Homeless households are entitled to receive a deduction from net income if they qualify for and choose to receive the standard homeless shelter deduction.
The CAO must use the standard homeless shelter deduction of $143 for homeless households that incur or expect to incur a shelter expense during the month. The deduction is subtracted from net income when determining eligibility and benefit amounts.
NOTE: Shelter expenses include the costs necessary to maintain a residence. (See Section 560.81.)
Homeless households that do not have a shelter expense during the month are not entitled to the homeless shelter deduction.
The CAO must answer the following four questions in eCIS. The answers automatically determine the budget program status code (PSC) of 00, 41, or 42.
Is the household homeless?
What is the homeless household start date (the date the household became homeless)?
Is the homeless household in a shelter?
Does the homeless household pay rent (shelter expense)?
PSC 41 identifies homeless households that have or expect to have a shelter expense. These are the only households that may receive the homeless shelter deduction. The CAO must enter the anticipated homeless shelter expense on the system’s shelter screen.
A homeless household may choose to claim actual shelter expense instead of the homeless shelter deduction if actual shelter expenses are higher.
CIS determines whether it is more beneficial for the client to get the homeless shelter deduction from the net income or receive the excess shelter and utility expense deduction.
NOTE: A household that receives the standard homeless shelter deduction is not entitled to receive the excess shelter and utility expense deduction.
NOTE: CIS sets a 90-day alert to review with the household whether it remains eligible for the homeless shelter deduction. A homeless household living with others but not in a shelter have a 90-day provision.
PSC 42 identifies homeless households that do not have or expect to have a shelter expense and are not eligible to receive the standard homeless shelter deduction.
Normal verification procedures for shelter and SUA may not apply in these cases. If the homeless household cannot provide traditional types of verification of shelter expense, the CAO worker must use prudent judgment to evaluate whether the verification is adequate. For example, if the applicant claims expenses that fit in the range of known expenses for shelter, the CAO worker must accept the applicant’s statement as adequate verification. In other cases, a collateral contact with a landlord or relative is enough to verify the shelter expense.
The CAO will narrate the basis for the SUA granted to a homeless household in the case narrative.
Citations:
7 CFR § 271.2
7 CFR § 273.2(f)(6)
7 CFR § 273.9(d)(6)
7 CFR § 273.9(d)(6)(i)
55 Pa. Code § 501.7(a)(4)
Reissued March 1, 2012 , replacing March 26, 2009