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us-mn/guidance/dhs/combined-manual-description-of-changes — Axiom

COMBINED MANUAL

ISSUE DATE 10/2025

MFIP HOUSING ASSISTANCE GRANT

0013.03.09

MFIP: To be eligible for the $117 MFIP Housing Grant, an assistance unit:

● Must meet all MFIP financial and non-financial eligibility factors.

● Must not be an assistance unit with a relative caregiver who opted out of MFIP assistance, or a unit in which the relative caregiver applied for MFIP as part of the assistance unit, but only the relative children were found to be eligible.

● Must not be opting out of MFIP cash portion or the MFIP Housing Grant, see 0014.03.03.03 (Opting Out of MFIP Cash Portion).

● Must not be currently receiving a Housing subsidy through the Department of Housing and Urban Development UNLESS 1 or both of the caregivers meet 1 of the criteria below:

- Age 60 or older.

- Caring for another member in the assistance unit, a relative in the household, or a foster child in the household due to illness or incapacity certified by a qualified professional which is expected to continue for 31 days or more.

- Caregiver is certified by a qualified professional to be suffering from an Illness, injury or incapacity that is expected to continue for more than 30 days, and severely limits the caregiver’s ability to work 20 or more hours per week.

- Meets Special Medical Criteria (SMC).

- Receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

- Receives Mille Lacs Tribal TANF.

There is no proration for the MFIP Housing Assistance Grant. If an assistance unit is eligible 1 day in the month, there is eligibility for the full MFIP Housing Assistance Grant.

Eligibility for the MFIP Housing Assistance Grant is determined prospectively.

Suspended MFIP cases or MFIP cases that receive a food portion only grant continue to receive the MFIP Housing Assistance Grant. Receipt of the MFIP Housing Assistance Grant counts towards the 60 month time limit. For those caregivers who are subject to the TANF time limit, see 0011.30 (60-Month Lifetime Limit).

MFIP units that choose to opt out of the cash portion of MFIP must also opt out of the MFIP Housing Assistance Grant. Suspended MFIP units or MFIP units that receive a food portion only grant, may choose to opt out of the MFIP Housing Assistance Grant.

The MFIP Housing Assistance Grant is not subject to sanction. When the 10% or 30% sanction policy is applied to the MFIP cash, the MFIP Housing Assistance Grant is not affected. When a vendor is in place for a sanction, the MFIP Housing Assistance Grant is not required to be vendored as part of the sanction policy. If a case closes for a 100% sanction, the MFIP Housing Assistance Grant benefit will also be closed as part of the MFIP closure.

There is no recoupment from the MFIP Housing Assistance Grant for cash, food or Housing Assistance claims.

Only 2 types of mandatory vendoring apply to the MFIP Housing Assistance Grant:

● Drug felon offenses, see 0011.27.03 (Drug Felons).

● Money mismanagement, see 0024.09 (Protective and Vendor Payments).

For reporting requirements, verification requirements and voluntary vendoring, follow MFIP in 0007 (Reporting), 0010.18.01

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COMBINED MANUAL

ISSUE DATE 10/2025

SHELTER DEDUCTIONS

0018.15

MFIP, MSA, GA, GRH: No provisions.

DWP: Use family maintenance needs, see 0002.23 (Glossary: Fair Hearing...), along with personal needs allowances, see 0002.49 (Glossary: Permanent...) and countable income to determine the DWP grant. For more information on how to calculate a benefit level for MFIP/DWP/GA, see 0022.12 (How to Calc. Benefit Level - MFIP/DWP/GA).

SNAP: Shelter Deductions consist of housing and utility costs. Allow verified housing costs in the month billed, or if not billed, when they first become payable. For self-employed persons claiming housing costs as a business expense, also allow the expense as a shelter deduction following the provisions below. For utility costs, see 0018.15.09 (Utility Deductions). For verification of shelter deductions, see 0010.18.02.03 (Non-Mandatory Verifications – SNAP).

Allowable Housing Costs Deduct continuing housing costs only if the unit must pay someone outside their SNAP assistance unit for the expense. Payments for past due housing expenses are not allowed as a deduction.

The most common examples of allowable housing costs are listed below. However, this is not an all-inclusive list: ● Rent, including mobile home lot rent. When units pay their housing costs on a monthly basis, but pay this in advance for multiple months at a time, they are allowed a shelter deduction for the period the advanced payments are intended to cover.

● Rent on a garage if the garage rental is a condition of renting the apartment.

● Homeowner's insurance

- When paid through a mortgage escrow account, allow the entire amount of the monthly homeowners insurance expense.

- When NOT paid through a mortgage escrow account, only allow the homeowners insurance portion paid for the structure, averaged as a monthly expense.

See 0010.18.02.03 (Non-Mandatory Verifications – SNAP) for how to verify homeowner's insurance.

● Mortgage insurance that is required by the lender and the cost is verified.

● Mortgage, 2nd mortgage, or contract-for-deed payments. See MORTGAGE in 0002.43 (Glossary: Money...).

● Property taxes and state and local assessments.

- When paid through a mortgage escrow account, allow the entire amount of the monthly property tax expense as billed by the mortgage lender.

- When NOT paid through a mortgage escrow account, calculate and allow the average monthly property tax expense.

● Condominium fees and association fees that are required to own a home.

● Vehicle payment and insurance if the unit lives in the vehicle.

● Room portion of charges for group residential housing or a domestic violence shelter.

● Costs not reimbursed for repair of a home damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster.

(2025-10)(page-5)Page 5#

COMBINED MANUAL

ISSUE DATE 10/2025

SHELTER DEDUCTIONS

0018.15

Do NOT allow a deduction for: ● Deposits on rental properties or utilities.

● Life or auto insurance or other extra coverage on personal property added on the homeowner’s property insurance policy.

● Foundation, skirting, or tie-downs for mobile homes.

● Garage rent if the garage rental is not a condition of renting the apartment.

● Home improvements.

● Down payments and closing costs.

● Renter’s insurance even if required by the landlord or residential property management company.

Housing Cost Calculations Calculate shelter deductions paid weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or semi-monthly using the multiplier. The multiplier is: - 4.3 for weekly costs.

- 2.15 for bi-weekly (every other week) costs.

- 1 for monthly costs.

- 2 for semi-monthly costs.

Housing Costs when Units have More than 1 Residence Housing costs may only be allowed as a deduction for one property.

In situations where clients have a home outside of Minnesota as well as Minnesota and live part of the year in the other place and part of the year in Minnesota, they may only receive a deduction for the continuing charges paid for the home they have in Minnesota. See 0011.06 (State Residence) for more information on when someone has a home in Minnesota and another place.

Housing Costs for Ineligible Unit Members Allow a deduction for households which contain people who are required to be in the unit but who are disqualified or do not meet technical or procedural eligibility requirements. See 0014.03.06 (Determining the SNAP Unit). For Uncle Harry cases, see 0022.24 (Uncle Harry Food Support Benefits). ● For units which contain ineligible non-citizens, non-applicants, unit members disqualified for non-compliance with Social Security enumeration requirements, or ineligible able-bodied adults who are responsible for housing costs:

1. Prorate housing costs billed to or paid by the ineligible person or disqualified unit member among household members.

2. Disregard the prorated share of the costs for the ineligible person(s) or disqualified unit member(s). Allow the remainder of the costs as a deduction for the unit.

The utility costs are not prorated. See 0018.15.09 (Utility Deductions).

● For units which contain an ineligible student:

- When an ineligible student pays all of the cost, the unit is not entitled to a housing or utility deduction.

- When a unit shares housing costs, deduct ONLY the amount actually paid or contributed by the unit. If you cannot differentiate the payments or contributions:

1. Prorate the housing cost evenly among the people actually paying or contributing to the cost. MAXIS will disregard the ineligible student's share of the costs.

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COMBINED MANUAL

ISSUE DATE 10/2025

SHELTER DEDUCTIONS

0018.15

2. Allow the remainder of the costs as a deduction.

The utility costs are not prorated. See 0018.15.09 (Utility Deductions).

● For units which contain an ineligible unit member disqualified for intentional program violation or non-compliance with work requirements, allow the entire unit's applicable deduction amount, including the disqualified unit member.

Housing Costs Paid by People Living in the Home If the SNAP unit is sharing housing costs with others living in their home, use the guidance below to determine what shelter cost the SNAP unit is eligible for as a deduction. ● If the SNAP unit has a lease agreement, mortgage statement or other official living agreement and has other people living with them, not in their SNAP unit, they are allowed the full lease amount, mortgage statement or living agreement as a shelter deduction. If the other people living there have an agreement to pay the SNAP unit housing costs, that money is counted as unearned income to the SNAP unit. In addition, if the other party paying the SNAP unit applies for SNAP themselves, what they are paying the other SNAP unit for housing costs can be allowed as a deduction. See 0017.15.33.27 (Self-Employment Income From Roomer/Boarder).

● If the SNAP unit has a lease agreement, mortgage statement or other living agreement that lists the person/people not in the SNAP unit, then only allow the amount the SNAP unit is paying as part of their agreement as a shelter deduction.

Housing Costs Paid by People Not Living in the Home If a 3rd party that is not living with the client is providing funds directly to the client for their housing costs, allow the deduction. These payments are counted as unearned income. If the 3rd party is paying the housing costs to the landlord/owner, this is not counted as income and the unit is not allowed the housing costs as a deduction unless the shelter expenses are paid by initial refugee funds or match grant. Shelter expenses paid by initial refugee funds must be allowed as a deduction for SNAP. See 0029.39 (The Matching Grant Program), 0030.01(Local Resettlement Agencies).

If a unit receives subsidized housing, only allow what the client is actually paying for their shelter costs as a deduction.

Group Residential Housing (GRH) When a unit resides in a GRH setting their deduction depends on the setting and the client’s obligation:

● When the unit resides in a Group Supportive Housing, allow the client’s obligation as the shelter deduction.

● When the unit resides in a Community Setting, first determine the client’s monthly rental amount and their obligation. - When the client’s obligation is less than the monthly rental amount, allow the client’s obligation as a shelter deduction. - When the client’s obligation is more than the monthly rental amount, allow the monthly rental amount as a deduction.

See the Housing Support Setting Characteristics (DHS-8292-ENG) for more information on Group Supportive Housing and Community Settings.

Maximum Shelter Costs Once a unit verifies their shelter costs, they are allowed their adjusted shelter costs as a deduction, up to a maximum amount. Adjusted shelter costs are the unit's allowable housing costs plus their standard utility allowance minus 50% of the unit's net income. If the unit's adjusted shelter costs exceed the maximum amount, then they are allowed the maximum amount as a deduction. Currently, the maximum amount is $744. MAXIS calculates the shelter deduction in the SNAP budget based on information entered on the appropriate panels. SNAP units with an elderly or disabled member are allowed their adjusted shelter costs as a deduction even when it is less than or exceeds the maximum amount. Elderly means someone who is age 60 years or older. See listed items under category 1 for disability determination in 0010.18.06 (Verifying Disability/Incapacity – SNAP)

For allowable shelter deductions for Uncle Harry cases, see 0022.24 (Uncle Harry Food Support Benefits).

Homeless Shelter Deduction

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COMBINED MANUAL

ISSUE DATE 10/2025

UTILITY DEDUCTIONS

0018.15.09

MFIP, MSA, GA, GRH: No provisions.

DWP: Allow actual verified utility expenses and the flat rate of $35 for telephone service, if applicable, in determining the amount of the grant. See 0022.12 (How to Calc. Benefit Level - MFIP/DWP/GA).

SNAP: The utility expenses a unit is responsible for are part of the shelter deduction. All SNAP units that are responsible for utility expenses separate from any other shelter expenses, such as rent, are allowed 1 or more of the mandatory standard utility deductions. For self-employed persons also claiming utility expenses as a business expense, continue to allow the applicable standard utility deduction.

Never prorate a utility deduction.

ALLOWING UTILITY EXPENSES

Units can have either the heat/air standard utility deduction OR one or both of the electric and phone standard utility deduction(s) when they are not responsible for heating and/or cooling expenses.

A unit is responsible for a cooling expense if it must pay expenses for operating any type of air conditioning system AND there is a reasonable expectation the unit will use air conditioning at any point during the year. A unit is responsible for a heating expense if it must pay for operating any heating system AND there is a reasonable expectation the unit will use heat at any point during the year

Allow the Heat/Air Standard Utility Deduction of $667 for units that meet one of the following criteria: ● Responsible for heating and/or cooling expenses. This includes units who pay for additional expenses outside of their main heating and/or cooling source (for example, a SNAP unit that has heat included in their rent expense but incurs an additional expense for use of a space heater).

● Shares heating and/or cooling expenses with a separate unit at their residence (no proration).

● Received Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) of more than $20 any time in the past 12 months and anywhere in the United States, regardless of whether they incur expenses for heating and/or cooling.

● Share the expenses with an ineligible person (no proration).

For units who are not responsible for heating and/or cooling expenses: ● Allow the electric standard utility deduction of $235 per month for units that are responsible for an electricity expense.

● Allow the phone standard utility deduction of $62 per month for units that are responsible for a phone expense. The phone standard utility deduction is allowed for phone expenses when the unit is responsible to pay for service. This includes but is not limited to: -Cell phones (monthly billing, pre-paid minutes or dollar value, etc.). -Land lines -Telecommunications Relay Services (captioned, internet, speech-to-speech, TTY, video, etc.). -Voice Over Internet (VOIP, internet phone).

● If the unit is responsible for both electric and phone expenses, both standard utility deductions are allowed.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

● Allow the applicable standard utility deduction for a unit when expenses are paid by:

(2025-10)(page-18)Page 18#

COMBINED MANUAL

ISSUE DATE 10/2025

HOW TO CALCULATE BENEFIT LEVEL - SNAP/MSA/GRH

0022.12.01

Follow the procedures below to determine the benefit level.

FOR SSI RECIPIENTS 1. Subtract $20 dollars from the client's SSI FBR. For information about the SSI Federal Benefit Rate (FBR), see 0029.06.03 (Supplemental Security Income Program). Do NOT allow the $20 disregard for residents of a long term care facility for which MA pays their cost of care. Do not make any adjustments due to other income the client may have (SSA has already adjusted the SSI payment).

2. Locate the appropriate standard in 0020.21 (MSA Assistance Standards). Add any special need items the client is eligible for. See 0023 (Special Needs Payments).

3. Subtract the result of Step 1 from the result of Step 2. The difference is the MSA benefit for the month. In the case of a married couple where BOTH partners have a basis of eligibility, divide the total by 2 to determine the benefit amount for each partner.

4. Determine if there is a recoupable amount. If there is, subtract the recoupment. See 0025.21.15 (Recoupment).

FOR NON-SSI RECIPIENTS 1. Locate the appropriate assistance standard in 0020.21 (MSA Assistance Standards). Add any special need items the client is eligible for in 0023 (Special Needs Payments).

2. Subtract the client's net income from the result of Step 1. See 0018 (Determining Net Income). The difference is the benefit for that month. In the case of an eligible married couple where BOTH partners are on MSA, divide the difference by 2 to determine the benefit amount for each partner.

3. Determine if there is a recoupable amount. If there is, subtract the recoupment. See 0025.21.15 (Recoupment).

GRH: Subtract net income in the budget month from the assistance standard for the corresponding payment month. NOTE: For the month the client enters the GRH setting, subtract ONLY the income that is actually available for that month. See 0018 (Determining Net Income).

The assistance standard for a GRH client is the GRH rate specified on the MAXIS MONY/VND2 panel plus the difficulty of care amount specified on the MAXIS STAT/FACI panel for clients in adult foster homes without other service funding. See 0020.22 (GRH Assistance Standards).

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