FS Deductions (shelter & utility)

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At-a-Glance SNAP Benefit Charts

MLRI
These "at-a-glance" SNAP benefits charts gives sample SNAP amounts for households with older adults or persons with disabilities, working families, and those receiving unemployment. We've also included a chart that helps advise older adults and persons with…

Trump Admin Proposed Cuts to SNAP - MLRI Summary Chart, fact sheets, comments

MLRI
In 2019, USDA filed 3 sets of proposed rule changes that would result in significant cuts to SNAP if enacted. The first of the 3 rules, expanding the time limit for certain childless non-disabled adults subject to strict work rules, was scheduled to go into effect on April 1, 2020 but was vacated…

DTA Blurb 44: Standardizing the Standard utility Allowance

DTA
Changes as to how BEACON handles SUA.  Includes screen shots Note:  this blurb is not dated, but was current as of 9/8/16.

PPER Email 2015- 8: Recording of Utility Expenses

DTA
The Department works in collaboration with the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to administer and provide H-EAT benefits to eligible DTA clients. It is important that clients who are responsible for a utility expense are correctly coded on BEACON. Clients who are responsible…

PPER Email 2014-09: Preliminary Changes to Heat and Eat

DTA
The Farm Bill of 2014 requires States participating in the Heat and Eat (H-EAT) Program to increase the amount of fuel assistance benefits provided to eligible SNAP households to greater than $20 effective March 10, 2014. This ended the existing H-EAT Program. On the evening of March 7, 2014,…

PPER Email 2014: H-EAT- Related Changes Effective with August 2014 BEACON Build

DTA
In preparation for the implementation of the revised H-EAT Program, this email explains changes effective with BEACON Build 46.4, scheduled for August 25, 2014. The changes include: 1. Two new housing types will be added to the Address page and to the paper SNAP application, recertification and…

FYI September 2014: Fuel Assistance, Clothing Allowance and TAFDC Teen Parents

DTA
FYIsFuel Assistance 2014-2015 The Fuel Assistance Program begins accepting applications for fuel assistance on November 1, 2014. TAOs will receive a supply of Fuel Assistance brochures in October for clients who are interested in applying for fuel assistance and in knowing how the…

Ops Memo 2014-60: Annual Cost-of-Living (COLA) Adjustment, Standard Utility Allowance and Asset Limit Changes

DTA
Overview The annual SNAP COLA will be processed during the weekend of September 19, 2014. This is a mass change affecting the entire SNAP caseload, and this recalculation will impact the household’s monthly benefit for October. Purpose of Memo The purpose of the memo is to inform staff…

Ops Memo 2014-52: Implementation of the Revised Heat and Eat Program

DTA
From MLRI:   Operations Memo 2014-52 introduces DTA and DHCD's implemtenation of the revised "Heat and Eat" policy to meet the requirements of the 2014 Farm Bill. In March of 2014, Governor Patrick announced that Massachuestts would join other states in electing the…

Hotline 5/14: Shelter and Utility income and deductions

DTA
Q. 1. My SNAP client is getting recertified this month (June, 2014) and she has been participating in HEAT. Since H-EAT was not run in the month of April, what should I do with this client’s utility expenses at recertification? A. 1. Until further notice, leave this client’s case with…

Ops Memo 2014-42: SNAP: Collecting New Utility Information

DTA
Overview Section 4006 of the Agricultural Act of 2014, also known as the Farm Bill, included new rules for States regarding Heat and Eat (H-EAT) programs. To comply with requirements in the bill, the Department developed new utility statements that require “yes” or “no”…

Ops Memo 2013-51: SNAP: Annual Cost-of-Living (COLA) Changes and Initial Communication Regarding November Benefit Decrease

DTA
Overview The annual SNAP COLA will be processed during the weekend of September 21, 2013. This is a mass change affecting the entire SNAP caseload. This recalculation will impact the household’s monthly benefit for October. The following elements of the COLA will change effective October…

Ops Memo 2013-19A: Spring 2013 SNAP Heat and Eat (H-EAT) Program Update

DTA
Background The Heat & Eat (H-EAT) Program is a partnership between DTA and the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). Under this partnership, eligible SNAP households are identified and selected for the Low Income Heat and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) twice each year,…

Ops Memo 2012-18: Spring 2012 SNAP Heat and Eat (H-EAT) Program Update

DTA
This memo will:review H-EAT Fuel Assistance Program criteria; explain the responsibilities of DTA and DHCD; describe notices to H-EAT clients; provide instructions for restoring lost SNAP benefits to certain H-EAT households; inform case managers of households who are ineligible to be reheated;…

Ops Memo 2011-52: SNAP - Fall 2011 Heat and Eat (H-EAT) Program Update

DTA
DTA, in collaboration with the Department of Housing and Community Development, provides H-EAT benefits to eligible SNAP households each year.  , , , This memo will review H-EAT Fuel Assistance Program criteria, explain the responsibilities of DTA and DHCD, discuss notices to H-EAT clients,…

Field Ops Memo 2010-59: Standard Utility Allowance Increase for Bay State CAP Food Assistance Households

DTA
Overview The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) administers Bay State CAP under a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Based on the findings of a recent waiver review, USDA has advised that the Department increase the standard utility allowance (SUA) for Bay State…

FNS Regional Letter: SNAP - Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) Annual Review and Adjustment Waiver for Certain States Modification and Extension

USDA
Due to the impact on SNAP benefits resulting from continuing fluctuations in energy prices, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is modifying the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) blanket waiver memorandum of October 14,2010 to allow certain States to extend fiscal year (FY) 2010 SUA…

Field Ops Memo 2010-48: Fall 2010 SNAP Heat and Eat (H-EAT) Program Update

DTA
Background DTA, in collaboration with the Department of Housing and Community Development, provides H-EAT benefits to eligible SNAP households each year. The newly eligible households will receive a significant increase in their SNAP benefit amount based on receipt of the H-EAT Fuel Assistance…

Sworn Statement for Declaring Shelter Expenses for SNAP

MLRI
Households applying for SNAP/ Food Stamp benefits are not required to submit a lease, landlord verification or rent receipt in order to verify their shelter expenses.  Instead, households can self-attest to their shelter expenses by providing a written sworn statement of shelter costs.  DTA must…

Hotline Focus 09/10

DTA
Q. Can the cost of a cell phone be considered a utility allowance deduction in SNAP?A. Yes. The cost of a cell phone can be considered the basic service for one telephone.Q. Are the costs of prepaid calling cards an allowable utility allowance deduction in SNAP?A. No. One-time deposits cannot be…

Field Ops Memo 2010-29: SNAP: Self-Declaration of Shelter and Utility Expenses

DTA
OverviewTo further streamline the application and verification processes, the Department now considers a self-declaration to be sufficient verification ofshelter and utility expenses for most NPA SNAP and SSI only households. Effective with the issuance of this Field Operations Memo, no other…

FYI: Exclusion of Subsidized Mortgage Payments

DTA
Clients who are participating in a Section 8 Homeownership Program use their Section 8 vouchers each month to help pay their mortgage. The amount of the voucher is excluded from the client's countable income for SNAP purposes. This amount is also excluded from the shelter costs in the SNAP benefit…

Hotline Focus 08/05

DTA
Q. My food stamp recipient has verified that she pays a mortgage on a single- family residence. Since she owns and lives in her own home, can I assume that she is eligible for the heating/cooling SUA as long as she confirms that she is paying her own heating bills? A. Yes. If your recipient…

Hotline Focus 02/10

DTA
Q. My client is receiving SNAP benefits. At her recertification, she mentioned that she has not made a mortgage payment in over a year. In recertifying this case on BEACON, can I still deduct her mortgage payment as a shelter expense? A. Yes. As long as your client is still responsible for making…

Quality Control 12/08

DTA
If a reported address change is expected to increase SNAP benefits (due to increased shelter and/or utility costs), case worker must enter the change right away. If it is not expected to result in increased SNAP benefits, case worker should wait for verification of new address and expenses to enter…

FYI DMR/DMH Group Home Case Processing

DTA
Issues that arise in Food Stamp cases of recipients who live in group homes, including deduction of Food Stamp amount from net rent and notation of whether part of rent is attributed to heating expenses.

Quality Corner: Verifications needed regarding leave of absence from job, , DMR/DMH Group Home rents (Food Stamps)

DTA

Quality Corner: Monthly Report reporting new Rental Amount

DTA
Case workers must increase rent amount in Food Stamp case when rent increase is reported on TAFDC Monthly Report.

FYI: Processing Unverified Food Stamps Deductible Expenses

DTA
It is only at application, redetermination, or recertification that an unverified expense must be zeroed out. The FYI provides details.

Quality Corner: Household composition and Shared Expenses, Jobs Ending and issuance of supplemental payment (Food Stamps)

DTA
Where household could be split into two Food Stamp households due to disability of recipient's mother, and thereby get more Food Stamps, case worker has obligation to inform recipient. In such cases, shelter and utility deductions sometimes must be prorated. When a recipient's job ends, case worker…

FYI: USDA Clarification Regarding Use of Fans for Heating/ Cooling SUA (Food Stamps)

DTA

Quality Corner -- Standard Utility Allowance (SUA ) for cooling costs, Transitional Benefit Allowance (TBA), mandatory Child Sup

DTA

Quality Corner -- Shelter SUA

DTA

FYI: Food Stamp Household Expenses

DTA
While the landlord verificaiton and shared housing verification forms are the preferred form of verirication of housing expenses, case workers cannot limit applicants or recipients to one form of verificaiton and must accept alternate verifications.

Quality Corner: Cooling SUA (Food Stamps)

DTA
Extra charge paid to housing authority for having an air conditioner count as a cooling expense entitling household to Heating/Cooling SUA.

Quality Corner: Food Stamp Homeless Shelter/ Utility Deduction

DTA

FYI: Condominium Fees Allowable as Shelter Costs for Food Stamps

DTA

Quality Corner: Shelter Deduction (Food Stamps)

DTA
When one Food Stamp household is split into two assistance units, there must be a review of shelter expenses so that shelter and utility deductions are appropriately applied.

FYI: Fuel Assistance and SUA

DTA
At application, redetermination, or recertification, case workers must inform people that LIHEA is a form of fuel assistance and that if they receive or reasonably anticipate receiving LIHEA they get the heating SUA.

Quality Corner: Case workers obligated to make Food Stamp changes based on Monthly Reports

DTA
If recipient marks changes in shelter or household composition on Monthly Report, caseworker is obligated to enter into Food Stamps fields on Beacon.

Quality Corner: Affect on Food Stamps of rental changes reported on Monthly Report forms

DTA
If a TAFDC reports a rent change on her Monthly Report form, this change must be entered for her Food Stamp case.

Quality Corner: Using SUA instead of actual utility costs, TAFDC disability exemptions and Food Stamps for immigrants

DTA
Actual utility costs should only be used if the exceed the SUA; otherwise the SUA must be allowed if the person pays the utility. Immigrants who get TAFDC disability exemptions are eligible for federal Food Stamps if DES finds that their disability meets or equals SSI criteria.

Hotline Focus 06/08

DTA
From the HotlineThe questions below discuss the impact of receiving fuel assistance on food stamp benefits.There are two fuel assistance programs in Massachusetts: the traditional Low Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Heat and Eat Fuel Assistance Program (H-EAT).LIHEAP fuel…

Hotline Focus - 10/07

DTA
Food Stamps and heating/cooling allowances: change of address spurring inquiry about new utility arrangements; H/EAT receipt entitles household to SUA for entire year even if they move and no longer pay utility costs.

Hotline Focus 8/07

DTA
Crib and layette payments; Food Stamp work requirement exemptions for 16 and 17 year-olds; Food Stamp shelter deduction for mortgage payments in home that is temporarily vacated.

Field Ops Memo 2007-31: Food Stamp Heat and Eat (H-EAT) Fuel Assistance Program

DTA
DTA's instructions to the field announcing the new H-EAT Fuel Assistance Program criteria including which current FS households will get the benefit, and how it will affect the calculation of food stamp benefits by using the Heating/Cooling SUA.

Hotline Focus - 4/07

DTA
TAFDC and Food Stamps: reverse mortgages not countable as income; Food Stamps: claiming shelter expenses for a vacated home when person intends to return.

Food Stamps and Utility Expenses: Advocacy letters and CLE flier

 Attached are two updated documents and a Client Legal Education flieron FS and Utility Expenses. MLRI has received reports of Food Stamp recipients being underpaid because DTA did not consider their heating/cooling expenses or receipt of fuel assistance when calculating their food stamp…

Hotline Focus 11/05

DTA
Food Stamp verification issues: no verifications needed if no changes reported at recertification and nothing questionable; procedure for requesting verification of increased rent and for zeroing expenses if not verifiied; alternate verifications for housing expenses and caseworker obligation…

FNS Regional Letter 92-50: LIHEAA (Fuel Assistance) and the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA)

USDA
Questions and answers from FNS regarding the effects of receipt of LIHEAA fuel assistance on getting the SUA. Basically any FS recipient who is approved for LIHEAA is eligible for the full SUA, even if they are not billed separately for heat. This is especially important for elders and disabled…