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Supersedes: IM 25-15 Heat and Eat (H-EAT) (Issued April 1, 2025) 4

Standard Utility Allowance (SUA): A standard deduction amount applied when a household is responsible for heating or cooling expenses billed separately from their rent or mortgage. Policy Section 10103 of H.R. 1 (2025) changes which households are automatically eligible for the SUA because they receive a qualifying Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) payment known as Heat and Eat. Qualifying payments are those $21 or greater annually under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act (LIHEAA) of 1981, or other similar energy assistance programs (i.e., MEAP).

Effective 11/1/2025, households that do not include an elderly or disabled member and receive energy assistance must submit verification of their heating and cooling expenses to be eligible for the SUA.

A household that includes an elderly or disabled member and receives energy assistance (i.e., MEAP or Heat & Eat) will continue to automatically receive the SUA.

Household Composition Energy Assistance Program Participant Potentially Eligible for SUA Automatic SUA Eligibility Requirements / Notes Elderly (60+) and/or disabled Yes Yes ? Yes Automatically eligible for SUA when receiving Energy Assistance. Non-Elderly and/or Non-Disabled Yes Yes 呸 No Must first verify heating or cooling expenses to obtain SUA. Elderly (60+) and/or disabled No Yes 呸 No Must first verify heating or cooling expenses to obtain SUA. Non-Elderly and/or Non-Disabled No Yes 呸 No Must first verify heating or cooling expenses to obtain SUA.

Treatment of Energy Assistance Program Payments Prior to H.R. 1 (2025), state agencies were required to make the SUA available to any household that received an energy assistance payment (or payment contributed to a vendor on their behalf) in the current month or the prior 12