Date of Adoption: February 6, 2003.

     Purpose: Amending WAC 388-444-0035 When am I (able-bodied adult with no dependents) exempt from ABAWD provisions. Amending this rule is necessary to implement a federal regulation that exempts some able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) clients from time-limited food assistance benefits. If there is a food assistance household member under the age of eighteen, then all adult household members are exempt from the ABAWD time limits and ABAWD requirements. Some clients are receiving incorrect food assistance benefits based on the current rule. The proposed rule adopts without material change language in federal rule 7 C.F.R. 273.24 (c)(4).

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-444-0035.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050 and 74.04.510.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 03-01-062 on December 11, 2002.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.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: April 1, 2003.

February 6, 2003

Brian H. Lindgren, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

     (1) Under eighteen or fifty years of age or older;

     (2) Determined to be physically or mentally unable to work;

     (3) A ((parent or other)) member of a household with responsibility for a ((dependent child under eighteen years of age or a)) person determined to be incapacitated;

     (4) An adult in a household that has a member who is under the age of eighteen, even when the child is an ineligible household member;

     (5) Pregnant;

     (((5))) (6) Living in an area approved as exempt by U.S. Department of Agriculture;

     (((6))) (7) Complying with the work requirements of an employment and training program under temporary assistance for needy families (TANF);

     (((7))) (8) Applying for or receiving unemployment compensation;

     (((8))) (9) Students enrolled at least half time as defined by the institution in:

     (a) Any accredited school;

     (b) Training program; or

     (c) Institution of higher education. A student enrolled in higher education must follow the student criteria defined in chapter 388-482 WAC.

     (((9))) (10) Participating in a chemical dependency treatment program;

     (((10))) (11) Employed a minimum of thirty hours per week or receiving weekly earnings which equal the minimum hourly rate multiplied by thirty hours;

     (((11))) (12) Eligible for one of the annual federal-approved exemption slots under what is called the fifteen percent exemption rule.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050 and 74.04.510. 00-04-006, § 388-444-0035, filed 1/20/00, effective 3/1/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510. 99-07-024, § 388-444-0035, filed 3/10/99, effective 4/10/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-444-0035, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]

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