SNAP Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) by State

Instead of adding up your bills, SNAP gives a flat utility amount set by your state. It goes into the shelter deduction, and for many households it is the single biggest thing that raises the benefit.

Food Stamp Calc Editorial Team · published October 5, 2026 · verified October 5, 2026

The four kinds of allowance

• Heating and cooling (HCSUA): if you pay for heat or air conditioning separately from rent — including electric heat or a window A/C unit on your power bill.
• Limited or basic (LUA/BUA): at least two other utilities such as electricity, water, sewer, trash or cooking fuel, but no heating or cooling.
• Single utility: one non-heating utility other than phone, in states that have this standard.
• Telephone: only a phone bill (landline or cell).

You get one allowance, the largest you qualify for (7 CFR 273.9(d)(6)(iii)). States update them each October; Maryland uses the calendar year.

What changed in 2025

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed July 4, 2025, made two changes that FNS confirmed in its May 8, 2026 questions and answers:

• Internet no longer counts. Internet costs cannot be a shelter expense and cannot be built into any utility allowance (section 10104).
• Energy assistance only unlocks the heating allowance for older or disabled households. A LIHEAP (or similar) payment of more than $20 in the past year still qualifies a household with someone 60+ or disabled for the heating and cooling allowance. Other households now need an actual heating or cooling expense (section 10103).

How much it is worth

In Texas, a two-person household earning $1,600 with $850 rent gets $473 a month if it pays a heating or cooling bill ($464 allowance), but $357 if it pays only a phone bill ($64). Because the shelter deduction is capped at $769 for most households, the extra allowance stops helping once rent alone exceeds half of income by that much.

October 2026 figures: where they stand

FNS has published only the FY2026 table (October 2025 – September 2026). Its August 24, 2026 memo let states raise FY2026 values by the 3.5% CPI change and submit them for approval, but it lists no amounts. When we checked on October 5, 2026, we could verify October 2026 allowances from the state’s own documents for California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas. Maryland’s calendar-2026 values run to December 31. Every other state below shows last year’s value, marked “prior”, and our calculator lets you replace it with the number on your notice.

Sources: FY 2026 Standard Utility Allowances by State (Excel, updated August 2026); SNAP – Simplified Process for Fiscal Year 2027 Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) Values; OBBB – Restrictions on Internet Expenses and Treatment of Energy Assistance Payments – Questions and Answers #1; state documents named on each state page and on sources.