PERMANENT RULES
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
(WorkFirst Division)
Date of Adoption: June 30, 1999.
Purpose: New language developed in negotiation with the Employment Security Department sets guidelines for the amount of support services that eligible clients can receive, and shortens and simplifies the rule language to bring it into compliance with Governor Locke's Executive Order 97-02.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-310-0800.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.050.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 99-10-028 on April 28, 1999.
Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: The department added "including, but not limited to" to the text in subsection (2) and language describing advance notice rights in subsection (5) in response to comments from Columbia Legal Services.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0. Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
June 30, 1999
Marie Myerchin-Redifer, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit
2558.4
(1) ((The purpose of support service and direct component cost funding is to
provide participants access to necessary goods or services which cannot be paid for by another
funding source.
(2) The department or its agent will fund support services when:
(a) Determined necessary by the department or its agent;
(b) Denial would prevent participation in the required component; and
(c) It is within available funds.
(3) Support services which may be funded include:
(a) Employment related needs such as work clothing or uniforms, tools, equipment, relocation expenses, or fees;
(b) Transportation costs such as mileage reimbursement, public transportation vouchers, and car repair;
(c) Professional services such as certification or diagnostic testing, counseling or medical examinations or services;
(d) Personal needs such as clothing appropriate for job search or other component activities; and
(e) Special needs such as accommodations for employment.
(4) The department will provide support services and direct component cost funding to support components approved prior to the effective date of this chapter until June 30, 1998 if the participant is making satisfactory progress toward completion of the activity.
(5) WorkFirst participants are eligible for child care subsidy payments under chapter 388-290 WAC.
(6) No funds available to carry out the WorkFirst program may be used to assist, promote, or deter religious activity.
(7) The department may establish maximum funding limits for support services.
(8) The department may provide funding for direct component costs for vocational education activities when the participant:
(a) Is in an approved component as stated on the individual responsibility plan; and
(b) Does not qualify for sufficient student financial aid to meet the cost.
(9) Support services may be identified and provided in order to address specific needs American Indians may have due to location or employment needs.
(10) If the person is not participating as required they will lose eligibility for direct component costs and support services)) Why do I receive support services?
Support services help you participate in work and WorkFirst activities that lead to financial independence. You can also get help in paying your child care expenses through the working connections child care assistance program. (Chapter 388-290 WAC describes the rules for this child care assistance program.)
(2) What support services may I receive?
You may receive support services, including but not limited to any of the following:
(a) Employment related needs such as work clothing or uniforms, tools, equipment, relocation expenses, or fees;
(b) Transportation costs such as mileage reimbursement, public transportation vouchers, and car repair;
(c) Professional services;
(d) Personal needs such as clothing appropriate for job search or other work activities;
(e) Special needs such as accommodations for employment;
(f) Identified specific needs due to location or employment if you are an American Indian;
(g) Job skills training, vocational education and/or basic education if:
(i) It is an approved activity in your individual responsibility plan; and
(ii) You do not qualify for sufficient student financial aid to meet the cost.
(3) When will I get support services?
The department or its agents will decide what support services you will receive, as follows:
(a) You need the support services to do the activities in your individual responsibility plan;
(b) It is within available funds; and
(c) It does not assist, promote, or deter religious activity.
(4) How much support services can I get?
The chart below shows the guidelines for the amount and type of support services you can get. There is a suggested limit of fifteen hundred dollars per person per calendar year for the amount of support services you can receive from the department and/or employment security.
| Type of Support Service | Suggested Limit |
| Accommodation (reasonable) | $1,000 per request |
| Books/supplies (school) | No limit |
| Car repair | $500 per calendar year |
| Clothing–General | Participant–$250 per request Each child–$100 per request |
| Clothing/uniforms–Employment | Participant–$200 per year |
| Clothing/uniforms–Training | No limit |
| Diapers | $50 per child per month |
| Employer reimbursement | No limit |
| GED | No limit |
| Haircut | $40 per request |
| License/fees | $300 per each license or fee |
| Lunch | $15 per event |
| Medical exams (not covered by Medicaid) | $150 per exam |
| Mileage | $0.315 per mile (not to exceed $100 per week) |
| Personal hygiene | $50 per request (up to three times per calendar year) |
| Professional, trade, association, union and bonds | $300 per each due or fee |
| Public transportation | $150 per month |
| Relocation | $1,000 per calendar year |
| Rent, housing, deposits | $500 per calendar year |
| Short-term lodging and meals | $300 per request |
| Testing–Certification | $100 each |
| Testing–Diagnostic | $200 each |
| Tools (training) | No limit |
| Tools/equipment | $300 per request |
| Tutoring | $200 per month |
| Tuition and fees | No limit |
If you request support services from your case manager, you can:
(a) Ask to see a copy of these guidelines;
(b) Ask for an exception, if you are requesting more than the guidelines allow or asking for services or goods not mentioned in the guidelines; and/or
(c) Request a fair hearing, if your request for support services is denied.
(6) What happens to my support services if I do not participate as required?
The department will give you ten days notice, following the rules in WAC 388-418-0030, then discontinue your support services until you participate as required.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.050. 97-20-129, § 388-310-0800, filed 10/1/97, effective 11/1/97.]