Connecticut's Congressional delegation has sent a letter to the Department of Agriculture urging officials to abandon its proposed rule regarding the Standard Utility Allowances in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
5th District Congresswoman Jahana Hayes says the change would jeopardize SNAP benefits for vulnerable households, citing the Department’s own analysis that the proposed rule would have a net negative impact. The proposed rule would remove states’ ability to set allowances based on differences in utility costs and rates.
45 percent of households in Connecticut would lose or see a decrease in SNAP benefits.
The delegation says this proposed rule dramatically undermines Connecticut’s ability to assist families in need and will disproportionately impact the state’s must vulnerable populations, including seniors and people with disabilities.
4th District Congressman Jim Himes says the ability for SNAP recipients to deduct certain costs, like utility expenses, is an important part of accurately and fairly determining an individual’s SNAP benefits. He noted that low-income residents spend a large portion of their income on heat and electricity because Connecticut has the third highest energy costs in the nation, behind only Hawaii and Alaska.
The delegation pointed out that 22 states, including Connecticut, have Standard Utility Allowances exceeding the 85th percentile estimates. Himes was critical that there was no explanation for why this threshold was set.
