Example 1: Rent Deposit

Kent and Kristy visited the office to apply for SNAP benefits. During the interview they stated that they have a new apartment now and their rent according to their lease is $700 monthly. They had to pay an additional $300 for a deposit the first month.

Rent deposits are not countable shelter costs. For this example the shelter deduction would be only $700.

Example 2: Shared Rent

Robbie and Doug are college roommates sharing an apartment for the semester. They each pay half of the rent. They have both applied for SNAP and are both working 20 hours a week and are considered eligible students. They are declaring separate residence as their work and school schedules are different and they prepare and eat meals separate. Their total rent is $900.

In this example each household member would have a shelter deduction of $450.

Example 3: Rent Paid Directly

Tammy is currently attending the local community college and applies for SNAP benefits. Tammy is involved in a federally approved work study program where her earnings mostly go towards her tuition. Her grandmother sends a check in the amount of $500 directly to the leasing office for Tammy’s rent. Tammy will not have to pay her back.

Tammy would not receive a shelter deduction as her grandmother pays the rent directly to the leasing office.

Example 4: Mortgage Down Payment

Sally and Frank apply for SNAP benefits. They have recently purchased a home as they have moved from out of state. They gave a down payment of $15,000 and their mortgage will be $600 a month including taxes and insurance.

Down payments are not considered shelter deductions. In this example Sally and Frank will only be allowed the $600 monthly mortgage payment as a shelter deduction.

Example 5: Property Taxes and Home Insurance

Ike and Verda apply for SNAP benefits. During the shelter portion of the interview, they declared that they own their residence and that they no longer have a mortgage payment. They have annual property taxes and homeowners insurance payments. Their annual property tax amount is $1200. They have a monthly homeowners insurance payment of $118.

In this example the property tax amount would be annualized to $100 monthly. Add the monthly insurance payment of $118 for a total shelter deduction of $218 a month.

Example 6: Second Mortgage

Philip completes his Mid-Certification Renewal online to continue SNAP benefits for his family. He now has a second mortgage on his home and the monthly payment is $286. His existing mortgage payment is $700 monthly.

In this example the second mortgage amount is an allowable shelter deduction. The total shelter deduction is now $986 monthly.

Example 7: HUD Assistance

Matt and Donetta are receiving HUD assistance to help with their monthly rent payment of $900. The amount of HUD assistance given to their household is $550.

Households receiving HUD assistance are given a shelter deduction equal to the amount left over from their total rent after the HUD assistance is applied. In this example, the household is given a shelter deduction of $350.

Example 8: Foreclosure

Randy, after completing his Certification Renewal online, calls his worker to ask for clarification on how he should answer questions regarding his shelter. His home is in foreclosure, he hasn’t been able to pay the mortgage payment for the last 6 months. He is still receiving statements every month from the bank. He is supposed to pay $1300 a month.

Households that are still being billed the mortgage payment receive the full shelter deduction. In this case, $1,300.

Example 9: Shared Shelter Cost / One Lease

Lisa and Todd are cousins that rent a townhouse for $540 a month. They declare separate household, but Lisa collects Todd’s part of the rent ($270) on the 1st; then writes a check for the entire rent amount to the leasing office. They each pay half of the utilities.

Todd and Lisa would each receive a $270 deduction for their part of the rent and given the full SUA for their utilities. You would NOT consider the $270 that Todd gives to Lisa for the rent as income.

Example 10: Rental Properties

Barry applies for SNAP benefits. He is currently living at one of his uncle’s rent houses. He does not pay his uncle anything for rent or utilities. Barry’s only source of income is rental income that he receives from renting out his Grand Lake condo. He does not have a mortgage to pay, but he pays annual taxes and insurance for the condo as well as the utilities. He has not lived at the condo for the past year.

Barry would not receive a shelter deduction for annual taxes and insurance as the condo is not his residence.

Refer to article SNAP: Income – Rental Income for information on how to consider the income from collecting rent.

Example 11: Property insurance for renter

Louise lives in a rental home. She is paying $650 in rent and she pays renter’s insurance of 22.00 a month to insure her property through her car insurance company. She maintains that her landlord requires her to provide proof of renter’s insurance to live there. She provides an itemized statement from her insurance company, Indio Insurance, showing this is paid monthly.

Since Louise is required to pay this expense to maintain her lease on the property, her total monthly expense for shelter would be 650+22=672 per month. Case notes for shelter expense should note the math arriving to the expense given. If not paid monthly, but rather paid quarterly or annually, we need to ensure we are doing the math to arrive to a monthly rate. We also need to document that we confirmed that this expense is mandatory for tenant to carry.

Example 12: HOA fees

Sheila applies for SNAP. Her home is in Lion’s Gate Subdivision which operates with a Homeowners Association (HOA) and there are required fees each month. Her fees for HOA are $200 per month and her mortgage is 1250 which includes all property taxes and insurance.

Sheila is able to get $1450 in expense for her shelter each month.

*Note: if HOA fees are annual fees, please be sure to annualize and include this into the shelter expense as a monthly shelter cost.

Example 13: Hotel/Motel cost

Joseph applied for SNAP. He stays at the Sooner Hotel currently while he awaits his housing voucher. He pays the weekly rate to stay there, $200 weekly.

Joseph is able to receive shelter cost of $200 weekly. This would be plugged into the weekly calculation. 200×4.3= 860
$860 is the countable expense for Joseph.

Example 14: Student Dorm & Meal Plan Agreement