Changes in SNAP Standard Utility Allowance (SUA)
Beginning November 1, 2025, the receipt of a qualifying HEAP payment will only grant presumptive Heating and Cooling Standard Utility Allowance (HCSUA) eligibility to SNAP households (HH) that include a member who is aged (60+) and/or disabled member (under SNAP rules). All other HH must establish that they have a separate heating or cooling utility expense in order to be determined eligible for HCSUA. This new policy will be for all new and pending applications.
Existing SNAP households will be assessed at recertification or if the household reports a case change on the periodic report or other time during their eligibility period.
This change may lead to confusion for many SNAP recipients because some HH will be asked to provide documentation they never had to provide before.
What are SUA Levels?
In the calculation of SNAP benefits, a Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) is included as a deduction. There are three SUA Levels and Level I is the highest deduction, see below.
Level I SUA can significantly increase the amount of SNAP benefits a HH can receive.
|
Level 1 (Have heating/cooling Costs) |
Level II (No heating/cooling costs, but has utility costs.) |
Level III (Default) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
NYC (5 boroughs) |
$1,062 |
$419 |
$32 |
Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk counties) |
$988 |
$388 |
$32 |
Other Areas in NYS |
$877 |
$355 |
$32 |
Previously, Level I SUA was automatic for HH who received or had received a HEAP benefit, no additional documentation was required. Level one was also granted to HH that showed they had heating or cooling costs.
Due to the federal changes in H.R. 1, those in receipt of HEAP will no longer automatically receive a Level I SUA UNLESS there is a person in the SNAP HH who is aged 60+ or they are a disabled member. These HH must now document that they have heating or cooling costs.
No More Automatic SUA for Subsidized Tenants
For many years, Section 8 and NYCHA residents were granted automatic HEAP benefits which qualified them for an SUA Level I. Under the new rules, these tenant must now document that they have a cost for heating or cooling, or document that there is a person in the HH who is aged 60+ or they are a disabled member (disabled by SNAP definition).
Many tenants in subsidized housing do not pay separately for heating or cooling so this change may reduce their SNAP benefit amounts.
Free SNAP Calculator
Advocates can estimate how this change may affect households: https://bplc.cssny.org/benefit_tools/snap_calculator.
Details on the change can be found here https://otda.ny.gov/policy/gis/2025/25DC061.pdf.
