CCUSA comments on proposed rule for SNAP standard utility allowance

Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), the National Council of the United States Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP USA), and the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA) appreciate the opportunity to provide comments to the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service’s above-referenced notice of proposed rulemaking.

The proposed rule changes the methodology for calculating the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The SUA is part of the excess shelter deduction that is used to determine the net income of households applying for SNAP. This amount is then used to determine eligibility for the program and the household’s exact benefit amount. We write to urge you to withdraw the proposed rule because it threatens the financial and physical well-being of low-income families and individuals, fails to justify adequately its proposed Heating and Cooling SUA (HCSUA) rates, and undermines SNAP’s statutory purpose, congressional intent, and state flexibility. Read the full letter.