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10430 VERIFICATION OF UTILITY COSTS

Specialists are required to verify utility expenses to determine the correct utility standard. If the Specialist cannot verify utility costs before the end of the 30-day processing period, or if the household chooses to not submit verification, eligibility and benefit amounts can be calculated without allowing utility costs.

10440 SHARED SHELTER SITUATIONS

Shelter Costs Multiple SNAP households (separate purchase, prepare and consume arrangements) residing in the same residence are allowed the actual amount of rent they are billed as a shelter deduction. A shelter deduction for each household is allowed based on the amount of rent each household is responsible for.

Any payments made from one household to another for rent expenses when they reside together will be exempt as a pass through payment up to the full amount of rent charged.  If the payment is more than the full rent changed for the residence, the excess payment would be considered unearned income to the household receiving the payment.

Utility Allowances Multiple SNAP households (purchase, prepare and consume separately) residing in the same residence that share the utility costs are allowed the same utility standard. When this occurs, the utility allowance is determined by the utilities being paid for at the residence. As long as both households contribute toward the utility cost, they receive the full allowance based on the number or type of verified utilities the households are responsible to pay.

An exception to households receiving the same utility standard is if the multiple SNAP households who reside together receive LIEAP. In order for each household to receive the SUA due to receipt of LIEAP, each household must have an elderly or disabled household member in their SNAP case. See Example 9 below.

If multiple SNAP households in different residences share a utility expense (same meter), each receives the appropriate utility allowance. In this situation, the utility allowance is determined by the individual household’s expenses because the two households are not residing together and each may have differing utility expenses.

Utility payments from shared household members are also considered pass through payments unless the household receiving such payments has no expense (for example, utilities included in the rent). If the household has no expense, the utility payment received by the household would be unearned income.

Example 1: Household A and B reside together but eat separately. The lease and heat expense is in HH A's name, and they pay $200 rent plus all utilities. HH B pays $100 rent and $100 utilities to HH A. HH A is allowed $100 rent deduction and the $100 received from HH B is considered a pass through rent payment and exempt. HH B is allowed $100 rent deduction. Each household is allowed the SUA. Example: During Jane’s renewal interview, she reported her utility payment is $150 a month and on-going utility expenses for heat an average $200 a month. She provided verification of utility heating costs in December showing $250, and stated she paid $100 out of pocket for heat costs. Jane is allowed the SUA.