PDFWAC 388-418-0011

What is a mid-certification review, and do I have to complete one in order to keep receiving benefits?

(1) A mid-certification review (MCR) is a form we send you to ask about your current circumstances during your certification period. We use the answers you give us to decide if you are still eligible for benefits and to calculate your monthly benefits.
(2) If you receive cash assistance or basic food benefits, you must complete a mid-certification review unless you meet one of the exceptions below:
(a) You do not have to complete a mid-certification review for cash assistance if you:
(i) Receive refugee cash assistance as described under WAC 388-400-0030;
(ii) Receive aged, blind, or disabled (ABD) program assistance as described under WAC 388-400-0060;
(iii) Receive a referral to the housing and essential needs (HEN) program as described under WAC 388-400-0070; or
(iv) Have a review period of six months or less.
(b) You do not have to complete a mid-certification review for basic food if:
(i) Your assistance unit has a certification period of six months or less; or
(ii) Your assistance unit consists only of elderly or disabled adults, or qualifies for the elderly simplified application project (ESAP), and does not have earned income.
(3) When we send the review form:
If you must complete a MCR ...
We send your review form ...
(a) For one program such as basic food.
In the fifth month of your certification or review period. You must complete your review by the 10th day of month six.
(b) If you are no longer eligible for ESAP but remain eligible for basic food for the remainder of a 36-month certification period converted from an ESAP certification.
In the 11th and 23rd months of your certification period when your certification period has more than 13 months remaining of the 36-month certification period. You must complete your review by the 10th day of the 12th month or the 24th month or both of the certification period.
(c) For two or more programs, and all programs have a 12-month certification or review period.
In the fifth month of your certification or review period. You must complete your review by the 10th day of month six.
(d) For basic food and another program when either program has a certification or review period between six and 12 months.
In the fifth month of your basic food certification period when you receive basic food and another program. You must complete your review by the 10th day of month six of your basic food certification.
(4) If you must complete a mid-certification review, we send you the review form with questions about your current circumstances. You can choose to complete the review form online, or in one of the following ways:
(a) Complete the form and return it to us. For us to count your mid-certification review as complete, you must take all of the steps below:
(i) Complete the review form, telling us about changes in your circumstances we ask about;
(ii) Sign and date the form;
(iii) Give us proof of any changes you report. If you report a change that will increase your benefits without giving proof of this change, we will not increase your benefits;
(iv) If you receive temporary assistance for needy families and you are working or self-employed, you must give us proof of your income even if it has not changed; and
(v) Mail or turn in the completed form and any required proof to us by the due date on the review.
(b) Complete the mid-certification review over the phone. For us to count your mid-certification review as complete, you must take all of the steps below:
(i) Contact us at the phone number on the review form, telling us about changes in your circumstances we ask about;
(ii) Give us proof of any changes you report. We may be able to verify some information over the phone. If you report a change that will increase your benefits without giving proof of this change, we will not increase your benefits;
(iii) If you receive temporary assistance for needy families and you are working or self-employed, you must give us proof of your income even if it has not changed; and
(iv) Mail or turn in any required proof to us by the due date on the review.
(c) Complete the application process for another program. If we approve an application for another program in the month you must complete your mid-certification review, we use the application to complete your review when the same person is head of household for the application and the mid-certification review.
(5) If your benefits change because of what we learned in your mid-certification review, the change takes effect the next month even if this does not give you 10 days' notice before we change your benefits.
(6) If you do not complete your required mid-certification review, we stop your benefits at the end of the month the review was due.
(7) Late reviews. If you complete the mid-certification review after the last day of the month the review was due, we process the review as described below based on when we receive the review:
(a) Mid-certification reviews you complete by the last day of the month after the month the review was due: We determine your eligibility for ongoing benefits. If you are eligible, we reinstate your benefits based on the information in the review.
(b) Mid-certification reviews you complete after the last day of the month after the month the review was due: We treat this review as a request to send you an application. For us to determine if you are eligible for benefits, you must complete the application process as described in chapter 388-406 WAC.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, and 74.08A.902. WSR 24-13-020, § 388-418-0011, filed 6/6/24, effective 7/7/24. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.04.655, 74.04.770, 74.08.025, 74.08.043, 74.08.090, 74.08.335, 74.08A.100, 74.09.530, 74.62.030, and 2022 c 297 § 205(21). WSR 22-17-080, § 388-418-0011, filed 8/17/22, effective 9/17/22. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.04.510 and 2020 c 357. WSR 20-20-004, § 388-418-0011, filed 9/24/20, effective 10/25/20. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.04.510 and 2011 c 15. WSR 13-09-034, § 388-418-0011, filed 4/11/13, effective 6/1/13. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090 and Public Law 109-171, TANF Interim Final Rule published in the Federal Register - Volume 71, No. 125 on June 29, 2006. WSR 08-02-053, § 388-418-0011, filed 12/28/07, effective 2/1/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090. WSR 06-24-025 and 07-01-023, § 388-418-0011, filed 11/29/06 and 12/8/06, effective 10/1/07; WSR 06-13-043, § 388-418-0011, filed 6/15/06, effective 7/17/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090. WSR 05-09-020, § 388-418-0011, filed 4/12/05, effective 6/1/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, and 2004 c 54. WSR 04-19-134, § 388-418-0011, filed 9/21/04, effective 10/1/04.]