FACT 86 (October 1, 2021 Mass Change)
Food Assistance Change Transmittal No. 86
August 31, 2021
TO: Food Assistance Certification Handbook Holders
FROM: Matt Damschroder, Director
SUBJECT: October 1, 2021 Mass Change

Previous Policy: Pursuant to provisions of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) provides States with annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).  The standard utility allowance, limited utility allowance, single standard utility allowance, single standard telephone allowance, excess shelter deduction, resource standards, maximum monthly SNAP allotments, monthly net income standards (100% of poverty), monthly gross income standards (130% of poverty), and monthly separate assistance group standards for elderly and disabled assistance groups only (165% of poverty) are all subject to change based on the annual adjustments the State receives from FNS.

New policy: The Thrifty Food Plan (TFP), which is developed by the USDA to estimate the cost of a healthy diet across various price points, is used to determine the maximum SNAP allotments. The USDA recently released a re-evaluation of the TFP and as a result the SNAP maximum allotments have increased more than the standard annual cost-of-living adjustment.  The new SNAP maximum allotments will be effective beginning October 1, 2021.

Additionally, the deduction amounts and income guidelines have been adjusted and are listed below. All the utility allowances have increased. The following amounts are increasing effective October 1, 2021: (a) the standard deduction for AG sizes; (b) excess shelter deduction; (c) maximum homeless shelter deduction; (d) the maximum resource standards; and (e) the gross income standard, net income standard, and separate assistance group standards for elderly and disabled assistance groups eligibility standards.  

Standard Utility Allowance

$580

Limited Utility Allowance

$377

Single Standard Utility Allowance

$84

Single Telephone Allowance

$42

Standard Deduction

$177 for an AG size of 1 - 3 persons;

$184 for an AG size of 4 persons;

$215 for an AG size of 5 persons; and

$246 for an AG size of 6 or more persons  

Maximum Excess Shelter Deduction

$597

Maximum Homeless Shelter Deduction

$159

Maximum Resource Limit

$2,500  

Maximum Resource Limit for Households with at Least One Aged or Disabled Member

$3,750

Maximum Food Assistance Allotments

AG SizeMaximum Allotment
1 $250
2 $459
3 $658
4 $835
5 $992
6 $1,190
7 $1,316
8 $1,504
each additional +$188
Minimum Allotment $20

Net Income Standards (100% of poverty)

AG Size Maximum Income
1 $1,074
2 $1,452
3 $1,830
4 $2,209
5 $2,587
6 $2,965
7 $3,344
8 $3,722
each additional +$379

 

Gross Income Standards (130% of poverty)

AG Size Maximum Income
1 $1,396
2 $1,888
3 $2,379
4 $2,871
5 $3,363
6 $3,855
7 $4,347
8 $4,839
each additional +$492

 

Separate AG Income Standards -- Elderly and Disabled AGs Only (165% of poverty)

AG Size Maximum Income
1 $1,771
2 $2,396
3 $3,020
4 $3,644
5 $4,268
6 $4,893
7 $5,517
8 $6,141
each additional +$625

 

Implementation: The changes for the deductions and income guidelines will be implemented in Ohio Benefits via a mass change beginning in the evening on August 27th and will run through the morning of August 30th.  An exception report will be created for all cases which Ohio Benefits cannot update automatically.  The eligibility worker will be required to run the Eligibility Determination/Benefit Calculation (ED/BC), then save and accept the results for those cases to implement these changes.  Each assistance group affected by this change will receive a notice with the new amount of benefits they will receive.