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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.