TO:	Commissioners; TA & FS Directors; WMS Coordinators; CAP Coordinators

FROM:	Patricia A, Stevens, Deputy Commissioner, Division of Temporary Assistance

SUBJECT:	Updated - Food Stamp Standards for October 1, 2003

EFFECTIVE DATE:	October 1, 2003

CONTACT PERSON:	FS Questions - Eastern Regional Team (518) 473-1469
	MRB/A Upstate Questions-James Dormond (518) 474-9286
	MRB/A NYC Questions - Stephen Cohen (212) 383-1652

As of October 1, 2003, the Food Stamp standards are as follows:

The former, fixed standard deduction has been replaced with a deduction that varies according to household size and is adjusted annually for cost-of-living increases.  Following are the standard deduction amounts.  These amounts will be used in the annual FS mass rebudgeting for October 1, 2003:

Household Size	Standard Deduction	
1	$134	
2	134	
3	134	
4	134	
5	149	
6+	171	

	Maximum Excess Shelter Deduction:		$378
	Homeless Shelter Deduction:			$143 (unchanged)
	Boarder/Lodger Exclusion:			$141 for one or $259 for two
	Personal Care Shelter Amount		reduced by $2.00

Household Size	Monthly Income Elderly/Disabled Separate/Household 165% of Poverty	Maximum Gross Monthly Income 130% of Poverty	Maximum Net Monthly Income 100% of Poverty	Maximum Allotment	
					
1	$1,235	$973	$749	$141	
2	1,667	1,313	1,010	259	
3	2,099	1,654	1,272	371	
4	2,530	1,994	1,534	471	
5	2,962	2,334	1,795	560	
6	3,394	2,674	2,057	672	
7	3,826	3,014	2,319	743	
8	4,257	3,354	2,580	849	
Each Add'l Member	

+  432	

+  341	

+  262	

+  106	

New York State has re-evaluated the Standard Utility Allowances (SUA standards) and determined there will be no change to the amounts of the HT/AC SUA (Combined Heat/Utility/Phone SUA in NYC), Non-Heating SUA and Phone SUA.  Districts are reminded that the standard SUA amounts, without pro-ration, are mandated for all households with qualifying utility costs rather than allowing use of the actual expenses when they exceed the standards. Also, residents of public or subsidized housing with shared meters who incur only an expense for excess utility usage are entitled to the applicable level of SUA.  For example, a public housing tenant with heat included in the rent and who has a shared utility meter but pays a monthly excess charge fee for air conditioning is entitled to the HT/AC SUA.

The new Food Stamp standards will be migrated to production Upstate on August 11, 2003 and are used for budgets with a "from date" of October 1, 2003 or later.  As detailed in ABEL Transmittal 03-4, Action #1 "Explanation of the FS Maximum Allotment Increase MRB/A (ALL)", the final phases of a Mass Rebudget/Authorization for these changes are being run for upstate districts on the weekends of August 16 & 23, 2003.

In New York City, the new amounts for budgets effective October 1, 2003 will be migrated to production and used in a MRB/A for active cases on the weekend of September 20-21, 2003.

A copy of the mass notice sent to recipients is attached.  If the notice does not print properly and a hard copy is needed, please request a faxed copy via the contacts listed above.  Please note that the attached mass notice is also being used to introduce the updated gross monthly income standards (130% of poverty level) to those households subject to six-month reporting rules.