WSR 97-14-011

PERMANENT RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES

(Economic Services Administration)

(Public Assistance)

[Filed June 19, 1997, 4:43 p.m., effective August 1, 1997]

Date of Adoption: June 19, 1997.

Purpose: Pass along the 2.9 percent federal cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for the supplemental security income (SSI) program and move from the "total expenditure method" of computing the SSI state supplement payment to the "payment levels method."

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-250-1700.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.630.

Other Authority: Social Security Act COLA Increases (Federal Register 61 pages 55346-51) 1997.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 97-10-035 on April 30, 1997.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, amended 1, repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, amended 1, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Effective Date of Rule: August 1, 1997.

June 19, 1997

Merry A. Kogut, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order 3972, filed 4/26/96, effective 5/27/96 WAC 388-250-1700 Standards of assistance--Supplemental security income. Effective January 1, ((1996)) 1997, the standards of SSI assistance paid to an eligible individual and couple are:

(1) Living alone (own household or alternate care, except nursing homes or medical institutions).

Federal

SSI State

Standard Benefit Supplement

Area I: King, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston, and Kitsap Counties

Individual (($495.42 $470.00 $ 25.42))

$512.00 $484.00 $ 28.00

Individual with one essential person ((724.98 705.00 19.98))

748.00 726.00 22.00

Couple:

Both eligible ((724.98 705.00 19.98))

748.00 726.00 22.00

Includes one essential person ((724.98 705.00 19.98))

748.00 726.00 22.00

Includes ineligible spouse ((622.73 470.00 152.73))

652.20 484.00 168.20

Area II: All Counties Other Than the Above

Individual (($476.86 470.00 6.86))

$491.55 484.00 7.55

Individual with one essential person ((705.00 705.00)) 0

726.00 726.00

Couple:

Both eligible ((705.00 705.00)) 0

726.00 726.00

Includes one essential person ((705.00 705.00)) 0

726.00 726.00

Includes ineligible spouse ((595.53 470.00 125.53))

622.25 484.00 138.25

Areas I and II:

Eligible individual with more than one essential person: $((470.00)) 484.00 for eligible individual plus $((235.00)) 242.00 for each essential person (no state supplement).

Eligible couple with one or more essential persons: $((705.00)) 726.00 for eligible couple plus $((235.00)) 242.00 for each essential person (no state supplement).

(2) Shared living (Supplied shelter): Area I and II

Federal

SSI State

Standard Benefit Supplement

Individual (($318.62 $313.34 $ 5.28))

$328.48 $322.67 $ 5.81

Individual with one essential person ((475.72 470.00 5.72))

490.30 484.00 6.30

Couple:

Both eligible ((475.72 470.00 5.72))

490.30 484.00 6.30

Includes one essential person ((475.72 470.00 5.72))

490.30 484.00 6.30

Includes ineligible spouse ((407.55 313.34 94.21))

426.43 322.67 103.76

Area I and II:

Eligible individual with more than one essential person: $((313.34)) 322.67 for eligible individual plus $((156.66)) 161.33 for each essential person (no state supplement).

Eligible couple with one or more essential persons: $((470.00)) 484.00 for eligible couple plus $((156.66)) 161.33 for each essential person (no state supplement).

(3) Residing in a medical institution: Area I and II

Federal

SSI State

Standard Benefit Supplement

No change $41.62 $30.00 $11.62

(4) Mandatory income level (MIL) for grandfathered claimant. Increased by ((two)) three dollars and ((nineteen)) seventy-eight cents for all MIL clients, except for those converted in a "D" living arrangement (residing in a medical institution at the time of conversion).