PDFWAC 388-400-0005

Who is eligible for temporary assistance for needy families?

(1) You can get temporary assistance for needy families (TANF), if you:
(a) Can be in a TANF/SFA assistance unit as allowed under WAC 388-408-0015 through 388-408-0030;
(b) Meet the citizenship/alien status requirements of WAC 388-424-0010;
(c) Live in the state of Washington. A child must live with a caretaker relative, guardian, or custodian who meets the state residency requirements of WAC 388-468-0005;
(d) Do not live in a public institution unless specifically allowed under RCW 74.08.025;
(e) Meet TANF/SFA:
(i) Income requirements under chapter 388-450 WAC;
(ii) Resource requirements under chapter 388-470 WAC; and
(iii) Transfer of property requirements under chapter 388-488 WAC.
(f) Assign your rights to child support as required under WAC 388-422-0005;
(g) Cooperate with the division of child support (DCS) as required under WAC 388-422-0010 by helping them:
(i) Prove who is the father of children applying for or getting TANF or SFA; and
(ii) Collect child support.
(h) Tell us your Social Security number as required under WAC 388-476-0005;
(i) Cooperate in a review of your eligibility as required under WAC 388-434-0005;
(j) Cooperate in a quality assurance review as required under WAC 388-464-0001;
(k) Participate in the WorkFirst program as required under chapter 388-310 WAC;
(l) Report changes of circumstances as required under WAC 388-418-0005; and
(m) Complete a mid-certification review and provide proof of any changes as required under WAC 388-418-0011.
(2) If you apply for TANF, have not received TANF or SFA within the past thirty days, and will be a mandatory WorkFirst participant as described in WAC 388-310-0200 once approved, you must complete a WorkFirst orientation before we approve your application.
(3) If you are an adult, you must have an eligible child living with you or you must be pregnant and meet the requirements of WAC 388-462-0010.
(4) If you are an unmarried pregnant teen or teen parent:
(a) Your living arrangements must meet the requirements of WAC 388-486-0005; and
(b) You must attend school as required under WAC 388-486-0010.
(5) In addition to rules listed in subsection (1) of this section, a child must meet the following rules to get TANF:
(a) Meet the age requirements under WAC 388-404-0005; and
(b) Live in the home of a relative, court-ordered guardian, court-ordered custodian, or other adult acting in loco parentis as required under WAC 388-454-0005; or
(c) If the child lives with a parent or other adult relative that provides care for the child, that adult cannot have used up their sixty-month lifetime limit of TANF or SFA cash benefits as defined in WAC 388-484-0005.
(6) You cannot get TANF if you have been:
(a) Convicted of certain felonies and other crimes under WAC 388-442-0010; or
(b) Convicted of unlawful practices to get public assistance under WAC 388-446-0005 or 388-446-0010.
(7) If you are a client in a household which is eligible for a tribal TANF program, you cannot receive state and tribal TANF in the same month.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.021, 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.025, 74.08.090, 74.09.035, 74.09.530, 74.62.030, chapters 74.08A, and 74.12 RCW. WSR 20-05-046, § 388-400-0005, filed 2/13/20, effective 3/15/20. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.62.030, 74.09.035, 74.08.090, 74.09.530, 41.05.021, 2011 1st sp.s. c 15, and 2013 2nd sp.s. c 10. WSR 14-10-046, § 388-400-0005, filed 4/30/14, effective 6/1/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.025, 74.08.090, chapters 74.08A and 74.12 RCW, and 2011 c 42. WSR 11-22-042, § 388-400-0005, filed 10/27/11, effective 12/1/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090. WSR 06-13-043, § 388-400-0005, filed 6/15/06, effective 7/17/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090. WSR 05-14-100, § 388-400-0005, filed 6/30/05, effective 7/31/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510 and 2004 c 54. WSR 04-23-027, § 388-400-0005, filed 11/8/04, effective 12/9/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090. WSR 04-15-057, § 388-400-0005, filed 7/13/04, effective 8/13/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.057, 2000 2nd sp.s. c 1. WSR 01-03-121, § 388-400-0005, filed 1/22/01, effective 3/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and 74.04.510. WSR 00-05-007, § 388-400-0005, filed 2/4/00, effective 3/6/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. WSR 98-16-044, § 388-400-0005, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]