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SNAP 602-4 ELIGIBILITY AND BENEFIT DETERMINATION Shelter Deductions

Supersedes: SNAP 602-4 (10/01/2024) Reference: 7 CFR 273.9(d)(6); 7 CFR 273.10(e) Overview: A shelter deduction is based on shelter expenses anticipated to be incurred by the household. Homeless Standard Shelter Deduction As required by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, households in which all members are homeless may be allowed a standard shelter deduction. This deduction will be updated by 09/01 each year. To receive the deduction, the household must incur some shelter expense (shelter expense and/or utility expense). Households that receive the homeless standard shelter deduction are not entitled to the Standard Utility Allowance since the homeless standard shelter deduction already includes both shelter and utility costs. The household may choose to use actual expenses instead of the homeless standard deduction if they believe their actual costs are higher and are verified. Households who use actual shelter expenses are eligible for utility deductions. Households that are provided free housing and utilities, or who work for their shelter, are not allowed the homeless standard shelter deduction. A person is considered homeless when he or she lacks a fixed and regular nighttime residence or an individual whose primary nighttime residence is any of the following: 1. A supervised shelter designed to provide temporary housing. 2. A halfway house or similar institution that provides temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized. 3. Temporary housing in the residence of another individual for not more than 90 days