MFIP, MSA, GA, GRH:
No provisions.


DWP:
Use family maintenance needs, see 0002.23 (Glossary: Fair Hearing...), along with personal needs allowances, see 0002.49 (Glossary: Permanent...) and countable income to determine the DWP grant. For more information on how to calculate a benefit level for MFIP/DWP/GA, see 0022.12 (How to Calc. Benefit Level - MFIP/DWP/GA).


SNAP:
Shelter Deductions consist of housing and utility costs. Allow verified housing costs in the month billed, or if not billed, when they first become payable. For self-employed persons claiming housing costs as a business expense, also allow the expense as a shelter deduction following the provisions below. For utility costs, see 0018.15.09 (Utility Deductions). For verification of shelter deductions, see 0010.18.02.03 (Non-Mandatory Verifications – SNAP).


The most common examples of allowable housing costs are listed below. However, this is not an all-inclusive list:

●	Rent, including mobile home lot rent. When units pay their housing costs on a monthly basis, but pay this in advance for multiple months at a time, they are allowed a shelter deduction for the period the advanced payments are intended to cover.
●	Rent on a garage if the garage rental is a condition of renting the apartment.
●	Homeowner's insurance for the structure of the home. Discuss with the unit how the homeowner’s insurance is paid and if the policy includes any extra coverage on personal property. If the structure portion of the bill cannot be separated from other insurance amounts, allow the entire amount as a deduction. Verification must be provided to confirm that the expense for the home structure cannot be separated from other insurance amounts. See 0010.18.02.03 (Non-Mandatory Verifications – SNAP) for how to verify when homeowner's insurance is paid through a mortgage escrow account. Document the amount of this deduction in MAXIS CASE/NOTEs.
●	Mortgage insurance that is required by the lender and the cost is verified.
●	Mortgage, 2nd mortgage, or contract-for-deed payments. See MORTGAGE in 0002.43 (Glossary: Money...).
●	Property taxes and state and local assessments.
●	Condominium fees and association fees that are required to own a home.
●	Vehicle payment and insurance if the unit lives in the vehicle.
●	Room portion of charges for group residential housing or a domestic violence shelter.
●	Costs not reimbursed for repair of a home damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster.

Do NOT allow a deduction for:

●	Deposits on rental properties or utilities.
●	Life or auto insurance or other extra coverage on personal property added on the homeowner’s property insurance policy.
●	Separate insurance for personal belongings.
●	Foundation, skirting, or tie-downs for mobile homes.
●	Garage rent if the garage rental is not a condition of renting the apartment.
●	Home improvements.
●	Down payments and closing costs.
●	Maintenance escrow fees used to maintain and distribute the payment for taxes and insurance.
●	Renter’s insurance even if required by the landlord or residential property management company.

Calculate shelter deductions paid weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or semi-monthly using the multiplier. The multiplier is:

- 4.3 for weekly costs.

- 2.15 for bi-weekly costs.

- 1 for monthly costs.

- 2 for semi-monthly costs.

Deduct housing costs only if the unit must pay someone outside the unit for the expense. EXCEPT for certain situations listed below, do not deduct expenses paid by a 3rd party who does not live in the household or who lives in the household but is not required to be in the unit. See 0014.03.06 (Determining the SNAP Unit). For Uncle Harry cases, see 0022.24 (Uncle Harry Food Support Benefits).

You may allow a deduction for households which contain people who are required to be in the unit but who are disqualified or do not meet technical or procedural eligibility requirements:

●	For units which contain ineligible non-citizens, non-applicants, unit members disqualified for non-compliance with Social Security enumeration requirements, or ineligible able-bodied adults who are responsible for housing costs:

1.	Prorate housing costs billed to or paid by the ineligible person or disqualified unit member among household members.
2.	Disregard the prorated share of the costs for the ineligible person(s) or disqualified unit member(s). Allow the remainder of the costs as a housing cost for the unit. The utility costs are not prorated. See 0018.15.09 (Utility Deductions).

●	For units which contain an ineligible student:

-	When an ineligible student pays all of the expense, the unit is not entitled to a housing or utility deduction.
-	When a unit shares housing costs, deduct ONLY the amount actually paid or contributed by the unit. If you cannot differentiate the payments or contributions:

1.	Prorate the housing expense evenly among the people actually paying or contributing to the expense. MAXIS will disregard the ineligible student's share of the costs.
2.	Allow the remainder of the costs as a housing expense. The utility costs are not prorated. See 0018.15.09 (Utility Deductions).

●	For units which contain an ineligible unit member disqualified for intentional program violation or non-compliance with work requirements, allow the entire unit's applicable deduction amount, including the disqualified unit member.

Once a unit verifies their shelter costs, they are allowed their adjusted shelter costs as a deduction, up to a maximum amount. Adjusted shelter costs are the unit's allowable housing costs plus their standard utility allowance minus 50% of the unit's net income. If the unit's adjusted shelter costs exceed the maximum amount, then they are allowed the maximum amount as a deduction. Currently, the maximum amount is $586. MAXIS calculates the shelter deduction in the SNAP budget based on information entered on the appropriate panels. SNAP units with an elderly or disabled member are allowed their adjusted shelter costs as a deduction even when it is less than or exceeds the maximum amount. For this purpose, elderly is defined as someone 60-years-old or older and disabled is defined as:

●	Receiving SSI benefits.
●	Receiving RSDI disability benefits.
●	Certified 100% disabled by the VA or paid at the 100% disabled amount.
●	Receiving Railroad Retirement benefits.
●	Receiving other government issued disability retirement benefits.
●	Having a certified disability by SMRT.

See 0012.15 (Incapacity and Disability Determinations).

For allowable shelter deductions for Uncle Harry cases, see 0022.24 (Uncle Harry Food Support Benefits).

If the unit moves residences during their certification period, request verification of their housing costs at their new residence and allow the unit 10 days to return verification. If the unit does not return verification, remove any previous housing costs allowed as a deduction from the budget, allowing for proper 10-day notice. If the unit later provides verification, allow the housing cost as a deduction the month following the month the unit provided verification.

Note: Change Reporters are required to report a change in housing costs during the certification period when the change is a result of moving residences. If a change reporter does not report a change in their housing costs timely, assess for overpayments. See 0007.03.02 (Six-Month Reporting) for a list of who is a change reporter, (0007.15.03 (Unscheduled Reporting of Changes – SNAP), 0025.03 (Determining Incorrect Payment Amounts).

For changes in housing costs that are reported during the unit's certification period that are not a result of the unit moving residences, see 0010.18.02.03 (Non-Mandatory Verifications – SNAP).