WSR 12-12-049

EMERGENCY RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)

[ Filed June 1, 2012, 9:27 a.m. , effective June 1, 2012, 9:27 a.m. ]


     Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.

     Purpose: The department is proposing to amend by emergency adoption WAC 388-478-0005 Cash assistance need and payment standards and grant maximum.

     The department is proposing to increase the cash assistance grant maximum to an eight person household for temporary assistance for needy families (TANF), state family assistance (SFA) and refugee cash assistance (RCA) starting July 1, 2012. The current grant maximum cannot exceed seven hundred and twenty-six dollars. This change may affect households with six or more members.

     This change is necessary to comply with the 2011-2013 revised omnibus operating budget as mandated under 3ESHB 2127, Laws of 2012.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-478-0005.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08A.100, 74.04.770, and 74.08.090.

     Other Authority: 3ESHB 2127.

     Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest; and that in order to implement the requirements or reductions in appropriations enacted in any budget for fiscal year 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 or 2013, which necessitates the need for the immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the fiscal needs or requirements of the agency.

     Reasons for this Finding: See above.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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 23, 2012.

Katherine I. Vasquez

Rules Coordinator

4366.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 11-21-024, filed 10/11/11, effective 11/11/11)

WAC 388-478-0005   Cash assistance need and payment standards and grant maximum.   (1) Need standards for cash assistance programs represent the amount of income required by individuals and families to maintain a minimum and adequate standard of living. Need standards are based on assistance unit size and include basic requirements for food, clothing, shelter, energy costs, transportation, household maintenance and operations, personal maintenance, and necessary incidentals.

     (2) Payment standards for assistance units in medical institutions and other facilities are based on the need for clothing, personal maintenance, and necessary incidentals (see WAC 388-478-0040 and 388-478-0045).

     (3) Need and payment standards for persons and families who do not reside in medical institutions and other facilities are based on their obligation to pay for shelter.

     (a) Eligibility and benefit levels for persons and families who meet the requirements in WAC 388-478-0010 are determined using standards for assistance units with an obligation to pay shelter costs.

     (b) Eligibility and benefit levels for all other persons and families are determined using standards for assistance units who have shelter provided at no cost.

     (c) For recent arrivals to Washington state who apply for temporary assistance for needy families (TANF), see WAC 388-468-0005.

     (4) ((Effective May 1, 2011)) Starting July 1, 2012, the monthly cash assistance grant for an assistance unit cannot exceed ((seven hundred and twenty-six dollars)) the payment standard for a family of eight listed in WAC 388-478-0020(1).

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08A.100, 74.04.770, and 74.08.090. 11-21-024, § 388-478-0005, filed 10/11/11, effective 11/11/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08A.100, 74.04.770, 74.08.090, and 2008 c 329 § 207 (1)(e). 08-21-134, § 388-478-0005, filed 10/20/08, effective 10/28/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057. 04-05-010, § 388-478-0005, filed 2/6/04, effective 3/8/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-478-0005, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]

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