PROPOSED RULES
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 00-05-109.
Title of Rule: WAC 399-310-0800 Support services.
Purpose: We are amending this rule to make support services available to food stamps E&T families and minor parents, and add new support service limits and categories such as educational expenses, transitional work expense.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.08.090, 74.04.050, and 78.08A.340.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 74.08.090, 74.04.050, and 78.08A.340(2).
Summary: Makes support services available to food stamps E&T families and minor parents, and adds new support service limits and categories such as educational expenses, transitional work expense.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: To implement new policy supporting food stamp E&T families, minor parents and WorkFirst participants.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Ian Horlor, 1009 South College, Olympia, 98504, Mailstop 45480, (360) 413-3247, fax 413-3482, e-mail horloit@dshs.wa.gov.
Name of Proponent: Department of Social and Health Services, governmental.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: Makes support services available to food stamps E&T families and minor parents, and adds new support service limits and categories such as educational expenses, transitional work expense.
Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: Amends WAC 388-310-0800 to add new covered populations, new limits and new categories of support services.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. Does not affect small business.
RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to this rule adoption. This rule change does not meet the definition of a significant legislative rule (see RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(vii)).
Hearing Location: Lacey Government Center (behind Tokyo Bento Restaurant), 1009 College Street S.E., Room 104-B, Lacey, WA 98503, on May 9, 2000, at 10:00 a.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Paige Wall by April 28, 2000, phone (360) 664-6094, TTY (360) 664-6178, e-mail wallpg@dshs.wa.gov.
Submit Written Comments to: Identify WAC Numbers, Paige Wall, Rules Coordinator, Rules and Policies Assistance Unit, P.O. Box 45480, Olympia, WA 98504-5850, fax (360) 664-6185, by May 9, 2000.
Date of Intended Adoption: No sooner than May 10, 2000.
March 30, 2000
Marie Myerchin-Redifer, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit
2707.5
(1) ((Why do
I receive)) Who can get support services?
((Support services help you participate in work and
WorkFirst activities that lead to financial independence. You
can also get help in paying your child care expenses through the
working connections child care assistance program. (Chapter 388-290 WAC describes the rules for this child care assistance
program.)
(2) What support services may I receive?
You may receive support services, including but not limited to any of the following:
(a) Employment related needs such as work clothing or uniforms, tools, equipment, relocation expenses, or fees;
(b) Transportation costs such as mileage reimbursement, public transportation vouchers, and car repair;
(c) Professional services;
(d) Personal needs such as clothing appropriate for job search or other work activities;
(e) Special needs such as accommodations for employment;
(f) Identified specific needs due to location or employment if you are an American Indian;
(g) Job skills training, vocational education and/or basic education if:
(i) It is an approved activity in your individual responsibility plan; and
(ii) You do not qualify for sufficient student financial aid to meet the cost.
(3) When will I get support services?
The department or its agents will decide what support services you will receive, as follows:
(a) You need the support services to do the activities in your individual responsibility plan;
(b) It is within available funds; and
(c) It does not assist, promote, or deter religious activity.
(4) How much support services can I get?
The chart below shows the guidelines for the amount and type of support services you can get. There is a suggested limit of fifteen hundred dollars per person per calendar year for the amount of support services you can receive from the department and/or employment security.
| Type of Support Service | Suggested Limit |
| Accommodation (reasonable) | $1,000 per request |
| Books/supplies (school) | No limit |
| Car repair | $500 per calendar year |
| Clothing–General | Participant–$250 per request Each child–$100 per request |
| Clothing/uniforms–Employment | Participant–$200 per year |
| Clothing/uniforms–Training | No limit |
| Diapers | $50 per child per month |
| Employer reimbursement | No limit |
| GED | No limit |
| Haircut | $40 per request |
| License/fees | $300 per each license or fee |
| Lunch | $15 per event |
| Medical exams (not covered by Medicaid) | $150 per exam |
| Mileage | $0.315 per mile (not to exceed $100 per week) |
| Personal hygiene | $50 per request (up to three times per calendar year) |
| Professional, trade, association, union and bonds | $300 per each due or fee |
| Public transportation | $150 per month |
| Relocation | $1,000 per calendar year |
| Rent, housing, deposits | $500 per calendar year |
| Short-term lodging and meals | $300 per request |
| Testing–Certification | $100 each |
| Testing–Diagnostic | $200 each |
| Tools (training) | No limit |
| Tools/equipment | $300 per request |
| Tutoring | $200 per month |
| Tuition and fees | No limit |
If you request support services from your case manager, you can:
(a) Ask to see a copy of these guidelines;
(b) Ask for an exception, if you are requesting more than the guidelines allow or asking for services or goods not mentioned in the guidelines; and/or
(c) Request a fair hearing, if your request for support services is denied.
(6) What happens to my support services if I do not participate as required?
The department will give you ten days notice, following the rules in WAC 388-418-0030, then discontinue your support services until you participate as required)) (a) WorkFirst participants;
(b) Sanctioned WorkFirst participants during the two-week participation before the sanction is lifted;
(c) Food stamp recipients who:
(i) Have dependent minors in their families; and
(ii) Are participating in food stamp employment and training program (WAC 388-444-0005) by:
(A) Participating in job search, or
(B) Working twenty or more hours a week.
(d) Unmarried or pregnant minors who are income eligible to receive TANF and are:
(i) Living in a department approved living arrangement (WAC 388-486-0005) and are meeting the school requirements (WAC 388-486-0010); or
(ii) Actively working with a social worker to remove the barriers that are preventing the minor from living in a department approved living arrangement and/or meeting the school requirements.
(2) Why do I receive support services?
(a) Support services help you participate in work and WorkFirst activities that lead to financial independence. You can also get help in paying your child care expenses through the working connections child care assistance program. (Chapter 388-290 WAC describes the rules for this child care assistance program.)
(b) Support services help you to keep working, accept a job, and/or participate in job search.
(3) What support services may I receive?
You may receive support services, including but not limited to any of the following:
(a) Employment related needs such as work clothing or uniforms, tools, equipment, relocation expenses, or fees;
(b) Transportation costs such as mileage reimbursement, public transportation vouchers, and car repair;
(c) Professional services;
(d) Personal needs such as clothing appropriate for job search or other work activities;
(e) Special needs such as accommodations for employment;
(f) Identified specific needs due to location or employment if you are an American Indian;
(g) Job skills training, vocational education and/or basic education if:
(i) It is an approved activity in your individual responsibility plan; and
(ii) You do not qualify for sufficient student financial aid to meet the cost.
(h) Transitional work expense of one thousand dollars if:
(i) You are in unsubsidized employment; and
(ii) You are in the assistance unit and receiving a TANF/SFA grant of one hundred dollars or less a month; and
(iii) You or anyone in your assistance unit is not in sanction status; and
(iv) You voluntarily stop receiving your TANF/SFA grant; and
(v) You are an adult and have never received a transitional work expense.
(4) When will I get support services?
The department or its agents will decide what support services you will receive, as follows:
(a) You need the support services to do the activities in your individual responsibility plan, do job search, accept employment or do paid work;
(b) It is within available funds;
(c) It does not assist, promote, or deter religious activity; and
(d) You are a pregnant or parenting minor who is income eligible to receive TANF and you need support services to remove barriers that prevent you from living in a department approved living arrangement and/or meet the school requirements.
(5) How much support services can I get?
The chart below shows the guidelines for the amount and type of support services you can get. There is a suggested limit of three thousand dollars per person per program year (July 1st to June 30th) for support services you can receive from the department and/or employment security.
| Type of Support Service | Suggested Limit |
| Accommodation (reasonable) | $1,000 per request |
| Car repair | $750 per program year |
| Clothing–General | Participant–$250 per request Each child–$100 per request |
| Clothing/uniforms–Employment | Participant–$200 per program year |
| Counseling | No limit |
| Diapers | $50 per child per month |
| Educational expenses | $300 per request |
| Employer reimbursement | No limit |
| Haircut | $40 per request |
| License/fees/liability insurance | $600 per each license, fee or liability insurance request per program year |
| Lunch | Same rate as established by OFM for state employees |
| Medical exams (not covered by Medicaid) | $150 per exam |
| Mileage | Same rate as established by OFM for state employees |
| Personal hygiene | $50 per request (up to three times per program year) |
| Professional, trade, association, union and bonds | $300 per each fee |
| Public transportation | $150 per month |
| Relocation | $1,000 per program year |
| Rent, housing, deposits | $500 per program year |
| Short-term lodging and meals | Same rate as established by OFM for state employees |
| Testing–Diagnostic | $200 each |
| Tools/equipment | $500 per request |
If you request support services from your case manager, you can:
(a) Ask to see a copy of these guidelines;
(b) Ask for an exception, if you are requesting more than the guidelines allow or asking for services or goods not mentioned in the guidelines; and/or
(c) Request a fair hearing, if your request for support services is denied.
(7) What happens to my support services if I do not participate as required?
(a) The department will give you ten days notice, following the rules in WAC 388-310-1600, then discontinue your support services until you participate as required.
(b) When a food stamp only client receives a food stamp sanction, they cannot receive support services during the sanction period and on-going support services are stopped.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.050. 99-14-043, § 388-310-0800, filed 6/30/99, effective 7/31/99; 97-20-129, § 388-310-0800, filed 10/1/97, effective 11/1/97.]