Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department of social and health services (department) is planning to amend WAC 388-408-0035 Who is in my assistance unit for basic food?, 388-450-0140 How does the income of an ineligible assistance unit member affect my eligibility and benefits for basic food?, 388-489-0005 Who is eligible for transitional food assistance?, 388-489-0010 How is my transitional food assistance benefit calculated?, and other related rules as required.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, and 74.08A.010.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Effective January 1, 2024, planned amendments will implement SSB 5785 (chapter 98, Laws of 2022) and allow the department to provide transitional food assistance (TFA) for a period of five months to households that stop receiving temporary assistance for needy families and are not in full-family sanction status. If a household member has been in WorkFirst sanction, but the household is still receiving benefits, the remaining eligible household members may receive TFA.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service.

Process for Developing New Rule: The department invites the interested public to review and provide input on the draft language of this rule. Draft material and information about how to participate may be obtained from the department representative listed below.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Joyce Hensen, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, phone 425-999-5162, email joyce.hensen@dshs.wa.gov.