WSR 99-14-044

PERMANENT RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)

(WorkFirst Division)

[ Filed June 30, 1999, 10:46 a.m. ]

Date of Adoption: June 30, 1999.

Purpose: The idea for the reemploy Washington workers (RWW) program came from the governor's office. The program will be part of WorkFirst and be administered by Employment Security Department (ESD) in the field. RWW provides rapid reemployment services to low-wage unemployment insurance claimants. This rule was cowritten by DSHS and ESD to comply with Governor Locke's Executive Order 97-02.

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-310-1850 WorkFirst - Reemploy Washington workers.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.050.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 99-11-072 on May 18, 1999.

Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: Add subsection (9)(d), "You may request a fair hearing under chapter 388-08 WAC if you want to appeal the decision of the employment security department regional office."

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.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

2571.2
NEW SECTION
WAC 388-310-1850
Re-employ Washington workers (RWW).

(1) What is the re-employ Washington workers (RWW) program?

Re-employ Washington workers (RWW) is an eight-week job search program administered by the employment security department to help low-income parents connect with jobs as rapidly as possible. RWW participation satisfies unemployment insurance work search requirements while providing additional services and activities.

(2) Who can participate in RWW?

You can participate in RWW if:

(a) You worked and earned enough to establish an unemployment insurance benefit claim (see RCW 50.04.030), regardless of why your job ended; and

(b) Your family’s income was not more than one hundred seventy-five percent of the federal poverty level during the time period on which your unemployment insurance claim is based; and

(c) You do not currently receive TANF or SFA cash assistance; and

(d) You have a dependent child under eighteen years of age living in your household.

(3) How do I get into RWW?

To get into RWW, you must apply for unemployment insurance and establish an unemployment insurance benefit claim. A job service specialist who has been trained to do the RWW program will screen your claim and contact you if it appears that you qualify. The RWW job service specialist will then determine your eligibility based on additional income and family information you provide.

(4) What happens when I participate in RWW?

(a) In addition to any unemployment insurance benefits you receive during your claim period, you also get:

(i) Intensive job referral services (including a thirty-hour, job search workshop within the first four weeks of participation, and access to the resource room);

(ii) Help with paying your child care costs under the working connections child care program (see chapter 388-290 WAC for program rules);

(iii) Support services to help you participate in work and RWW activities, following the guidelines in WAC 388-310-0800.

(b) You may also qualify for cash incentives if you meet the following requirements:

(i) You participate in the RWW program; and

(ii) Go to work within six weeks; and

(iii) Are still working twelve weeks later in a job that takes you off unemployment insurance.

(5) How much of a cash incentive can I receive?

If you return to work with earnings high enough to make you ineligible for unemployment insurance benefits, you can receive a RWW cash incentive once during the time period your unemployment insurance claim is based on. Earnings are calculated in accordance with the unemployment insurance laws in RCW 50.04.320. The cash incentives are as follows:

CASH INCENTIVES
Average gross weekly earnings Employed within four weeks Employed in week five or six Employed in week seven or eight
At or above earnings from your last job* $300 $100 N/A**
Below the earnings from your last job* $200 $100 N/A**
*"Last job" means your most recent job that meets the definition of work in WAC 388-310-0400 (2)(a).

**Although you do not qualify for a cash incentive, you would continue to receive support services and child care assistance provided you continue to participate.

(6) What are the requirements to participate in RWW?

To be eligible for RWW program benefits, you must participate in RWW program activities, including:

(a) Attend a thirty-hour job search workshop as soon as possible (during your first four weeks in the program);

(b) Report to the RWW program site daily during the first four weeks and sign-in to get job leads;

(c) Meet with fellow job seekers to support and encourage each members’ job search efforts (sometimes called the RWW job club);

(d) Report to the RWW program site at least twice a week during weeks five to eight and sign-in to receive job leads.

(7) Can I continue to participate in RWW if I don’t find a job in eight weeks?

Your participation in RWW may be extended for an additional eight weeks if:

(a) You meet the participation requirements and

(b) RWW staff determine that an additional eight weeks of participation is likely to help you find a job.

(8) Can my RWW services be stopped once I enter the program?

If you do not follow RWW program requirements, RWW services will be stopped.

(9) What can I do if I disagree with a decision about my services or benefits?

If you disagree with the decision about your RWW services or benefits:

(a) Ask an RWW job service specialist to take a statement from you explaining the reason you disagree.

(b) To determine if the decision was correct, the employment security department local job service center management will review your statement.

(c) If you disagree with the local management decision, you may request a final review by the employment security department regional office.

(d) You may request a fair hearing under chapter 388-08 WAC if you want to appeal the decision of the employment security department regional office.

(10) Can I go back into the RWW program if there were interruptions in my participation?

RWW job search is designed to last for eight consecutive weeks. If you stopped participating but you are now able and willing to participate, you may complete the balance of your eight-week job search activities and receive the related RWW services and benefits.

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