Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department plans to repeal WAC 388-478-0010 Households with obligations to pay shelter costs; and amend WAC 388-478-0005 Cash assistance need and payment standards and grant maximum, 388-478-0006 The clothing, personal maintenance, and necessary incidentals (CPI) payment standard for cash assistance, 388-478-0015 Need standards for cash assistance, 388-478-0020 Payment standards for TANF, SFA, and RCA, 388-478-0027 What are the payment standards for pregnant women assistance (PWA)?, 388-478-0033 What are the payment standards for aged, blind, or disabled (ABD) cash assistance?, 388-478-0090 What are the monthly income limits for the aged, blind, and disabled (ABD) cash assistance and housing and essential needs (HEN) referral program?, 388-418-0020 How does the department determine the date a change affects my cash and basic food benefits?, and other related rules as may be required.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Amendments planned under this filing will remove references to separate cash assistance standards for households with shelter provided at no cost per the 2020 supplemental operating budget (ESSB 6168, chapter 357, Laws of 2020).

Process for Developing New Rule: The department of social and health services (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 Jennie Fitzpatrick, Economic Services Administration, Community Services Division, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, phone 360-725-4648, fax 360-725-4905, email jennie.fitzpatrick@dshs.wa.gov; or Kathryn Gussett, Economic Services Administration, Community Services Division, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, phone 360-725-4658, fax 360-725-4905, email kat.gussett@dshs.wa.gov.