DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES FAMILY INVESTMENT ADMINISTRATION SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) MANUAL UTILITY ALLOWANCES Section 214 Page 2
214.1 Eligibility for Utility Allowances (continued) b. The use of supplemental heating equipment such as gas, electric, kerosene, wood heaters, or stoves does not qualify the household for the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) if the cost of the principal heating source (e.g. an oil furnace) is included in the rent or mortgage. c. SUA is automatically applied to households with an elderly (age 60 or older) or disabled member and the household received more than $20 in energy assistance payments (from MEAP or another similar program) in the last 12 months. i. If a household reports receipt of a MEAP benefit in the past heating season, and it expects to receive it again in the next heating season, the household is eligible for the SUA. ii. The household’s receipt or expectation of receiving MEAP entitles it to the SUA for the entire year because Maryland’s SUA is updated annually. iii. If the landlord reduces the rent to reflect receipt of the MEAP payment, allow the reduced amount for the rental cost because this is now the billed rent.
Example 1: Ms. A (age 42, not disabled) applied for SNAP benefits
on February 28. She reported receipt of a MEAP payment in
January for this heating season. She is not automatically entitled
to the SUA because her household does not include an elderly or
disabled household member. Ms. A may be eligible for the SUA
based on the actual utility expenses that she verifies she pays.
Example 2: Ms. B (age 64) applied for SNAP benefits on January 5.
Her heat is included in the rent. She reported that last year she
received MEAP to help with heat in her house and she plans to
apply again this year. This household is automatically eligible for
the SUA because it includes an elderly household member and
anticipates receiving MEAP again this year.
d. The receipt of indirect (vendor) energy assistance payments from non-federal funds, such as the Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP), will not affect eligibility for the SUA if the household incurs out-of-pocket expenses over and above its prorated REVISED SEPTEMBER 2025
