verified. The homeless household must be given the opportunity to choose their actual shelter costs during the interview.

LITE includes a question on the "Household Address and Contact – Details" screen, for the worker to ask the homeless household, "If your excess shelter expenses are more than the homeless shelter deduction, do you want to budget the actual shelter expense?"

• If the household says, ‘Yes’, to this question, then the household must provide verification of their actual costs in order to receive their actual costs under the excess shelter deduction.