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The homeless shelter deduction is a separate deduction available to homeless households that do not receive free shelter. The maximum homeless shelter deduction increased to $198.99. Required Actions Homeless Shelter Deduction Households in which all members are homeless but who do not receive free shelter qualify for the homeless shelter deduction. The caseworker must: A. Indicate the living arrangement of each individual on the Individual Details screen, and B. Enter the actual shelter costs on the shelter expenses screen. The Eligibility & Enrollment (E&E) system will evaluate the expenses and the living arrangements and give the appropriate deduction. E&E will count the actual shelter expenses if they result in an excess shelter deduction that is higher than the $198.99 homeless deduction. Case Record Documentation A. All shelter expenses must be captured on the ‘Shelter Expenses’ screen within E&E. B. The case must be narrated sufficiently to describe the household's actual shelter expenses. C. All shelter expenses must be verified in order to receive a shelter deduction. a. Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP) and Maryland Senior Nutrition Assistance Program (MSNAP) households are not required to verify shelter expenses unless questionable. Resources FNS- Fiscal Year 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA) Memo Maryland’s SNAP Manual—Section 115 Categorical Eligibility 08.2025 Maryland’s SNAP Manual—Section 600 Standards for Income and Deductions 08.2025 Maryland’s SNAP Manual—Section 107 ESAP and MSNAP October 2025 Income Guidelines revised 08.2025 Updated: July 3, 2025; Supersedes AT 25-05 SNAP Mass Changes for October 2024 5