MR #25.38 Verifications of Housing Costs for SNAP

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10/22/2025

Summary

This Manual Release provides information on changes to policy regarding verification of housing costs for SNAP households.
In an effort to reduce the payment error rate in Illinois, verification of housing costs will now be required for SNAP cases.
Verification of housing costs will be required at initial application, at redetermination when a change in address or a change in housing costs is reported, at the Mid-Point Report when a change in address or a change in housing costs is reported, and during the certification period when a change of address or a change of housing costs is reported.
A Verification Checklist (IL444-0267) will be issued for SNAP households requesting verification of housing costs. If verifications are not provided, the housing cost expense will not be included in the budget for the SNAP case.
Updates have been made in the Integrated Eligibility System (IES) to properly pend for verification of housing costs and issue a Verification Checklist.

Introduction

Effective 10/22/2025, customers will be required to verify housing costs in order to receive the housing cost deduction for all SNAP cases. This change in policy is part of an effort to reduce the payment error rate in Illinois for SNAP cases. Housing costs that will require verification include rent, mortgage payments, condo and association fees, homeowner association fees, loan repayments for the purchase of a mobile home, and other similar charges. This includes any interest on such charges. See PM 13-01-08-a, PM 13-01-08-c, and PM 13-01-08-d for allowable housing costs.

Note: Verification of utility expenses is not required, unless questionable, and should continue to be allowed on SNAP cases without verification.

Verification Process

Verification of housing costs must be provided at initial application, at redetermination when a change of address and/or housing cost is reported, at the Mid-Point Report when a change of address and/or housing cost is reported, and during the certification period when a change of address and/or housing cost is reported. If a Verification Checklist is issued households have 10 calendar days to return the requested verification. If the verification is not returned, the housing expense will not be allowed on the SNAP case. See PM 02-07-02 for information concerning obtaining verifications.

Example 1: Ms. C applies for SNAP on 11/01/2025 and reports she pays $900 per month in rent. On the Shelter Expense screen in the Illinois Eligibility System (IES), the worker selects Client Statement in the drop down as the verification source. IES will pend the SNAP EDG and generate a Verification Checklist (IL444-0267) instructing the household to provide proof of housing costs.

Ms. C submits a copy of her rent receipt as verification of housing costs by the due date on the VCL. The caseworker approves the SNAP application allowing the housing cost, certifies the case, and documents all relevant information in the case record.

Example 2: Mx. O applies for SNAP on 12/03/2025 and reports they pay $1700 per month in a mortgage payment. On the Shelter Expense screen in IES, the worker selects Client Statement in the drop down as the verification source. IES will pend the SNAP EDG and generate a Verification Checklist (IL444-0267) instructing the household to provide proof of housing costs.

Mx. O does not return verification by the VCL due date. The caseworker approves the SNAP application without allowing the housing cost as an expense, certifies the case, and documents all relevant information in the case record.

Example 3: Mr. A submits a SNAP redetermination reporting a change in earned income and housing costs. No other changes are reported on the redetermination. During the in-person interview Mr. A confirms that his income and his housing costs have both increased and there are no other changes to report. The caseworker runs clearances and is able to verify the new earned income amount via The Work Number. The worker issues Mr. A a VCL requesting verification of his new housing costs. Mr. A submits the requested verification of housing cost by the due date. The SNAP redetermination is processed and certified with the updated housing cost. All relevant information is documented in the case record.

Example 4: Mrs. L submits a SNAP redetermination. The address and the amount listed for her rent matches the information and the verification on file. During the in-person interview Mrs. L confirms that neither her address nor her rent have changed. The caseworker allows the expense as verification already exists to confirm the information. The SNAP redetermination is processed and certified with the existing housing cost. All relevant information is documented in the case record.

Verification Process - Request for Shelter Costs Due to Address Change Notice Returned by Customer

Verification of housing costs must also be requested for SNAP households when they return the Request for Shelter Costs Due to Address Change Notice indicating a change of housing costs but do not provide verification. If a Request for Shelter Costs Due to Address Change Notice is returned without valid verification of housing costs, a Verification Checklist (IL444-0267) must be issued to the household requesting proof of those costs. Households have 10 calendar days to return the requested verification. If the verification is not returned, the housing expense will not be allowed on the SNAP case.

Note: The process for when a SNAP household does not return the Request for Shelter Costs Due to Address Change Notice has not changed. See PM 18-04-04.

Example 1: Mr. M has an active SNAP case and on 01/16/2026 submits a change of address via Manage My Case. Due to the change in address with no update to the housing cost a Request for Shelter Costs Due to Address Change Notice is systematically sent from IES. Mr. M returns the notice reporting that his housing cost has increased but he failed to submit verification of his new housing costs. The caseworker reviews the information provided and pends the SNAP case for verification of housing costs and issues a Verification Checklist. Mr. M responds to the Verification Checklist with proof of his new housing costs in the form of a current rent receipt. The caseworker updates and certifies the case with the new housing cost issuing a Notice of Decision to the customer.

Reminder: Verification of utility expenses is not required, unless questionable, and should continue to be allowed on SNAP cases without verification.

IES Changes

The following change to IES will be implemented. Client Statement will no longer be acceptable as a verification for Shelter Expenses for SNAP. SNAP households will need to verify all housing costs. This enhancement will modify eligibility in IES to pend the SNAP EDG and generate a Verification Checklist (IL444-0267) for Shelter Expenses when Client Statement or Not Verified is selected.

For SNAP Applications and Redeterminations, IES will require worker action when the SNAP case has a Circumstance Start Change Date (CSCD) for housing cost that is more than 60 days before the application/redetermination received date. IES will stop the worker on the Case Error Reduction (CER) screen with an indicator of outdated housing costs. Workers must update the CSCD of the housing cost to indicate that they have confirmed recent housing cost amount with the customer. Workers should update the verification type appropriate for the verification provided. See PM 19-03-04.

For SNAP Applications and Redeterminations, IES will require worker action when the SNAP case has an ongoing housing costs that has a verification type of Client Statement (Prior to verification required). Workers will need to review and update the verification type appropriately. If customer has not provided verification, the worker should update to Client Statement and generate a Verification Checklist for housing costs.

See the Client Statement Not Accepted as Verification for Housing Expenses Computer-Based Learning (CBL) in Introduction to IES.