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Page | 194 10320 SHELTER COSTS NOT ALLOWED AS A DEDUCTION

Shelter costs do not include:

1. One-time deposits. 2. Any other shelter-related expenses not specifically listed above. 3. Closing costs, as a whole, would not be counted toward shelter costs. If the closing costs can be itemized to identify costs which are allowable deductions, such as insurance and property taxes, then these costs can be deducted as shelter costs.

10330 SHELTER COST OF UNOCCUPIED HOME

The shelter costs may be deducted for a home not currently occupied by the household for reasons of employment or training away from home, illness, or abandonment of the home caused by a natural disaster or casualty loss. For these costs to be deductible, all of the following criteria must be met: 1. The household must intend to return to the home. 2. The current occupants of the home, if any, must not be claiming the shelter costs for SNAP purposes. 3. The home must not be leased or rented during the household's absence.

The household may claim both the shelter costs of its current residence and the costs of the unoccupied home in computing the shelter deduction, but the appropriate shelter deduction for the household applies. Only one utility allowance is allowed regardless of whether or not the household must pay utility expenses for their temporary home and the vacant home. Use the highest applicable utility standard for the expense of the temporary home or the vacant home.

Charges are allowed for the repair of a home which was substantially damaged or destroyed because of a natural disaster, such as a fire or flood. Such costs do not include charges for the repair of the home that have been or will be reimbursed by private or public relief agencies, insurance companies, or other sources. These charges would be added to their current home or rent charges. The benefits specialists should narrate these circumstances thoroughly.

10340 VERIFICATION OF RESIDENCE AND SHELTER COSTS AT INITIAL APPLICATION AND RENEWAL

Residency verification is required (mandatory verification) at initial application. It is not required at renewal, if there is current residency verification in the case file and it has not changed and is not questionable. If residency verification is required and not received within 30 days following the date the DSS-EA-301 application is received, deny the application. If it is a renewal and the information is not received, the case will be closed if not received within 30 days of the date of the DSS-EA-301 renewal.

Verification of shelter costs (rent, mortgage, lot rent, taxes, insurance, utility expense) is never required unless the household wants to use the expense for eligibility/benefit determination, or the shelter arrangement is questionable.

If the applicant reports a rent/home expense but does not verify it, put the expense amount on the appropriate ACCESS panel and enter “N” for verification. Also, request the expense on the DSS- EA-300, Verification Checklist, under the Expenses/Other Verification section. If there isn’t any mandatory verification requested and the interview is completed, the denial date on the EA300 form should be blank.