New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules
He - Department of Health and Human Services
Subtitle He-W - Former Division of Human Services
Chapter He-W 700 - FOOD STAMPS
Part He-W 742 - ALLOWABLE INCOME DEDUCTIONS
Section He-W 742.02 - Utility Expenses Incurred Separately

Universal Citation: NH Admin Rules He-W 742.02

Current through Register No. 40, October 3, 2024

(a) In accordance with 7 CFR 273.9(d)(6)(iii), standard utility allowances (SUA) shall be used to represent how much a household, as defined in 7 CFR 273.1(a), pays for one of the following shelter costs separate and apart from the household's monthly rent or mortgage payments:

(1) Heating or cooling;

(2) Utilities only;

(3) Electric only;

(4) Telephone only; or

(5) Internet only.

(b) The standard monthly SUA amounts shall be as listed in Table 700-1, SUA, below and the amounts are established per (l) below;

Table 700-1, SUA

SUA

Monthly Dollar Allowance

Heat SUA

$724

Utilities only SUA

$264

Electric only SUA

$155

Telephone only SUA

$28

Internet only SUA

$50

(c) The heating or cooling SUA amount in (a)(1) above shall be a monthly allowance used to calculate shelter costs for households that incur a heating or cooling expense, including central or room air conditioner, separate and apart from the household's rent or mortgage payments, pursuant to 7 CFR 273.9(d)(6)(iii).

(d) The utilities only SUA described in (a)(2) above shall:

(1) Be a monthly utility allowance used to calculate shelter costs for households that incur a minimum of 2 utility expenses and do not incur heating or cooling expenses separate and apart from the household's rent or mortgage payments; and

(2) Represent monthly household expenses incurred for cooking fuel, water, sewage, trash removal, electricity not used to heat or cool the household, internet service, and the basic service fee for one telephone or cell phone.

(e) The electric only SUA described in (a)(3) above shall be used to calculate shelter costs for any household in which the only expense incurred by the household separate and apart from rent or mortgage payments are for electric costs not used to heat or cool the household.

(f) The internet only SUA described in (a)(5) above shall be used to calculate shelter costs for any household in which the only expense incurred separate and apart from rent or mortgage payments is for internet service, even if actual internet services costs are higher or lower than the standard.

(g) The telephone only SUA described in (a)(4) above shall be used to calculate shelter costs for any household in which:

(1) The only costs incurred by a household separate and apart from rent or mortgage payments are for regular household telephone or cell phone services, even if actual household telephone or cell phone expenses are higher or lower than the standard amounts in Table 700-1, SUA above; or

(2) The household does not have regular household telephone or cell phone service but incurs costs separate and apart from rent or mortgage payments for phone expenses, even if actual household phone expenses are higher or lower than the telephone only SUA amount.

(h) The telephone only SUA amount described in (g) above shall not include the costs incurred by a household to purchase a cellular phone.

(i) Households that share utility costs and are entitled to a utility allowance shall be granted the appropriate standard utility allowance, as described in (a) above, regardless of whether all households receive SNAP.

(j) For the purposes of meeting the 2 utility criteria in (d) above, ownership and use of a well or septic system by the household shall be considered a verified utility expense for the household and shall count as a utility cost.

(k) When the "Consumer Price Index" (CPI) for updating the SUAs is referred to, the New England Consumer Price Index Card for all urban consumers (CPI-U) for the Northeast region, not seasonally adjusted, as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics shall be used.

(l) Pursuant to 7 CFR 273.9(d)(6)(iii)(B), the SUAs shall be equal to the standard amounts in Table 700-1, SUA, and every SUA except for the internet only SUA shall be updated for October 1 of each year, as cited in Appendix B, by:

(1) Multiplying the current SUA amount by the average CPI percent of change in the cost of fuel and utilities from the previous year to the current year, using the most recent 12-month period available, in accordance with (k) above;

(2) Adding the product derived in (l)(1) above to the current SUA amount; and

(3) Rounding the SUA amount derived in (l)(2) above to the nearest whole dollar, if necessary.

(m) If the most recent CPI average percent change described in (l)(1) is zero, there shall be no change to the SUA amounts.

(See Revision Note at chapter heading for He-W 700) #5133, eff 5-2-91; ss by #6507, INTERIM, eff 5-1-97, EXPIRES: 8-29-97; ss by #6549, eff 8-1-97; amd by #7136, eff 11-23-99; ss by #7510, eff 7-1-01; amd by #7767, eff 10-1-02; amd by #8378 eff 7-1-05; ss by #9534, eff 9-1-09

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