Date of Adoption: September 29, 2003.

     Purpose: The department is amending rules in chapters 388-450, 388-478, and 388-492 WAC to update income, benefit, and deduction standards for basic food and WASHCAP. These changes are necessary to comply with federal requirements for the food stamp program. The following rules are amended, WAC 388-450-0185 Does the department count all of my income to determine my eligibility and benefits for food assistance?, 388-450-0190 How does the department figure my shelter cost income deduction for food assistance?, 388-450-0195 Utility allowances for food assistance programs, 388-478-0060 What are the income limits and maximum benefit amounts for food assistance?, 388-492-0040 Can I choose whether I get WASHCAP or regular food assistance?, and 388-492-0070 How are my Washington state combined application program (WASHCAP) benefits calculated?

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-450-0185, 388-450-0190, 388-450-0195, 388-478-0060, 388-492-0040, and 388-492-0070.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510.

     Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that state or federal law or federal rule or a federal deadline for state receipt of federal funds requires immediate adoption of a rule.

     Reasons for this Finding: The United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) publishes new income standards, maximum benefit amounts, standard deduction, and maximum shelter standards at the end of each federal fiscal year to be used in the next federal fiscal year effective for October benefits. In addition, FNS requires the department to adjust the standard utility allowance and WASHCAP standards each year. These changes must be implemented at the start of each federal fiscal year (October 1). The department filed proposed rules as WSR 03-17-089 to adopt these rules as permanent rules, and a public hearing was held on September 23, 2003.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 6, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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 6, Repealed 0.
     Effective Date of Rule: October 1, 2003.

September 29, 2003

Brian H. Lindgren, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

     (1) Your shelter costs are more than ((four)) five hundred ((ninety-nine)) fourteen dollars a month. We count the following items as a shelter cost:

     (a) Rent or mortgage;

     (b) Property taxes;

     (c) Homeowner's insurance (for the building only); or

     (d) Mandatory homeowner's association or condo fees.

     (2) Your out-of pocket medical expenses are more than thirty-five dollars a month;

     (3) You would get more benefits from being in the ((regular)) Basic Food ((assistance)) program; or

     (4) You are waiting to receive WASHCAP benefits.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510. 03-01-045, § 388-492-0040, filed 12/10/02, effective 1/10/03; 02-15-148, § 388-492-0040, filed 7/22/02, effective 9/1/02; 01-21-058, § 388-492-0040, filed 10/16/01, effective 12/1/01.]

     (1) We begin with your gross income. (Social Security Administration (SSA) tells us how much income you have.)

     (2) We subtract one hundred thirty-four dollars from your gross income to get your countable income.

     (3) We figure your shelter cost as follows:

     (a) If SSA tells us you pay three hundred two dollars or more a month for shelter, we use three hundred ((twelve)) twenty-one dollars as your shelter cost; or

     (b) If SSA tells us you pay less than three hundred ((one)) two dollars ((a month or less)) for shelter, we use one hundred fifty-five dollars as your shelter cost; and

     (c) We add the current standard utility allowance under WAC 388-450-0195 to determine your total shelter cost.

     (4) We figure your shelter deduction by subtracting one half of your countable income from your shelter cost.

     (5) We figure your net income by subtracting your shelter deduction from your countable income.

     (6) We figure your WASHCAP benefits (allotment) by:

     (a) Multiplying your net income by thirty percent and rounding up to the next whole dollar; and

     (b) Subtracting the result from the maximum allotment under WAC 388-478-0060.

     (c) If you are eligible for WASHCAP, your assistance unit will get at least ten dollars food benefits each month.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510. 03-01-045, § 388-492-0070, filed 12/10/02, effective 1/10/03; 02-15-148, § 388-492-0070, filed 7/22/02, effective 9/1/02; 01-21-058, § 388-492-0070, filed 10/16/01, effective 12/1/01.]

     (1) A standard deduction based on the number of people in your AU under WAC 388-408-0035:

Eligible and ineligible AU members	Standard deduction
1	$134
2	$134
3	$134
4	$134
5	$((147)) 149
6 or more	$((168)) 171

     (2) Twenty percent of your AU's gross earned income (earned income deduction);

     (3) Your AU's expected monthly dependent care expense as described below:

     (a) The dependent care must be needed for AU member to:

     (i) Keep work, look for work, or accept work;

     (ii) Attend training or education to prepare for employment; or

     (iii) Meet employment and training requirements under chapter 388-444 WAC.

     (b) We subtract allowable dependent care expenses that are payable to someone outside ((or)) of your AU:

     (i) Up to two hundred dollars for each dependent under age two; and

     (ii) Up to one hundred seventy-five dollars for each dependent age two or older.

     (4) Medical expenses over thirty-five dollars a month owed or anticipated by an elderly or disabled ((household member as described)) person in your AU as allowed under WAC 388-450-0200.

     (5) Legally obligated current or back child support paid to someone outside of your AU:

     (a) For a person who is not in your AU; or

     (b) For a person who is in your AU to cover a period of time when they were not living with you.

     (6) A portion of your shelter costs as described in WAC 388-450-0190.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and H.R. 2646 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. 02-22-044, § 388-450-0185, filed 10/30/02, effective 12/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.510. 99-16-024, § 388-450-0185, 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, § 388-450-0185, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]

     (1) First, we add up the amounts your assistance unit (AU) must pay each month for shelter. We do not count any overdue amounts, late fees, penalties or any amount you pay ahead of time as an allowable cost. We count the following expenses as an allowable shelter cost:

     (a) Ongoing rent, lease, and mortgage payments;

     (b) Property taxes;

     (c) Homeowner's association or condo fees;

     (d) Homeowner's insurance for the building only;

     (e) Utility allowance your AU is eligible for under WAC 388-450-0195;

     (f) Out-of-pocket repairs for the home if it was substantially damaged or destroyed due to a natural disaster such as a fire or flood;

     (g) Expense of a temporarily unoccupied home because of employment, training away from the home, illness, or abandonment caused by a natural disaster or casualty loss if your:

     (i) AU intends to return to the home;

     (ii) AU has current occupants who are not claiming the shelter costs for Basic Food ((assistance)) purposes; and

     (iii) AU's home is not being leased or rented during your AU's absence.

     (2) Second, we subtract all deductions your AU is eligible for under WAC 388-450-0185 (1) through (5) from your AU's gross income. The result is your AU's net income.

     (3) Finally, we subtract one-half of your AU's net income from your AU's total shelter costs. The result is your excess shelter costs. Your AU's shelter cost deduction is the excess shelter costs:

     (a) Up to a maximum of three hundred ((sixty-seven)) seventy-eight dollars if no one in your AU is elderly or disabled and you were found eligible for benefits or were recertified for benefits either on or after March 1, 2001; or

     (b) The entire amount if someone in your AU is elderly or disabled, even if the amount is over three hundred ((sixty-seven)) seventy-eight dollars.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090. 02-22-045, § 388-450-0190, filed 10/30/02, effective 12/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510. 01-21-059, § 388-450-0190, filed 10/16/01, effective 12/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.510. 01-06-030, § 388-450-0190, filed 3/2/01, effective 4/2/01; 99-16-024, § 388-450-0190, 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, § 388-450-0190, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]

     (a) Heating and cooking fuel;

     (b) Cooling and electricity;

     (c) Water and ((sewerage)) sewer;

     (d) Garbage and trash collection; and

     (e) Basic telephone service.

     (2) The department uses the amounts below if you have utility costs separate from your rent or mortgage payment. We add your utility allowance to your rent or mortgage payment to determine your total shelter costs. We use total shelter costs to determine your Basic Food ((assistance)) benefits.

     (a) If you have heating or cooling costs, you get a standard utility allowance (SUA) that depends on your assistance unit's size.

Assistance Unit (AU) Size	Utility Allowance
1	$ ((275)) 287
2	$ ((283)) 295
3	$ ((291)) 304
4	$ ((300)) 313
5	$ ((308)) 321
6 or more	$ ((316)) 330

     (b) If your AU does not qualify for the SUA and you have utility costs other than telephone costs, you get a limited utility allowance (LUA) of two hundred ((fifteen)) twenty-three dollars.

     (c) If your AU has only telephone costs and no other utility costs, you get a telephone utility allowance (TUA) of ((thirty-five)) thirty-six dollars.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090. 02-22-045, § 388-450-0195, filed 10/30/02, effective 12/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510. 01-21-059, § 388-450-0195, filed 10/16/01, effective 12/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510. 00-22-065, § 388-450-0195, filed 10/27/00, effective 11/1/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.040.510 [74.04.510]. 99-24-052, § 388-450-0195, filed 11/29/99, effective 12/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510. 99-09-055, § 388-450-0195, filed 4/19/99, effective 5/20/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510 and 7 CFR 273.9 (d)(6). 99-01-069, § 388-450-0195, filed 12/14/98, effective 1/14/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-450-0195, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]

EFFECTIVE ((10-1-2002)) 10-1-2003
Column A Number of Eligible AU Members	Column B Maximum Gross Monthly Income		Column C Maximum Net Monthly Income		Column D Maximum Allotment		Column E 165% of Poverty Level
1	$((960)) 973		$((739)) 749		$((139)) 141		$((1,219)) 1,235
2	((1,294)) 1,313		((995)) 1,010		((256)) 259		((1,642)) 1,667
3	((1,628)) 1,654		((1,252)) 1,272		((366)) 371		((2,066)) 2,099
4	((1,961)) 1,994		((1,509)) 1,534		((465)) 471		((2,489)) 2,530
5	((2,295)) 2,334		((1,765)) 1,795		((553)) 560		((2,913)) 2,962
6	((2,629)) 2,674		((2,022)) 2,057		((663)) 672		((3,336)) 3,394
7	((2,962)) 3,014		((2,279)) 2,319		((733)) 743		((3,760)) 3,826
8	((3,296)) 3,354		((2,535)) 2,580		((838)) 849		((4,183)) 4,257
9	((3,630)) 3,695		((2,792)) 2,842		((943)) 955		((4,607)) 4,689
10	((3,964)) 4,036		((3,049)) 3,104		((1,048)) 1,061		((5,031)) 5,121
Each Additional Member	+((334)) 341		+((257)) 262		+((105)) 106		+((424)) 432

     Exceptions:

     (1) If your AU is categorically eligible as under WAC 388-414-0001, your AU does not have to meet the gross or net income standards in columns B and C. We do budget your AU's income to decide the amount of Basic Food ((assistance)) your AU will receive.

     (2) If your AU includes a member who is sixty years of age or older or has a disability, your income must be at or below the limit in column C only.

     (3) If you are sixty years of age or older and cannot buy and cook your own meals because of a permanent disability, we will use column E to decide if you can be a separate AU.

     (4) If your AU has zero income, your benefits are the maximum allotment in column D, based on the number of eligible members in your AU.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090. 02-21-050, § 388-478-0060, filed 10/14/02, effective 12/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510. 01-21-059, § 388-478-0060, filed 10/16/01, effective 12/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510, 74.08.090. 00-23-013, § 388-478-0060, filed 11/3/00, effective 12/4/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510. 99-24-053, § 388-478-0060, filed 11/29/99, effective 12/30/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.510. 99-16-024, § 388-478-0060, filed 7/26/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.500, 74.04.510, 74.08.090. 99-05-074, § 388-478-0060, filed 2/17/99, effective 3/20/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-478-0060, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]

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