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COMBINED MANUAL

ISSUE DATE 10/2020

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 costs a unit is responsible for are part of the shelter deduction. All SNAP units that incur utility costs are allowed 1 or more of the mandatory standard utility allowances. For self-employed persons also claiming utility expenses as a business expense, continue to allow the applicable standard utility allowance.

Never prorate a Utility Allowance.

ALLOW THE SINGLE UTILITY STANDARD OF $496 ONLY FOR UNITS:

● That incur expenses for heating and/or cooling.

● That incur only an excess heating or cooling expense.

● That are a separate SNAP unit who shares heating/cooling expenses (no proration).

● That receive 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.

● That split the costs with an ineligible person. In these cases, do not prorate the costs to the SNAP unit. Allow the full standard as a deduction.

The single utility standard includes heating, cooling, electricity, water, sewer, garbage, and phone.

FOR UNITS BILLED FOR NEITHER HEATING NOR COOLING:

● Allow the electric standard of $154 per month for units billed for electricity.

● Allow the phone standard of $56 per month for units billed for phone service. Do not allow actual phone expenses.

NOTE: The phone standard can be allowed for cell phone expenses when the unit is billed monthly or buys a pre-paid card with a certain dollar value or number of minutes, AND the cell phone is their only phone.

● If the unit incurs both electric and phone costs, both deductions may be used.

Do NOT allow a standard utility deduction when an ineligible student is responsible to pay and is the one paying the utility expense.

Do not allow a deduction when expenses are reimbursed by a source outside the unit, EXCEPT do allow a deduction for expenses reimbursed by the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program or payments vendored from the client's funds.

A unit incurs a heating expense ONLY if it must pay for the actual fuel used for its primary source of heat. A unit incurs a cooling expense ONLY if it must pay electrical costs for operating an air conditioning system or room air conditioner and there is a reasonable expectation the unit will use air conditioning.