MFIP, MSA, GA, GRH:
No provisions.


DWP:
Allow actual verified utility expenses and the flat rate of $35 for telephone service, if applicable, in determining the amount of the grant. See 0022.12 (How to Calc. Benefit Level - MFIP/DWP/GA).


SNAP:
The utility expenses a unit is responsible for are part of the shelter deduction. All SNAP units that are responsible for utility expenses separate from any other shelter expenses, such as rent, are allowed 1 or more of the mandatory standard utility deductions. For self-employed persons also claiming utility expenses as a business expense, continue to allow the applicable standard utility deduction.

Never prorate a utility deduction.

ALLOWING UTILITY EXPENSES

Units can have either the heat/air standard utility deduction OR one or both of the electric and phone standard utility deduction(s) when they are not responsible for heating and/or cooling expenses.

A unit is responsible for a cooling expense if it must pay expenses for operating any type of air conditioning system AND there is a reasonable expectation the unit will use air conditioning at any point during the year. A unit is responsible for a heating expense if it must pay for operating any heating system AND there is a reasonable expectation the unit will use heat at any point during the year

Allow the Heat/Air Standard Utility Deduction of $651 for units that meet one of the following criteria:

●	Responsible for heating and/or cooling expenses. This includes units who pay for additional expenses outside of their main heating and/or cooling source (for example, a SNAP unit that has heat included in their rent expense but incurs an additional expense for use of a space heater).
●	Shares heating and/or cooling expenses with a separate unit at their residence (no proration).
●	Received Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) of more than $20 any time in the past 12 months and anywhere in the United States, regardless of whether they incur expenses for heating and/or cooling.
●	Share the expenses with an ineligible person (no proration).

For units who are not responsible for heating and/or cooling expenses:

●	Allow the electric standard utility deduction of $213 per month for units that are responsible for an electricity expense.
●	Allow the phone standard utility deduction of $54 per month for units that are responsible for a phone expense. The phone standard utility deduction is allowed for phone expenses when the unit is responsible to pay for service. This includes but is not limited to: -Cell phones (monthly billing, pre-paid minutes or dollar value, etc.). -Land lines -Telecommunications Relay Services (captioned, internet, speech-to-speech, TTY, video, etc.). -Voice Over Internet (VOIP, internet phone).
●	If the unit is responsible for both electric and phone expenses, both standard utility deductions are allowed.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

●

Allow the applicable standard utility deduction for a unit when expenses are paid by: -Initial refugee resettlement funds See 0030.01 (Local Resettlement Agencies) -Matching Grant. See 0029.39 (The Matching Grand Program) -Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) -Vendored public assistance benefits -An outside source and the amount paid does not cover the full monthly utility expense and the client is responsible to pay the remaining

●

Do not allow a standard utility deduction for units when: -An ineligible student is responsible to pay the utility expense -Utility expenses are paid entirely by someone outside the SNAP unit -The utility expenses are included as part of a shelter expense, such as rent -Utility expenses are reimbursed or paid entirely by sources outside the unit such as Housing Support, Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Farmers Home Administration (FMHA) Rental Assistance Program. See 0017.15.81 (Utility Payments).

CHANGES IN UTILITY EXPENSES

When a unit reports moving residences, check for changes in utility expenses. If the unit reports changes, update the case with the applicable standard utility deduction the month following the month of the reported change. If this change results in an increase, approve benefits for the month after the reported change. If this change results in a decrease in benefits, approve benefits for the next available month allowing for 10 day notice.

Note: Change reporters are required to report a change in utility expenses during the certification period when the change is a result of moving residences. If a change reporter does not report the change in their utility expenses timely, assess for overpayments. See 0007.03.05 (Change Reporting), 0007.15.03 (Unscheduled Reporting of Changes – SNAP), 0025.03 (Determining Incorrect Payment Amounts).

HOMELESS SNAP UNITS

If a SNAP unit is eligible for a homeless shelter deduction, do not apply a utility deduction during the timeframe the homeless shelter deduction is allowed. For more information on eligibility for a homeless shelter deduction, see 0018.15 (Shelter Deductions).