Date of Adoption: December 12, 2000.

Purpose: The revision was done to expand eligibility for ongoing additional requirements to include those individuals who are receiving state family assistance (SFA) and tribal TANF.

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-473-0010.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 00-22-062 on October 27, 2000.

Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: Added descriptions of "aged," "blind," and "disabled."

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.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: February 1, 2001.

December 12, 2000

Marie Myerchin-Redifer, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

(1) We may authorize ongoing additional requirement benefits if you are:

(a) Eligible for temporary assistance for needy families (TANF), Tribal TANF, state family assistance (SFA), refugee or general assistance cash, or SSI payments; and

(b) Aged((,)): You are age sixty-five or older;

(c) Blind((,)): You have central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the use of a correcting lens or limited fields of vision so the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle of no greater than twenty degrees; or

(d) Disabled: You are unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity due to a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that:

(i) Can be expected to result in death; or

(ii) Has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months..

(2) You may apply for ongoing additional requirement benefits by asking for it from staff that maintain your cash or medical assistance.

(3) We authorize ongoing additional requirement benefits only when we determine the item is essential to you. In deciding if you are eligible for ongoing additional requirement benefits, we consider and verify:

(a) The circumstances that created the need; and

(b) Your health, safety and ability to continue to live independently.

(4) When we determine ongoing additional requirement benefits are needed, we:

(a) Increase your cash assistance benefit to provide the additional benefits by monthly payment;

(b) Periodically review whether you continue to need the additional benefits. We conduct this review at least:

(i) Twice a year for TANF and refugee cash assistance recipients;

(ii) Yearly for general assistance or SSI recipients when we decide the need is not likely to change; or

(iii) More frequently if we expect your circumstances to change.

(5) Monthly payment standards for ongoing additional requirements are described under WAC 388-478-0050.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090. 00-15-053, 388-473-0010, filed 7/17/00, effective 9/1/00.]

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.

Washington State Code Reviser's Office