Utility Allowance (SUA)

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Utility Allowance (SUA)

Revised December 31, 2008

UTILITY ALLOWANCE
What is a utility allowance?

How is the utility allowance coded?

How is shelter cost budgeted for Basic Food?

What is a utility allowance?

·         When a household receives Basic Food and pays utility costs separate from the rent or mortgage, a set amount for utilities is used to determine total shelter cost. See EAZ Manual – WAC 388-450-0195 Utility allowances for Basic Food Programs.

How is the utility allowance coded?

·         The utility information normally is entered on the SHEL screen in the Util Std field of the client who is the head of household for the Basic Food AU. If the head of household is not a recipient of Basic Food, the utility standard needs to be entered for one of the AU members who has a Finl Resp field code of [RE] – Recipient on the STAT screen.

·         To prorate shelter expenses for households that include an ineligible AU member with income, the shelter expenses must be coded on that household member’s SHEL screen to correctly prorate the shelter expenses.

·         Only one entry is allowed in the Util Std field on SHEL per Basic Food AU.   Edit Message 1858 – UTILITY STANDARD ENTERED ON MULTIPLE CLIENTS, appears when a utility standard is entered on more than one client in the same Basic Food AU.

How is shelter cost budgeted for Basic Food?

·         For information about how shelter cost is budgeted, See EAZ Manual – WAC 388-450-0190 How does the department figure my shelter cost income deduction for Basic Food?

Utility Allowance (SUA)
Revised December 31, 2008

UTILITY ALLOWANCE What is a utility allowance? How is the utility allowance coded? How is shelter cost budgeted for Basic Food? What is a utility allowance? · When a household receives Basic Food and pays utility costs separate from the rent or mortgage, a set amount for utilities is used to determine total shelter cost. See EAZ Manual – WAC 388-450-0195 Utility allowances for Basic Food Programs. How is the utility allowance coded? · The utility information normally is entered on the SHEL screen in the Util Std field of the client who is the head of household for the Basic Food AU. If the head of household is not a recipient of Basic Food, the utility standard needs to be entered for one of the AU members who has a Finl Resp field code of [RE] – Recipient on the STAT screen. · To prorate shelter expenses for households that include an ineligible AU member with income, the shelter expenses must be coded on that household member’s SHEL screen to correctly prorate the shelter expenses. · Only one entry is allowed in the Util Std field on SHEL per Basic Food AU. Edit Message 1858 – UTILITY STANDARD ENTERED ON MULTIPLE CLIENTS, appears when a utility standard is entered on more than one client in the same Basic Food AU. How is shelter cost budgeted for Basic Food? · For information about how shelter cost is budgeted, See EAZ Manual – WAC 388-450-0190 How does the department figure my shelter cost income deduction for Basic Food?

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