PPER Email 2015- 8: Recording of Utility Expenses

The Department works in collaboration with the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to administer and provide H-EAT benefits to eligible DTA clients. It is important that clients who are responsible for a utility expense are correctly coded on BEACON. Clients who are responsible for heating or cooling costs and are attributed the Heating/Cooling standard utility allowance (SUA) are not eligible for a H-EAT payment. These clients may qualify for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Incorrectly coding these individuals as not responsible for the Heating/Cooling SUA results in these households erroneously receiving the H-EAT benefit. Additionally, it may also result in a SNAP calculation error.