63235 Excess Shelter Deduction
Table of Content
Section
Definition 2351
Rent or Mortgage Costs 2352
Property Taxes and Insurance 2353
Heating Cooling and Other Utilities Costs 2354
Home Temporarily Not Occupied by the Household 2355
Home Repair Costs 2356
632351 The excess shelter deduction is the monthly shelter costs in excess of
Definition 50 percent of the households income after all other applicable deductions have been allowed
The excess shelter deduction will not exceed the current maximum unless the household contains a member who is elderly or disabled See current Maximum Excess Shelter Deduction in the CalFresh Handbook Section 631102
The allowable shelter deductions are
632352 Rent or MortgageCosts
Allow continuing costs for the shelter occupied by the household as a shelter deduction including
Rent
Mortgage
Homeowners association fees and
Continuing costs leading to the ownership of the shelter such as loan payments for the purchase of a mobile home including interests on such payments
The following payments will not be included as a shelter cost or part of a shelter cost
Onetime deposits such as security deposits
Penalty fees for being late in making payments on utilities
mortgages andor property taxes USDA memo 8319
Apply the income conversion factors 433 2167 or 2 when the household is billed rent on a weekly biweekly or semimonthly basis respectively Use the conversion factor only when a full months expense is anticipated to continue throughout the certification period as specified in 632827 and 8 ACIN I0106
Refer to 6328213 Reasonably Anticipated Expenses
WHEN RENT IS PAID IN ADVANCE
If a household occupies a residence that has a monthly rent structure allow the monthly amount of the rent obligation each month without regard to when it is actually paid
First and Last Month Rent Paid
When a rental agreement requires that the household must pay rent for both the first and last month allow the shelter expense deduction for each month of the rental agreement because the household is on a monthly rent structure Allow the last month payment as a deduction for the last month of the rental agreement even if expense was paid in the first month
Rent Paid in Advance
If the household chooses to pay a few months of rent in advance allow the shelter deduction for each month of the rental agreement regardless if some months were paid in advance Allow the rent expense for each month that the rent is billed regardless of when the rent was actually paid to the landlord
Last Month Rent Paid in Installments
If the landlord allows the household to pay the last months rent in installments because the household cannot afford to pay both the first and last months rent which is required by the rental agreement allow the deduction for each month of the rental agreement because the household is on a monthly rent structure Allow the last month rent expense even if the rent has been paid in advance
ACIN I3404
632353 Property taxes state and local assessments and insurance on the Property Taxesstructure itself but not separate costs for insuring furniture or personal and Insurance belongings
632354 Heating Coolingand Other Utilities Expenses
Utility expenses are defined as the costs billed for
A Heating andor cooling
1
Gas
2
Electricity
3
Butane
4
Propane and tank rental
5
Coal or
6
Firewood
B Cooking fuel
C Water
D Sewer
E Garbage and trash collection fees
F Basic service for one telephone including rental fees tax on the basic fee wire maintenance fees subscriber line charges relay center surcharges 911 fees and taxes and fees charged by the utility provider for initial installation of the utility
Onetime deposits are not included as shelter costs
NOTE The Standard Utility Allowance SUA is a mandatory deduction for households incurring heating or cooling costs If the household is not eligible to the SUA deduction based on heating or cooling expenses issue the Standard Utility Assistance Subsidy SUAS if the household would receive more benefits or would become eligible for CalFresh when receiving the SUA deduction See 632365
632355 Home Temporarily Not Occupied by the Household
Allow the shelter costs for the home if temporarily not occupied by the household because of employment or training away from home illness or abandonment caused by natural disaster or casualty loss
To allow the costs of a home vacated by the household as a shelter cost the household must
Intend to return to the home
The current occupants of the home if any must not be claiming the shelter costs for food stamp purposes and
The home must not be leased or rented during the absence of the household
632356 Home RepairCosts
Costs for the repair of the home which was substantially damaged or destroyed due to a natural disaster such as a fire or flood
Shelter costs will not include costs for repair of the home that have been or will be reimbursed by private or public relief agencies insurance companies or from any other source