FACT 57 (October 1, 2015 Mass Change)
Food Assistance Change Transmittal No. 57
September 23, 2015
TO: Food Assistance Certification Handbook Holders
FROM: Cynthia C. Dungey, Director
SUBJECT: October 1, 2015 Mass Change

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 SizeMaximum 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 SizeMaximum 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 SizeMaximum 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 SizeMaximum 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.