Effective October 1, 2015
Previous Policy: The standard utility allowance, limited utility allowance, single standard utility allowance, the single standard telephone allowance, excess shelter deduction, maximum monthly allotments, net income standards (100% of poverty), gross income standards (130% of poverty), and separate assistance group standards for elderly and disabled assistance groups only (165% of poverty) are subject to change each October to reflect any cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).
New policy: Below are the deduction amounts, maximum food assistance allotments, and income guidelines as of October 1, 2015. The standard utility allowance has increased, while the limited utility allowance and single standard utility allowance have both decreased. The following deductions are increasing effective October 1, 2015: (a) the standard deduction; (b) excess shelter deduction; and (c) the gross income standard, net income standard, and separate assistance group standards for elderly and disabled assistance groups eligibility standards. The single telephone allowance, maximum food assistance allotments, and the homeless shelter deduction remain unchanged.
Standard Utility Allowance
$510
Limited Utility Allowance
$328
Single Standard Utility Allowance
$72
Single Telephone Allowance
$39
Standard Deduction
$155 for an AG size of 1 - 3 persons;
$168 for an AG size of 4 persons; and
$197 for an AG size of 5 persons; and
$226 for an AG size of 6 or more persons
Maximum Excess Shelter Deduction
$504
Maximum Food Assistance Allotments
| AG Size | Maximum Allotment |
|---|
| 1 | $194 |
| 2 | $357 |
| 3 | $511 |
| 4 | $649 |
| 5 | $771 |
| 6 | $925 |
| 7 | $1022 |
| 8 | $1169 |
| each additional | +$146 |
| Minimum Allotment | $16 |
Net Income Standards (100% of poverty)
| AG Size | Maximum Income |
|---|
| 1 | $981 |
| 2 | $1328 |
| 3 | $1675 |
| 4 | $2021 |
| 5 | $2368 |
| 6 | $2715 |
| 7 | $3061 |
| 8 | $3408 |
| each additional | +$347 |
Gross Income Standards (130% of poverty)
| AG Size | Maximum Income |
|---|
| 1 | $1276 |
| 2 | $1726 |
| 3 | $2177 |
| 4 | $2628 |
| 5 | $3078 |
| 6 | $3529 |
| 7 | $3980 |
| 8 | $4430 |
| each additional | +$451 |
Separate AG Income Standards -- Elderly and Disabled AGs Only (165% of poverty)
| AG Size | Maximum Income |
|---|
| 1 | $1619 |
| 2 | $2191 |
| 3 | $2763 |
| 4 | $3335 |
| 5 | $3907 |
| 6 | $4479 |
| 7 | $5051 |
| 8 | $5623 |
| each additional | +$572 |
Implementation: The changes for the deductions and income guidelines will be implemented via a mass change on Labor Day weekend. Alerts will be generated and an exception report will be created for all cases which CRIS-E cannot update automatically. The eligibility worker will be required to run ED/BC for those cases to implement these changes. Each assistance group affected by this change will receive a notice with the new amount of benefits they will receive.