Shelter Deduction SR 01-12, 07/01 (FSM-A)

Allow the household to average shelter costs if claiming actual expenses. Shelter costs may be averaged:

- over the period the bill is intended to cover;

- over the interval between scheduled payments if the household is billed less often than monthly; or

- over the certification period if the shelter costs are reported at certification.

. For non-target population households, deduct the amount of the verified unreimbursed monthly shelter costs which exceed 50% of the assistance group's adjusted income, up to the maximum shelter deduction (See Part 601, Table I). See Utility Standard below for more information.

. For target population households, deduct the total amount of verified unreimbursed monthly shelter costs which exceeds 50% of the assistance group's adjusted income. There is no maximum deduction. The assistance group must have at least one member who meets the target population criteria.

. Prorate shelter costs for assistance groups with members excluded for ineligible alien status, noncompliance with SSN enumeration or verification requirements, or noncompliance with ABAWD work requirements.

See Section 611.05 , Income of Disqualified and Excluded Individuals, for proration procedures.

. Apply the deduction when the home is unoccupied by the assistance group due to employment away from the home, natural disaster, illness, or casualty loss. Allow the deduction as long as the home is not leased or rented in the assistance group's absence, the current occupants are not claiming shelter costs, and the assistance group intends to return to the home.

. Apply the homeless shelter allowance when:

- all members of the assistance group were or expect to be homeless during the month;

- the assistance group is not or has not been receiving free shelter for the entire month; and

- the household incurred or reasonably expects to incur shelter costs during the month.

. Apply the higher actual costs if the homeless assistance group incurs more than the homeless shelter allowance in shelter costs in a month.

Allowable shelter deductions include:

. rent;

. condominium fees;

. all payments related to the ownership of one's home (mortgage, taxes, assessments, insurance on the structure, but not on the personal property);

. unreimbursed repair expenses when the shelter is damaged due to natural disasters;

. water and sewer fees;

. costs for installation, use, or maintenance of a well or septic system;

. basic service fees for one household touchtone phone, up to the amount of the telephone standard;

. installation fees charged by a utility provider, minus any deposit required;

. heating/cooling and cooking fuel;

. non-heating/non-cooling electric costs; and

. garbage collection.