Utility Costs and the Food Stamp Program: Implementing the Excess Shelter Deduction Roger D. Colton Fisher, Sheehan & Colton Public Finance and General.

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Presentation transcript:

Utility Costs and the Food Stamp Program: Implementing the Excess Shelter Deduction Roger D. Colton Fisher, Sheehan & Colton Public Finance and General Economics Belmont, MA June 2009

NEUAC Portland (OR) The Excess Shelter Deduction w Food Stamp eligibility based on “countable income.” Shelter expenses above 50% an income deduction. Shelter = rent/mortgage + utilities (include telephone) w Actual shelter costs/Standard Utility Allowance (SUA)

NEUAC Portland (OR) Excess Shelter Deductions: A Roadmap for the Next Hour w Why is it important (why should we care)? w What specifically can we do? w Who/what can help me learn more?

NEUAC Portland (OR) FS Excess Shelter Deduction: Reason to Pay Attention w If household income is lowered: Some qualify for Food Stamps when they otherwise would not Some qualify for more Food Stamps w Every $3 reduction in income yields $2 in benefits. Implications for spike in fuel prices! w Customers indifferent as to source of dollars.

NEUAC Portland (OR) Excess Shelter Deduction: Why do it? w $30 - $40/month for low-income HHs w Dollar-for-dollar passthrough to feds w USDA supports and encourages w Elderly/disabled have no maximum on excess shelter deduction.

NEUAC Portland (OR) Excess Shelter Deduction: What’s it Worth? In FY 2008, Oregon distributed LIHEAP heating benefits to 83,458 households.

NEUAC Portland (OR) Energy/Water (Sewer) SUAs: Bill frequencies: not all bills are alike

NEUAC Portland (OR) Energy SUAs: The Problem with Averages Not all prices involve the same rate Price for single-family detached home more than 10% lower than 2-4 unit apartments.

NEUAC Portland (OR) Energy SUAs: More on Averages Not all bills grow at the same rate Electric Expenditures by Income Quintile (U.S.) Consider, e.g., Ohio’s recent move to fixed and variable rate design.

NEUAC Portland (OR) Energy SUAs: All components When the “energy bill” is not the ENERGY BILL w Sales taxes (federal taxes) w Franchise fees (5% or more) w Gross receipts taxes Taxes are not incidental: $2,000 x 7% = $140 x 67% = $95 a year in additional food due to utility taxes.

NEUAC Portland (OR) Telephone SUAs: Beware the Fees

NEUAC Portland (OR) Take Care in Setting Water SUAs: What is a “Water” SUA Anyway? Outstanding issue: do you include storm water runoff (e.g., TPU: residential storm water = $12.26 per month ($150 per year).

NEUAC Portland (OR) FSC’s study of 2006 SUAs: State Monthly SUAs Compared to Utility Bills w At or above FSC w Below FSC ($50 or less) w Below FSC ($51 - $150) w Below FSC ($151 or more) w 22 w 10 w 13 w 2 Using 80% bill frequency decision rule. (47 states with data)

NEUAC Portland (OR) The Excess Shelter Deduction: What needs to be done? w Substantive review of Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) w Update the SUA annually w Ensure HHs are reassessed in light of increased energy bills.

NEUAC Portland (OR) For more information: News *** Library “Committed to the power of concentrated expertise widely shared.”

NEUAC Portland (OR) For more information:

NEUAC Portland (OR) Additional info on energy and food w Food Research and Action Center (March 2009). “Heat and Eat: Using Federal Nutrition Programs to Soften Low-Income Households’ Food/Fuel Dilemma.”. (  Dorothy Rosenbaum, Daniel Tenny, Sam Elkin (June 2002). “The Food Stamp Shelter Deduction: Helping Households with High Housing Burdens Meet their Food Needs,” Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. ( w Frank, DA, Neault, NB, Skalicky, A, et al. (2006). “Heat or Eat: The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Nutritional and Health Risks Among Children Less than 3 Years of Age.” Pediatrics. 118: w Bhattacharya J, DeLeire T, and Currie J. (2003).” Heat or eat? Cold-weather shocks and nutrition in poor American families.” Am. J. Public Health. 93: w Mark Nord and Linda Kantor (2006). “Seasonal Variation in Food Insecurity is Associated with Heating and Cooling Costs Among Low-Income Elderly Americans.” Journal of Nutrition. 136: