UPSTATE & NYC MESSAGE    

DSS-4357EL                                                                 
WGIUPD                  GENERAL INFORMATION SYSTEM               01/24/01 
                   DIVISION:  Temporary Assistance

GIS 01 TA/DC003                                                          

TO:  	Commissioners; IM Directors; FS Directors; WMS Coordinators; CAP Coordinators                                                      
FROM:  Patricia A. Stevens, Deputy Commissioner, Division of Temporary Assistance  
                                                        
SUBJECT:  Updated-Food Stamp SUA Standards for March 1, 2001               

EFFECTIVE DATE:  March 1, 2001                                             
CONTACT PERSON:  
FS Questions - Regional Representatives: Western Region (518)473-0332; 
Central Region (518)474-9344; Eastern Region (518)473-1469.  
MRB/A Upstate Questions - Don Evensen (518)474-9109.   
Region VI (212)383-1658. 
MRB/A NYC Questions - Stephen Cohen (212)383-2426.

                                                                          
	The USDA has notified us that the FS Maximum Excess Shelter Deduction is increasing to $340.

	As of March 1, 2001, the Food Stamp standards are as follows:

	Standard Deduction:	$134    (no change)
	Maximum Excess Shelter Deduction:	$340
	Homeless Shelter Deduction:	$143    (no change)

	Please note that the Standard and Homeless Shelter deductions remain the same as last year.

	Additionally, the USDA has afforded New York the opportunity to re-evaluate the SUA standards that have been in effect since October 1, 2000.  With consideration of more recent energy costs, it has been determined that the FS SUA amounts need adjustment.  Effective March 1, 2001 the following SUA amounts will be used. 

Standard Utility Allowances

                      		Heating/Air Conditioning	Other Utility

New York City			$546					$248

Nassau & Suffolk County	$494					$226

Rest of State				$451					$220

Telephone SUA for all Counties - $33

Please note that all of the above standard utility allowances except the Telephone, have changed from the standards in effect for October 1, 2000.  The new Food Stamp tables shown above were migrated to production upstate on January 15, 2001 and are used for budgets with a "from date" of March 1, 2001 or later.  As detailed in Upstate ABEL Transmittal 01-1, Action #1 "Explanation of the FS SUA MRB/A", the final phases of a Mass Rebudget / Authorization for this change are being run for upstate districts on the weekends of January 20th & 27th, 2001.

In New York City, the new amounts will be migrated to production on February 17, 2001 and will be used in a MRB/A for active cases on the weekend of February 16-17, 2001.

No INF or ADM will be issued regarding this change.  (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 contact your regional team and a hard copy will be faxed to you.