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Supersedes: IM 25-15 Heat and Eat (H-EAT) (Issued April 1, 2025) 5

months. Now H.R. 1 (2025) excludes households without an elderly or disabled member and who receive an energy assistance payment from automatic SUA eligibility. Households that do not have an elderly or disabled member may still qualify for the SUA based on verified energy expenses they are responsible for paying. Households with an elderly or disabled member and who receive a qualifying energy assistance payment will continue to have the SUA automatically applied to their case. Implementation Timeline A. The new policy applies to SNAP applications processed on or after November 1, 2025. B. For active SNAP households, the application of the appropriate utility allowance will take place when SNAP benefits are confirmed at the household’s next redetermination or during an interim change (including a Maryland Benefit Review) to shelter or utility expenses that occur on or after November 1, 2025. The policy will not be applied as a mass modification of all SNAP cases. C. SNAP households without an elderly or disabled member who are currently receiving Heat & Eat must submit verification of shelter and utility expenses at redetermination, and when they report an interim shelter deduction change. Eligibility and Enrollment (E&E) System Updates E&E will automatically apply this policy based on the information entered in the case. There is no daily system interface with the Office of Home Energy Programs (OHEP) to confirm MEAP status. Required Action Eligibility workers must: 1. Check the status of OHEP applications online at https://myohepstatus.benefits.maryland.gov/, 2. Answer all questions on the Expenses screen in E&E to reflect accurate, up-to-date information gathered from the application and interview,