Utility Standards are not prorated when an ineligible, disqualified, or non-household member is billed and/or responsible for payment of the utility expenses. The household is entitled to the full Standard Utility Allowance (SUA), Basic Utility Allowance (BUA), or Telephone Allowance (TA). Oklahoma is defined by USDA-FNS as a mandatory utility standard option state and as a result, must comply with federal rules to not prorate utility standards.

For instructions / examples on coding household  members, reference the following article: SNAP: Coding Household Members

Example 1:

A household of 5 members, two adults and three children, applies for SNAP benefits. The father and three children are eligible for SNAP benefits. The mother is currently disqualified due to fraud for SNAP benefits. Some of her income goes towards the rent payment and utility bills. $700 monthly rent is declared and the household is responsible for all heating and cooling costs.

The household is given the full shelter and SUA deduction. No proration of expenses occurs when a household member is disqualified for fraud.

• Shelter Indicator: Input the full shelter expense.

**The household is given the full SUA deduction for payment of heating and cooling costs**

• Utility Indicator: Select the correct utility deduction for the household. In this example, SUA – Standard Utility Allowance – Responsible for Heating / Cooling Costs will be selected in the shelter tab under utility indicator.
• Utility Cost: Will auto fill from the utility indicator selected.

Example 2:

A household of 4 members, two adults and two children, applies for SNAP benefits. The father, an ineligible alien, is the only household member that is employed and responsible for the shelter, heating and cooling costs. $700 monthly rent is declared and the household is responsible for all heating and cooling costs.

The worker manually prorates the shelter expense and codes the prorated shelter amount in the Shelter Tab. $700 / 4 (total household members) = $175 times 3(eligible household members) = $525.

**The household is given the full SUA deduction for payment of heating and cooling costs**

• Utility Indicator: Select the correct utility deduction for the household. In this example, SUA – Standard Utility Allowance – Responsible for Heating / Cooling Costs will be selected in the shelter tab under utility indicator.
• Utility Cost: Will auto fill from the utility indicator selected.

Please note to determine the EO eligibility of the individual off of the prorated income in relation to the prorated expenses+ their utility allowance.

Example 3:

A household of 3 household members, 2 adults and 1 child apply for SNAP benefits. The mother is employed at the local school district. She is an eligible alien. Her husband is undocumented. They pay $850 in rent and they are responsible for all heating and cooling costs.

• Shelter indicator: $850 for rent expense as the wage earner is eligible. No proration is taken.
• Utility Indicator: SUA- Standard Utility Allowance.
• Utility Cost: will auto fill from the utility indicator selected.