WSR 23-23-054
PERMANENT RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
[Filed November 8, 2023, 7:30 a.m., effective January 1, 2024]
Effective Date of Rule: January 1, 2024.
Purpose: The department is amending WAC 388-436-0050 Determining financial need and benefit amount for CEAP, 388-478-0020 Payment standards for TANF, SFA, and RCA, 388-478-0027 What is the payment standard for pregnant women assistance (PWA)?, 388-478-0033 What are the payment standards for aged, blind, or disabled (ABD) cash assistance?, and 388-478-0035 What are the maximum earned income limits for TANF, SFA, PWA, and RCA?
Effective January 1, 2024, these amendments implement an eight percent payment standard increase for the temporary assistance for needy families, state family assistance, refugee cash assistance, aged, blind, or disabled, and pregnant women assistance programs, as approved via the 2024-2025 operating budget. The amendments also update net income limits and allowable benefit amounts for the consolidated emergency assistance program.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-436-0050, 388-478-0020, 388-478-0027, 388-478-0033, and 388-478-0035.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.04.770, 74.08.090, and 74.08A.230.
Other Authority: 2024-2025 Operating budget (ESSB 5187, chapter 475, Laws of 2023).
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 23-17-009 on August 4, 2023.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 5, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 5, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: November 8, 2023.
Katherine I. Vasquez
Rules Coordinator
SHS-4994.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 22-19-094, filed 9/21/22, effective 10/22/22)
WAC 388-436-0050Determining financial need and benefit amount for CEAP.
(1) To be eligible for the consolidated emergency assistance program (CEAP), the assistance unit's nonexcluded income, minus allowable deductions, must be less than or equal to 90 percent of the temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) payment standard. The net income limit for CEAP assistance units is:
Assistance unit members
Net income limit
1
(($375))$405
2
((475))513
3
((589))636
4
((694))749
5
((799))863
6
((908))981
7
((1,049))1,132
8
((1,160))1,253
9
((1,274))1,376
10 or more
((1,385))1,496
(2) The assistance unit's allowable amount of need is the lesser of:
(a) The TANF payment standard, based on assistance unit size, as specified under WAC 388-478-0020; or
(b) The assistance unit's actual emergent need, not to exceed maximum allowable amounts, for the following items:
Need item: Maximum allowable amount by assistance unit size:
 
1
 
2
 
3
 
4
 
5
 
6
 
7
 
8
 
9
 
10 or more
 
Food
(($253))$273
 
(($322))$348
 
(($397))$429
 
(($469))$507
 
(($539))$582
 
(($612))$661
 
(($699))$755
 
(($773))$835
 
(($864))$933
 
(($939))$1,014
 
Shelter
((308))333
 
((390))421
 
((485))524
 
((572))618
 
((657))710
 
((744))804
 
((863))932
 
((952))1,028
 
((1,048))1,132
 
((1,139))1,230
 
Clothing
((36))
39
 
((45))
49
 
((56))
60
 
((66))
71
 
((76))
82
 
((89))
96
 
((98))
106
 
((112))
121
 
((127))
137
 
((139))
150
 
Minor medical care
((214))231
 
((273))295
 
((338))365
 
((397))429
 
((458))495
 
((516))557
 
((603))651
 
((665))718
 
((736))795
 
((800))864
 
Utilities
((105))113
 
((132))143
 
((163))
176
 
((191)) 206
 
((220))238
 
((253))273
 
((292))315
 
((322))348
 
((354))382
 
((385))416
 
Household maintenance
((76))
82
 
((97))105
 
((121))131
 
((140))151
 
((163))176
 
((185))200
 
((214))231
 
((235))254
 
((255))275
 
((277))299
 
Job related transportation
((417))450
 
((528))570
 
((654))706
 
((771))833
 
((888))959
 
((1,009))1,090
 
((1,165))1,258
 
((1,289))1,392
 
((1,416))1,529
 
((1,539))1,662
 
Child related transportation
((417))450
 
((528))570
 
((654))706
 
((771))833
 
((888))959
 
((1,009))1,090
 
((1,165))1,258
 
((1,289))1,392
 
((1,416))1,529
 
((1,539))1,662
 
(3) The assistance unit's CEAP payment is determined by computing the difference between the allowable amount of need, as determined under subsection (2) of this section, and the total of:
(a) The assistance unit's net income, as determined under subsection (1) of this section and WAC 388-436-0045;
(b) Cash on hand, if not already counted as income; and
(c) The value of other nonexcluded resources available to the assistance unit.
(4) The assistance unit is not eligible for CEAP if the amount of income and resources, as determined in subsection (3) of this section, is equal to or exceeds its allowable amount of need.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 21-21-054, filed 10/15/21, effective 11/15/21)
WAC 388-478-0020Payment standards for TANF, SFA, and RCA.
The maximum monthly payment standards for temporary assistance for needy families (TANF), state family assistance (SFA), and refugee cash assistance (RCA) assistance units are:
Assistance unit size
Payment standard
Assistance unit size
Payment standard
1
(($417))$450
 
6
(($1,009))$1,090
 
2
((528))570
 
7
((1,165))1,258
 
3
((654))706
 
8
((1,289))1,392
 
4
((771))833
 
9
((1,416))1,529
 
5
((888))959
 
10 or more
((1,539))1,662
 
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 21-21-054, filed 10/15/21, effective 11/15/21)
WAC 388-478-0027What is the payment standard for pregnant women assistance (PWA)?
The payment standard for a PWA cash assistance unit is:
Assistance Unit Size
Payment Standard
1
(($417))$450
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 23-01-057, filed 12/14/22, effective 1/14/23)
WAC 388-478-0033What are the payment standards for aged, blind, or disabled (ABD) cash assistance?
(1) The maximum monthly payment standards for aged, blind, or disabled (ABD) cash assistance program assistance units are:
Assistance Unit Size
Payment Standard
1
(($417))$450
2
(($528))570
(2) ABD clothing, personal maintenance, and necessary incidentals (CPI) payment standards are listed in WAC 388-478-0006.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 21-21-054, filed 10/15/21, effective 11/15/21)
WAC 388-478-0035What are the maximum earned income limits for TANF, SFA, PWA, and RCA?
To be eligible for temporary assistance for needy families (TANF), state family assistance (SFA), refugee cash assistance (RCA), or ((a)) pregnant women assistance (PWA), a family's gross earned income must be below the following levels:
Number of family members
Maximum earned income level
Number of family members
Maximum monthly earned income level
1
(($834))$900
 
6
(($2,018))$2,180
 
2
((1,056))1,140
 
7
((2,330))2,516
 
3
((1,308))1,412
 
8
((2,578))2,784
 
4
((1,542))1,666
 
9
((2,832))3,058
 
5
((1,776))1,918
 
10 or more
((3,078))3,324