WSR 98-21-024

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES

(Economic Services Administration)

[Filed October 13, 1998, 2:59 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Revise WAC 388-478-0055 Standards for payments--SSI standards and any related rules.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.620.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: Under provisions in the Social Security Act, the state must expend in the present calendar year at least as much as was spent in the previous calendar year to supplement federal supplemental security income (SSI) benefits. Under state law, program expenditures may not exceed the amount allocated by the legislature.

State expenditures for calendar year 1998 may need to be adjusted due to unanticipated fluctuation in the SSI caseload. If state expenditures continue to rise, the state will need to adjust the SSI state supplement payment for December 1998.

This rule making is also necessary to pass along the annual federal cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for the SSI program in January 1999.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

Process for Developing New Rule: The Department of Social and Health Services welcomes the public to take part in developing the rule(s). Anyone interested in participating should contact the staff person indicated below. After the rule is drafted, DSHS will file a copy with the Office of the Code Reviser with a notice of proposed rule making and send a copy to everyone currently on the mailing list or anyone who requests a copy.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Barbara Hargrave, Program Manager, Division of Assistance Programs, Lacey Government Center, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, phone (360) 413-3104, fax (360) 413-3493, e-mail hargrabe@dshs.wa.gov.

October 12, 1998

Marie Myerchin-Redifer, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit