The standard utility allowance (SUA) is a fixed dollar amount for a household's heating and utility expenses used in the calculation of shelter expenses for SNAP/food stamp benefits. 106 C.M.R. §§ 364.400(G)(2), 364.945. The dollar value of the SUA is statewide and not tied to what you actually pay in monthly oil, gas, electricity or other utilities. It is an annualized amount to help simplify the calculations.

There are three different SUA amounts and the amounts are periodically adjusted by DTA with USDA approval:

• Heating (or air conditioning) SUA— currently $594, for households that incur heating or air conditioning costs separately from their rent. This includes public or subsidized housing tenants if your housing authority bills you for heat or for use of your air conditioner. You also get this SUA if you receive or anticipate receiving Fuel Assistance (also called Low Income Home Energy Assistance Act or LIHEAP payments) even if your heat is included with your rent. You also get this SUA if you have received the new Fuel Assistance benefit called H-EAT (Heating and Eating). See below. If you incur any heating costs in the winter or air conditioning costs in the summer or get any LIHEAP or H-EAT benefits, you get this SUA all year round, including months when you don't have to pay for heat or air conditioning.
• Non-heating SUA— currently $365, for households that incur utility expenses but not heating or air conditioning. Utility expenses can include electricity (non-heating), cooking gas, garbage collection, water and sewer fees passed onto tenants.
• Telephone-only SUA— currently $42, for households that incur only telephone costs (cell phone or landline, but not phone cards) and do not pay any of the other utilities listed above.

You do not have to prove your actual costs to get the SUA. You get the full SUA even if you live with another household and pay only part of the utilities. Except for Fuel Assistance payments, you cannot claim the SUA for utility costs paid by a third party. 106 C.M.R. § 364.410(B)(2).

The H-EAT program

In 2007, DTA and the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) established a program called H-EAT (Heating and Eating Fuel Assistance program). This program helps thousands of SNAP/food stamp households get higher monthly benefits.

SNAP/Food stamp recipients identified by DTA who are not getting the higher SUA or maximum SNAP/food stamp benefits are sent a small payment of $1.00 each year from the state's Fuel Assistance program. The households also get information on how to qualify for regular Fuel Assistance benefits, weatherization, and other services.

How H-EAT benefits are administered

Twice a year (April and October) DTA scans the SNAP/food stamp caseload and determines which households are eligible for the H-EAT benefit. They identify current SNAP/food stamp recipients who meet the following conditions: not already getting the higher heating/cooling SUA, not on Bay State CAP benefits, and not homeless (homeless households getting the $143 income deduction).

The eligible households are sent a letter with information on the H-EAT benefit (and other important fuel assistance benefits). DTA re-calculates the households' SNAP/food stamp benefits using the higher heating/cooling SUA and sends a notice to the SNAP/food stamp households of this increased benefit, with the increase effective for May and November for new households. DTA also sends an annual H-EAT letter to ongoing households once a year who are due for another H-EAT payment to keep their higher benefits continuing. SNAP/Food stamp households do not apply for H-EAT benefits directly and do not need to verify receipt.

In addition to increased benefits, the H-EAT program relieves the household of having to provide proofs of their heating or air conditioning costs. Through receipt of benefits, the household is also enrolled in the utility discount programs. A household that receives H-EAT may also be eligible for regular Fuel Assistance benefits (including if they pay more than 30% of their income for rent) by applying at their local Fuel Assistance agency.