PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The community services division is proposing to amend WAC 388-450-0005 How does the department decide if I own a type of income and if this income is available to meet my needs?, 388-450-0100 Allocating income -- Definitions, 388-450-0106 How does the department count my income if someone in my family cannot get assistance because of their alien status?, 388-450-0140 How does the income of an ineligible assistance unit member affect eligibility and benefits for Basic Food?, 388-450-0155 How does being a sponsored immigrant affect my eligibility for cash, medical and food assistance programs?, 388-450-0156 When am I exempt from deeming?, 388-450-0160 How does the department decide how much of my sponsor's income to count against my benefits?, 388-470-0060 How does the department decide how much of my sponsor's resources affect my eligibility for cash, and medical, and food assistance benefits?, and any other related WACs.
Also, the department is proposing to create a new WAC 388-450-0157 When is my sponsor not liable to repay state or federal benefits?
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, and 74.08.090.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department is proposing to clarify how sponsor's income and resources are deemed available to the sponsored immigrants. The proposed changes will bring our rules into conformance with the federal guidance on sponsored deeming.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: DSHS welcomes the public to take part in developing the rules. Anyone interested should contact the staff person identified below. At a later date, DSHS will file a proposal with the office of the code reviser with a notice of proposed rule making. A copy of the proposal will be sent to everyone on the mailing list and to anyone who requests a copy.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Tom Berry, Program Manager, Community Services Division, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, phone (360) 725-4617, fax (360) 725-4905, e-mail Berrytj@DSHS.WA.GOV.
August 15, 2008
Stephanie E. Schiller
Rules Coordinator