Get Latest WorkWORLD

Costs Of Other Utilities - SNAP (Food Stamps)

In the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly Food Stamp Program), enter your household's monthly costs for other utilities. Other utilities means any other utility expense your household incurs other than the ones specifically itemized by WorkWORLD: electricity, gas, water, garbage and trash collection, sewer service, and telephone service.

Below are examples of items that may be included in this category of utility costs:

·        The cost of wood used as fuel for cooking or heating the home is an allowable cost. Deductions are only allowable for the heating fuel itself. Consequently, the costs associated with cutting the wood, such as cutting permits or equipment such as a chainsaw are not allowable costs, since these items can be used for purposes other than providing fuel. If you live in New Hampshire, then read the topic "Costs Of Other Utilities Exception (New Hampshire) - SNAP (Food Stamps) " for an exception to this rule.

·        The rental fee of a propane tank, on the other hand, is an allowable cost since it can only be used to store and provide heating and cooking fuel to the household

If the expense is billed less often than monthly, average the billing over the interval between scheduled billings to arrive at a monthly amount.

Penalty fees for making late payments are not allowable. Also, do not include expenses for which the household is reimbursed.

In addition to costs for other utilities incurred where your household resides, your household may include the costs for other utilities for a home the household is not occupying when answering this question, if all of the following are met:

·        The home is unoccupied because of illness, employment or training away from home, natural disaster or casualty loss;

·        The household intends to return to the home;

·        Any current occupants are not claiming shelter costs for SNAP (Food Stamps); and

·        The home is not leased or rented.

If actual other utility costs are used when determining the Shelter Deduction, then your household is not eligible to use a standard such as the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA), the Basic Utility Allowance (BUA), or the Telephone Allowance. If you live in a state with an optional Standard Utility Allowance or Basic Utility Allowance, then based on your responses, WorkWORLD determines if it is to your advantage to use your actual utility costs or the standard for which you are eligible. If you live in a state that mandates the use of a standard, then you cannot use actual utility expenses to determine your Shelter Deduction.

WorkWORLD™ Help/Information System

   Share/Save: Click the button or link at left to select your favorite bookmark service and add this page.

This is one topic from the thousands available in the WorkWORLD™ software Help/Information System.
Complete information about the software is available at: http://www.WorkWORLD.org