WSR 01-18-036

PERMANENT RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)

[ Filed August 28, 2001, 3:36 p.m. , effective October 1, 2001 ]

Date of Adoption: August 23, 2001.

Purpose: To clarify existing policy and to incorporate into rule that the department does not apply expedited services for clients who reapply for food assistance benefits before their certification period ends.

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-406-0015.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.510 and 74.08.090.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 01-14-057 on June 29, 2001.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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

August 23, 2001

Brian H. Lindgren, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

2956.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 00-06-015, filed 2/22/00, effective 4/1/00)

WAC 388-406-0015   ((Expedited service for)) Can I get food assistance((.)) right away?   (1) When ((you give us)) the department gets your food assistance application, ((the department will)) we look at your ((situation)) circumstances to see if you can get benefits within five calendar days. This ((fast service)) is called "expedited service." (("Day one" of the five-day period is, most often, the day after you give us your application. See subsection (7) below for situations for applicants when "day one" is a different day.))

(2) To get expedited service, you must provide proof of ((your identity)) who you are and meet one of these three conditions:

(a) You have available cash of one hundred dollars or less and have monthly income before taxes under one hundred fifty dollars; or

(b) Your monthly income before taxes plus available cash is less than the total of your shelter costs such as your rent or mortgage and ((utility allowance)) utilities; or

(c) You ((have)) are a destitute migrant or seasonal farm worker household ((member)), as defined in WAC 388-406-0021, ((whose)) and your household's available cash does not exceed one hundred dollars.

(3) To determine the amount of utilities to use to decide if you can get expedited services, we allow:

(a) The standard utility allowance (SUA) under WAC 388-450-0195, if you have heating or cooling costs and the SUA is greater than the amount you pay; or

(b) The amount you pay, if it is greater than the SUA.

(4) If you are eligible for expedited service and are not required to have an office interview, you can:

(a) Have a telephone interview or a home visit; and

(b) Still get benefits within five-days.

(5) If you are an applicant, "day one" of your five-day expedited service period starts on the:

(a) Day after the date your application is filed; or

(b) Date of the rescheduled interview when you are screened as expedited service eligible but do not show up for your initial interview; or

(c) Date you are released from a public institution if you are an SSI recipient; or

(d) Date of your interview when you:

(i) Waive your expedited interview and are found eligible for expedited service during your rescheduled interview; or

(ii) Are screened as ineligible for expedited service and later found eligible for the service during your interview; or

(iii) Do not request expedited service on the application and are found eligible for the service during your interview.

(6) If you get expedited service, we give you benefits for no more than two months. If we need additional information to decide if you are eligible for continued benefits, you have up to thirty days from the ((time you apply to provide other information we need before we can give you more benefits.

(4))) date of application to give us the information.

(7) If you have received expedited service in the past, you can get this service again if you meet the requirements listed in subsection (2) above and you:

(a) ((Provided)) Gave us all the information we needed to prove eligibility for your last expedited service benefit period; or

(b) ((Had another benefit period under regular nonexpedited processing after your last expedited service benefit period.

(5) If you are eligible for expedited service and are not required to have an office interview, you can:

(a) Have a telephone interview or home visit; and

(b) Still get benefits within the five-day expedited time period.

(6) If you are denied expedited service, you can ask for a department review of your case. The review will take place within two working days from the date you were denied expedited service.

(7) If you are an applicant, your five-day expedited service period starts on the:

(a) Date of the rescheduled interview when you are screened as expedited service eligible but do not show up for your initial interview;

(b) Date you prove your identity if you do not provide proof at the initial interview;

(c) Date of your interview when you:

(i) Waive your expedited interview and are found eligible for expedited service during your rescheduled interview;

(ii) Are screened as ineligible for expedited service and later found eligible for the service during your interview; or

(iii) Do not request expedited service on the application and are found eligible for the service during your interview.

(d) Date you are released from a public institution if you are a SSI recipient.

(8) If you request expedited service on a recertification form, your five-day period:

(a) Starts the first day of your new certification period when you reapply before the end of your current certification period;

(b) Is the same as a new application when you reapply after the current certification period ends; or

(c) Starts the day of your interview if you cause a delay in the recertification)) Were certified under normal processing standards after your last expedited certification.

(8) If you reapply and request expedited service before your certification period ends, you are not eligible for expedited service.

(9) If you reapply after your certification period ends and request expedited service, your five-day expedited service period is the same as a new application.

(10) If you are denied expedited service, you can ask for a department review of your case. We review the decision within two working days from the date we denied you expedited service.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510 and Section 11 (e)(9) of the Food Stamp Act. 00-06-015, 388-406-0015, filed 2/22/00, effective 4/1/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.510. 99-16-024, 388-406-0015, filed 7/26/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, 388-406-0015, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]

Washington State Code Reviser's Office