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

FROM:  Rus Sykes, Deputy Commissioner, Division of Employment & Transitional Supports 

SUBJECT: Updated – Food Stamp Standards for October 1, 2007

EFFECTIVE DATE:	September 24, 2007

C CONTACT PERSON:	FS Questions – Food Stamp Bureau (518) 473-1469
	MRB/A NYC Questions- Steve Cohen (212) 961-8205	

As of October 1, 2007 the Food Stamp standards are as follows:

The standard deduction amounts that will be used in the annual FS mass rebudgeting for October 1, 2007:
		
Household Size	Standard Deduction	
1	$134 (no change)	
2	134 (no change)	
3	134 (no change)	
4	143	
5	167	
6+	191	

Maximum Excess Shelter Deduction:		$431
Homeless Shelter Deduction:			$143 (unchanged)
Boarder/Lodger Exclusion:			$162 for one or $298 for two

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	1404	1107	851	162	
2	1883	1484	1141	298	
3	2361	1861	1431	426	
4	2840	2238	1721	542	
5	3318	2615	2011	643	
6	3797	2992	2301	772	
7	4275	3369	2591	853	
8	4754	3746	2881	975	
Each Add’l
Member	               479 +	              377 +	             290 +	        122 +	

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:

Geographic Area		HT/AC SUA		UTIL SUA		PHONE SUA

NYC			              $577			$256			$33
Nassau & Suffolk		 $543			$238			$33
Rest of State		              $478			$222			$33

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 fee for air conditioning is entitled to the HT/AC SUA.  Additionally, in recognition that virtually all households incur phone expenses, the phone SUA must be granted for all cases (except homeless/undomiciled) that don’t already have the phone SUA budgeted either alone, as part of a higher SUA or as part of a standardized NYSNIP or Group Home benefit.

In New York City, the new amounts for budgets effective October 1, 2007 will be migrated to production and used in a MRB/A for active cases on the weekend of September 23, 2007.

The standardized benefit amounts for NYSNIP (New York State Nutrition Improvement Program) will be updated as part of this Mass Rebudget for October 1, 2007.

NYSNIP BENEFITS MATRIX BY SHELTER TYPES
 10/01/07

HOUSEHOLD	MONTHLY FOOD STAMP BENEFIT AMOUNT	
	New York City	Nassau/Suffolk	Rest of State	
Shelter Type 94
(High Shelter/SUA)	SSI Only
SSI + Other	$162
$162	$162
$162	$154
$145	
Shelter Type 95
(Low Shelter/SUA)	SSI Only
SSI + Other	$111
$104	$104
$96	$88
$81	
Shelter Type 96
(High Shelter/ No SUA)	SSI Only
SSI + Other	$34
$26	$34
$26	$34
$26	
Shelter Type 97
(Low Shelter/ No SUA)	SSI Only
SSI + Other	$24
$20	$24
$20	$24
$20	
Shelter Type 98
(No Shelter or SUA Data)	SSI Only
SSI + Other	$24
$20	$24
$20	$24
$20	

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 update the gross monthly income standards (130% of poverty level) to those households subject to six-month reporting rules.