WSR 99-01-028

EMERGENCY RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES

(Economic Services Administration)

[Filed December 8, 1998, 2:38 p.m., effective January 1, 1999]



Date of Adoption: December 8, 1998.

Purpose: Pass along the federal 1.3 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for the supplemental security income (SSI) program, effective January 1, 1999. There is no change in the SSI state supplement payment amount.

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-478-0055.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.08.090.

Other Authority: RCW 74.04.630.

Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that state or federal law or federal rule or a federal deadline for state receipt of federal funds requires immediate adoption of a rule.

Reasons for this Finding: Notification of the exact amount of the federal COLA increase was received in late October, too late for the regular rule adoption process.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, amended 1, repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, amended 1, repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, amended 1, repealed 0.

Effective Date of Rule: January 1, 1999.

December 8, 1998

Marie Myerchin-Redifer

Manager

SHS-2502.2

AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 98-16-044, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98)



WAC 388-478-0055  SSI standards. (1) Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a cash assistance program for needy individuals and couples who meet federal disability guidelines as aged, blind or disabled. Since the SSI program began in January 1974, the state of Washington has supplemental the federal benefit level with state funds, known as the SSI state supplement. Persons found eligible for SSI receive cash assistance based on the combined federal and state supplement benefit levels, minus countable income.

(2) Effective January 1, ((1998)) 1999, the federal, state and combined benefit levels for an eligible individual and couple are:

(a) Area I: King, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston, and Kitsap Counties.

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



living alone Federal Benefit Level State Supplement Benefit Level Combined Federal/State Benefit Level
Individual $((494.00)) 500.00 $27.00 $((521.00)) 527.00
Individual with One Essential Person1 $((741.00)) 750.00 $21.00 $((762.00)) 771.00
Couple, both Eligible $((741.00)) 751.00 $21.00 $((762.00)) 772.00
Couple with One Essential Person2 $((741.00)) 751.00 $21.00 $((762.00)) 772.00
Couple includes Ineligible Spouse $((494.00)) 500.67 $167.20 $((661.20)) 667.87


(ii) Shared living (supplied shelter).



shared living Federal Benefit Level State Supplement Benefit Level Combined Benefit Level
Individual $((329.34)) 333.34 $4.81 $((334.15)) 338.15
Individual with One Essential Person3 $((494.00)) 500.00 $5.30 $((499.30)) 505.30
Couple, Both Eligible $((494.00)) 500.67 $5.30 $((499.30)) 505.97
Couple includes One Essential Person4 $((494.00)) 500.67 $5.30 $((499.30)) 505.97
Couple includes Ineligible Spouse $((329.34)) 333.34 $102.76 $((432.10)) 436.10


(b) Area II: All counties other than the above.

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



living alone Federal Benefit Level State Supplement Benefit Level Combined Federal/State Benefit Level
Individual $((494.00)) 500.00 $6.55 $((500.55)) 506.55
Individual with One Essential Person1 $((741.00)) 750.00 $0 $((741.00)) 750.00
Couple, Both Eligible $((741.00)) 751.00 $0 $((741.00)) 751.00
Couple with One Essential Person2 $((741.00)) 751.00 $0 $((741.00)) 751.00
Couple includes Ineligible Spouse $((494.00)) 500.67 $137.25 $((631.25)) 637.92


(ii) Shared living (supplied shelter).



shared living Federal Benefit Level State Supplement Benefit Level Combined Benefit Level
Individual $((329.34)) 333.34 $4.81 $((334.15)) 338.15
Individual with One Essential Person3 $((494.00)) 500.00 $5.30 $((499.30)) 505.30
Couple, Both Eligible $((494.00)) 500.67 $5.30 $((499.30)) 505.97
Couple includes One Essential Person4 $((494.00)) 500.67 $5.30 $((499.30)) 505.97
Couple includes Ineligible Spouse $((329.34)) 333.34 $102.76 $((432.10)) 436.10


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



medical institution Federal Benefit Level State Supplement Benefit Level Combined Benefit Level
Individual $30.00 $11.62 $41.62

(d) Mandatory income level (MIL) for grandfathered claimant. "Grandfathered" refers to a person who qualified for assistance from the state as aged, blind, or disabled, was converted from the state to federal disability assistance under SSI in January 1974, and has remained continuously eligible for SSI since that date.

The combined federal/state SSI benefit level for MIL clients is the higher of the following:

(i) The state assistance standard they received in December 1973, except for those converted in a "D" living arrangement (residing in a medical institution at the time of conversion), plus the federal cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) since then; or

(ii) The current standard.



1 Eligible individual with more than one essential person living alone: $((494.00)) 500.00 for the eligible individual plus $((247.00)) 250.00 for each essential person (no state supplement).

2 Eligible couple with one or more essential persons living alone: $((741.00)) 751.00 for eligible couple plus $((247.00)) 250.00 for each essential person (no state supplement).

3 Eligible individual with more than one essential person in shared living: $((329.34)) 333.34 for eligible individual plus $((164.66)) 166.66 for each essential person (no state supplement).

4 Eligible couple with one or more essential persons in shared living: $((494.00)) 500.67 for eligible couple plus $((164.66)) 166.66 for each essential person (no state supplement).



[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-478-0055, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98. Formerly WAC 388-511-1115.]



Reviser's note: The typographical error in the above section occurred in the copy filed by the agency and appears in the Register pursuant to the requirements of RCW 34.08.040.

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