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Page | 195 If the applicant does not verify utility expenses, enter the appropriate utility allowance on the UTIL panel with an “N” for verification.

If obtaining verification of expenses would delay the application, the applicant may choose to have the application processed without the deduction, as long as the shelter arrangement is not questionable.  If questionable, the situation must be resolved.  If not questionable, eligibility and allotment determination will be calculated without the shelter expense if the household has verified residency and either does not submit verification of the shelter expense within 30 days following the application date, or requests the application be processed without the expense.

Documentation is essential. The household’s notice will explain that if the household submits verification at a later date, benefits may potentially be increased as long as the expense is listed on ACCESS with an “N” for verification.

10350 SHELTER CHANGES

If a household has a change in residence during the certification period, the new residence is required to be verified at the next renewal or six month report, whichever occurs first. Households must report and verify changes in shelter costs in order to receive a deduction. If a household reports a change of residence in an interim month, Chapter 14 section 14213 details how to budget reported changes in shelter expenses.

10400 DETERMINING UTILITY COSTS

Households cannot claim actual utility costs (expenses) and are only entitled to one of the four utility allowances. If the household is billed for heating, cooling, cooking fuel, electricity, water, sewage, garbage and telephone expenses, including charges for initial installation of the utility, and the household is expected to pay the expense, the household is allowed a utility allowance. If the household receives a utility reimbursement payment, a utility allowance is allowed only if utility expenses are greater than the reimbursement amount.

If there is an elderly or disabled household member in the household, whose fuel costs are paid by LIEAP in excess of $20 in the current month or last 12 months, the household will be allowed the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA). If there is not an elderly or disabled household member receiving LIEAP, then the SUA is not allowed for receipt of LIEAP over $20.

10410 UTILITY DEDUCTIONS (ALLOWANCES)

There are four different utility deductions that are referred to as utility allowances. A household can be eligible to receive only one of the utility allowances listed below.

1. Standard utility allowance (SUA) of $950 Household must be responsible for heating/cooling costs. If there is an elderly or disabled household member that meets LIEAP/Weatherization requirements (payment on behalf of an adult elderly or disabled household member over $20 in the current month or past 12 Exception: If an elderly or disabled household member has had a LIEAP or weatherization payment over $20 made in the current month or past 12 months, and does not provide verification of utility expenses, the appropriate utility code is “L”. The verification code should be entered depending on if the LIEAP was verified or not. The SUA will be budgeted only if the verification code is “Y.”