(1) Applications for small business assistance grants must be submitted online or in another format approved by the department. To be approved, an application must contain:

(a) The name and Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number of the employee taking leave;

(b) The amount and type of grant being requested;

(c) An explanation summarizing any personnel or significant additional wage-related costs that were taken because of an employee taking leave; and

(d) Written documentation including, but not limited to, personnel records related to the hiring of a new temporary employee, wage reports, and signed statements, showing the temporary worker hired or significant additional wage-related costs incurred are due to an employee's use of leave.

(2) Incomplete applications will not be reviewed and will not count against an employer's limit of ten applications per year under RCW 50A.24.010(4).

(3) The department will deny the application for reasons including, but not limited to, the employer's failure to demonstrate that:

(a) It hired a temporary worker or incurred any significant additional wage-related costs; or

(b) The temporary worker hired or significant additional wage-related cost incurred was not due to an employee's use of family or medical leave.

(4) If a grant application is denied, the application will count against an employer's limit of ten applications per year.

(5) The denial of a grant application is appealable.