Previous Policy: Pursuant to provisions of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, the US Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) provides States with annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).  The standard utility allowance, limited utility allowance, single standard utility allowance, single standard telephone allowance, excess shelter deduction, maximum monthly SNAP 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 all subject to change based on the annual adjustments the State receives from FNS.

New policy: For federal fiscal year 2018, which begins on October 1, 2017, FNS has determined that both the maximum and minimum monthly allotments will decrease. Additionally, the deduction amounts and income guidelines have been adjusted and are listed below.  Except for the telephone allowance, all of the utility allowances have increased. The following deductions are increasing effective October 1, 2017: (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 homeless shelter deduction is unchanged. 

Standard Utility Allowance

$530

Limited Utility Allowance

$342

Single Standard Utility Allowance

$76

Single Telephone Allowance

$39

Standard Deduction

$160 for an AG size of 1 - 3 persons;

$170 for an AG size of 4 persons; and

$199 for an AG size of 5 persons; and

$228 for an AG size of 6 or more persons

Maximum Excess Shelter Deduction

$535

Maximum Food Assistance Allotments

Net Income Standards (100% of poverty)

Gross Income Standards (130% of poverty)

Separate AG Income Standards -- Elderly and Disabled AGs Only (165% of poverty)

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.