PERMANENT RULES
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
(Community Services Division)
Effective Date of Rule: July 1, 2012.
Purpose: The community services division is amending WAC 388-310-0200 WorkFirst -- Activities.
Effective July 1, 2012, the department is eliminating the WorkFirst (WF) participation suspension and restoring WF participation requirements for individuals who have taken the suspension from July 1, 2011, through June 30, 2012, as required under ESSB 5921, Laws of 2011. Adults taking the WF suspension will be reengaged in WF participation in a priority order, beginning with those recipients closest to reaching the TANF time limit.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-310-0200.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and chapters 74.08A and 74.12 RCW.
Other Authority: ESSB 5921, chapter 42, Laws of 2011 1st sp. sess.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 12-09-092 on April 4 [18], 2012.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: May 24, 2012.
Katherine I. Vasquez
Rules Coordinator
4355.1(a) You are required to participate in the WorkFirst activities in your individual responsibility plan, and become what is called a "mandatory participant," if you:
(i) Are receiving TANF or SFA cash assistance because you are pregnant or the parent or adult in the home; and
(ii) Are not exempt. For exemptions see WAC 388-310-0300 and 388-310-0350.
(b) Participation is voluntary for all other WorkFirst participants (those who no longer receive or have never received TANF or SFA cash assistance).
(c) If you are a mandatory participant who was suspended from WorkFirst participation under RCW 74.08A.260 (8)(a), the department will restore your participation requirements between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013 in a priority order, beginning with participants who are closest to reaching their TANF time limit.
(2) What activities do I participate in when I enter the WorkFirst program?
When you enter the WorkFirst program, you will participate in one or more of the following activities (which are described in more detail in other sections of this chapter):
(a) Paid employment (see WAC 388-310-0400 (2)(a) and 388-310-1500);
(b) Self employment (see WAC 388-310-1700);
(c) Job search (see WAC 388-310-0600);
(d) Community jobs (see WAC 388-310-1300)
(e) Work experience (see WAC 388-310-1100);
(f) On-the-job training (see WAC 388-310-1200);
(g) Vocational educational training (see WAC 388-310-1000);
(h) Basic education activities (see WAC 388-310-0900);
(i) Job skills training (see WAC 388-310-1050);
(j) Community service (see WAC 388-310-1400);
(k) Activities provided by tribal governments for tribal members and other American Indians (see WAC 388-310-1400(1) and 388-310-1900);
(l) Other activities identified by your case manager on your individual responsibility plan that will help you with situations such as drug and/or alcohol abuse, homelessness, or mental health issues; and/or
(m) Activities identified by your case manager on your individual responsibility plan to help you cope with family violence as defined in WAC 388-61-001; and/or
(n) Up to ten hours of financial literacy activities to help you become self-sufficient and financially stable.
(3) If I am a mandatory participant, how much time must I spend doing WorkFirst activities?
If you are a mandatory participant, you will be required to participate in the activities in your individual responsibility plan, and may be required to participate full time, working, looking for work or preparing for work. You might be required to participate in more than one part-time activity at the same time that adds up to full time participation. You will have an individual responsibility plan (described in WAC 388-310-0500) that includes the specific activities and requirements of your participation.
(4) What activities do I participate in after I get a job?
You may be required to participate in other activities, such as job search or training once you are working twenty hours or more a week in a paid unsubsidized job, to bring your participation up to full time.
You may also engage in activities if you are working full time and want to get a better job.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and chapters 74.08A and 74.12 RCW. 10-22-062, § 388-310-0200, filed 10/29/10, effective 12/1/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and 74.08A.340. 09-15-084, § 388-310-0200, filed 7/14/09, effective 8/14/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.08.090, 74.08A.340, and 2006 c 107. 06-24-023, § 388-310-0200, filed 11/29/06, effective 12/30/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08A.010(4), 74.08A.340, 74.08.090, 74.04.050. 02-15-067, § 388-310-0200, filed 7/11/02, effective 8/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08A.340(2), 45 C.F.R. 260.31, RCW 74.08.090, and chapter 74.04 RCW. 00-16-055, § 388-310-0200, filed 7/26/00, effective 8/1/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.04.050. 00-06-062, § 388-310-0200, filed 3/1/00, effective 3/1/00; 99-08-051, § 388-310-0200, filed 4/1/99, effective 5/2/99; 97-20-129, § 388-310-0200, filed 10/1/97, effective 11/1/97.]