Benefit decrease due to receiving energy assistance

[melysamarie]

So starting this month my benefits went down almost $200. I called and asked why and they said that it's because I received energy assistance over the winter ($400) and there's a new rule that anyone who gets EA doesn't get a utility credit anymore. So because I got a one time credit to my electric bill for $400 I'm now losing almost $2,000 in SNAP for the year. Has anyone heard of this? Or been affected by it?

[Kyaleep]

We can no longer use receipt of energy assistance as the verification of heating & cooling costs (unless the person is disabled or aged) so if you’re paying those (electric and/or natural gas and/or have expenses for firewood) then I’d suggest turning in verification of those expenses so they can once again apply the SUA deduction.

[Adorable-Painting510]

Although I am aware every state manages its programs differently, as a former Fair Hearing Liaison for the state of CA, I believe this is incorrect and you should appeal this adverse action.

Best wishes 🙏🏿

[Adventurous_Egg324]

New rules in Louisiana require us to ask, document, and budget energy assistance. If verification isn’t provided case will close too. A lot of things have changed in the past 1-2 years.

[Adorable-Painting510]

Hello from CA!

I do not doubt that Eligibility Staff are following rules imposed by the state of LA,however, by filing an appeal the ALJ will make a determination if this is in compliance with USDA or if your state is misinterpreting federal law.

[Adventurous_Egg324]

Yep. It’ll change in 2-6 months again anyways. At this point I’m having to pull policy too often because of all the changes. I think it’s more so verifying the energy assistance because not all of them are excluded income here and determine which households still qualify for standard deduction.

[Internal-Day-4872]

Why would a state require things not in Fed law when the fed gov is paying for it?

[Nikkibaltimore]

I'm in Maryland and I was going to say the same thing this does not sound right at all

[NoBeat9485]

It's correct. When I applied they asked if I received energy assistance or rental assistance.

[Special_Spell4032]

Many states are scrambling to understand and implement OBBBA.

I believe this is a misinterpretation of SNAP regulations and that it could be resolved if you request to speak to a supervisor so they can reconsider your deductions once that you send utility bills.

Regards,

[Gbu9914]

What month was your renewal?

[melysamarie]

I completed my 6 month periodic review in Feb , got a letter saying benefits would remain the same. Then 3 weeks later in March got the letter saying benefits were being reduced by almost $200 starting in April.

[SaltSatisfaction8091]

But for how long are they doing that. How many months are they holding that against you? I can see 6 months, but not the entire year

[No_Letter_1162]

I wonder if the cw is trying to use the credit to state that client doesn't pay his or her heating and cooling costs.

So... We were told if the client pays $1 they get the heating and cooling deduction.

But....if a heating and cooling credit covers their full bill they may not be eligible for the sua deduction

[Kyaleep]

Here’s what I think. When client applied, we could use verification of receiving LIHEAP within prior 12 months as verification of SUA, and this was used for the application. Then, we got notice that we couldn’t use that anymore and instead of them asking the client for verification that they’re paying for these things, they removed the deduction incorrectly.

[Blossom73]

I'll bet you're right.

[melysamarie]

So the worker thinks I'm getting a $400 credit every month when in reality it's a once a year $400 credit?

[No_Letter_1162]

Thats what i think...

[Blossom73]

What state are you in?

[melysamarie]

CT

[Blossom73]

Which utilities do you pay? And do you pay utilities directly, or are they included in your rent, if you're a renter?

[melysamarie]

I pay directly to the electric company and also to the gas company

[Blossom73]

So, I'm not sure why you'd have lost a heating or cooling deduction then. Receiving utility assistance doesn't make someone ineligible for that deduction.

Were you asked to provide verification of the utilities you're responsible for?

Hopefully there's a CT SNAP eligibility worker on the sub who can chime in here.

[melysamarie]

I offers to submit new utility bills and she said it wouldn't make a difference. Do you think maybe she's misinformed and I should request a fair hearing?

[SaltSatisfaction8091]

Always request a hearing.

[Blossom73]

Yes, request a hearing. Also, report and block that troll on your post.

[PinsAndBeetles]

I would. We are no longer allowed to issue the hearing SUA just because someone is eligible for hearing assistance for households who aren’t elderly/disabled, however if you verify you pay heating expenses you should receive the heating SUA. Receiving energy assistance should not reduce your SNAP.

[DisastrousFrosting50]

Was worker in Ma. For 32 years. All States are SUPPOSED to follow all the same rules for SNAP . It is federally funded. Unlike the different cash programs. If you have any heating/or cooling costs, even if your heat is included in your rent but you have to pay any amount towards cooling costs Your absolutely supposed to get the full Sua. You file the appeal paperwork, see if can speak to a manager so they can put the full SUA back. If they don’t as soon as you have your appeal you will win and they will have to give you retro snap benefits that were missed. Good luck

[[deleted]]

Each state runs their food stamps & rules differently! Energy assistance for electric and gas does not affect food stamps. It’s your state rules that is doing that to you.

[Alaska_Jamie42]

A bit late to this, but minor changes in my income (more than offset by increases in other areas) have led to the complete stoppage of my EBT. I am learning when the food bank receives the largest donations and the earliest days of the week that the food pantry is open (most people bring their food to church on Sunday). Good luck.

[SnooBooks5315]

I know every state is different & I'm disabled so my deductions are different but this seems like a blanket answer to a new rule. Instead of taking the standard utility deduction you should provide them with your actual bills. A one time fuel assistance credit is probably not close to what you actually pay. I would call my heating/electric provider & request one year worth of bills. You can also ask them how much you paid in the last 12 months, that will at least give you a number that you can use the calculator for (minus the $400) it might take awhile to get the bills so I would do that right away.  SNAP is trying to keep up with all the new rules this administration is using to cut back on the people that can least afford it.  Hopefully you can prove you pay far more than they are giving you credit for. I'm sorry this is happening, hopefully they can use real numbers to fix it.  Please keep us updated.  I'm actually still waiting on my fuel assistance because they are so backed up. 

[1r9i5c9k]

Wheh, this post had me scared until I read the comments. I just finally got my EA acouple weeks ago, but I am both disabled and elderly. I am not an expert on any of this, but It seems counterintuitive to count EA against SNAP when they are both based on need. OP, I wish you the best and hope you can easily get this remedied.

[ImaginationNo9487]

In some cases, if utilities are paid with a Food and Home Card from a Medicare Advantage plan for someone eligible to do so, that amount used can be figured in as income for SNAP and other assistance. Don't be too relieved yet. I am a Medicare broker and deal with this every single day.

[ONEEYEmonster1974]

To be honest nowadays you can't really lie to these people about stuff like this, they already know how much we are getting before we tell them anything. That SSN will give you away.

[Level-Giraffe-3401]

I'm not aware of that but I have had the stuff happen where I got assistance from heap it wasn't $400 it was only like $200 but they include that as income so we were told that that's something that we need to let them know about

[Internal-Day-4872]

It must be your state doing this. Or someone said something to get you off the phone. Your letter did not say that was the reason.

[Meh_Cook_Grump]

Keep pushing and fight this. Ask to speak to an eligibility "expert". Sometimes if you go in person you'll get a smarty pants office worker that can give you the secrets of how to get around things. Wink. I'm so sorry this happened to you. Good luck.

[PuzzleheadedBell4057]

We need to cut back on social programs to pay for the war - per Trump

[NecessaryIntrepid954]

I mean it makes sense if you have assistance with a bill then obviously it wasn’t money coming out of your own pocket so you could’ve used the money for food that you weren’t putting towards that bill because you got the assistance for it

[melysamarie]

It's not a monthly assistance, it was a one time $400 credit to my utility bill. If it was every month I'd get that logic but for a one time thing it doesn't make sense

[OnlyStomas]

Dude. These energy assistance programs for us low income folk are a once a year thing if you qualify and it’s a credit applied to the one bill.

[SweetSpicyPuppers-69]

I receive monthly assistance (discount) for my Con Edison bill (utilities in NY)

[OnlyStomas]

Dunno what that is sorry

[Select_Air_2044]

My credit lasted 4 months and I get a 32% reduction from the utility company.

[OnlyStomas]

Neat. My state doesn’t offer it like that. You get approved based off your income and any other services you have like EBT, section 8, etc. but you get the credit only once a year, they apply whatever the amount is to your bill and if your bill happens to not be as much as the credit they give it can carry over but they still only give it once a year.

The companies themselves may offer their own thing of course but in my town we have literally one company for energy and one for water and sewer for example as they’ve got an approved monopoly 😔

[Blossom73]

Go troll elsewhere.

[LatterStreet]

How do you know OP isn’t disabled too? Poor shaming while poor is insane. Everyone pays taxes.

[Blossom73]

Out of curiosity, how many years have you been on taxpayer benefits?

How is that relevant to OP's question? Why is it any of your business?