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these policies at the household’s next recertification. However, FNS strongly encourages application of these policies as soon as possible for ongoing households. Applying Changes at Recertification The State agency must review household shelter costs at recertification to determine if households remain eligible for the HCSUA. Households no longer eligible for the HCSUA may be entitled to another SUA based on the utility expenses they incur. The State agency must review and determine how to appropriately capture household shelter costs, including the use of another SUA or actual expenses, depending on the State agency’s SUA options. Changes During the Certification Period State agencies are expected to make every effort to apply these changes to households during the certification period if the State agency has sufficient information about household utility expenses. At a minimum, State agencies must apply changes to ongoing households at their next recertification. FNS recognizes that State agencies may share information across their SNAP and State-operated energy assistance programs. While State agencies may have information on whether a household receiving this assistance contains an elderly or disabled member, that is not enough information to determine the impact of the case appropriately. State agencies shall not remove an ongoing household's eligibility for the HCSUA during the certification period solely based on information that the household does not contain an elderly or disabled member. If a household incurs heating or cooling costs, it must maintain eligibility for the HCSUA. State agencies should make changes immediately for cases where they have information that a household incurs heating or cooling costs. FNS encourages State agencies to send voluntary notices to encourage households to provide information on updated utility costs during the certification period. However, State agencies shall not send a Request for Contact (RFC) for this purpose or terminate a household's case if the household does not provide this information during the certification period, per program rules at 7 CFR 273.12(c). Split Households If a household with an elderly or disabled member that received a qualifying LIHEAP or other payment subsequently splits into multiple SNAP households, State agencies must consider whether each of the separate households contain an elderly or disabled member. If each of the separate households contain an elderly or disabled member, the State agency must confer the HCSUA to each of the households based on the qualifying LIHEAP or other payment. If one of the separate households resulting from the split does not contains an Guidance documents lack the force and effect of law, unless expressly authorized by statute or incorporated into a contract. USDA may not cite, use, or rely on any guidance that is not available through their guidance portal, except to establish historical facts.