Date of Adoption: May 15, 2002.

     Purpose: The division of employment and assistance programs is amending this rule to reduce the program cost of support services. The changes will increase the efficiency of support services while maintaining program integrity. The tools and license allowance in [is] no longer per request but only available once a program year. A new category, transportation allotment, is being added giving set amounts of transportation support per month. If a client gets diversion cash assistance prior to the second payment of the early exit bonus, it disqualifies the client from receiving the second $500 payment.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-310-0800.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.08.090, 74.04.050, 78.08A.340, and 99-14-043.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 02-07-112 on March 20, 2002.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
     Effective Date of Rule: July 1, 2002.

May 15, 2002

Brian H. Lindgren, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

     People who can get support services include:

     (a) WorkFirst participants who receive a TANF cash grant;

     (b) Sanctioned WorkFirst participants during the two-week participation before the sanction is lifted;

     (c) 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) Are actively working with a social worker and need support services to remove the barriers that are preventing them from living in a department approved living arrangements and/or meeting the school requirements.

     (d) Former WorkFirst recipients who are working at least twenty hours or more per week for up to one year after leaving TANF if they need support services to meet a temporary emergency. This can include up to four weeks of support services if they lose a job and are looking for another one (see also WAC 388-310-1800); or

     (e) American Indians who receive a TANF cash grant and have identified specific needs due to location or employment.

     (2) Why do I receive support services?

     Although not an entitlement, you may receive support services for the following reasons:

     (a) To help you participate in work and WorkFirst activities that lead to independence.

     (b) To help you to participate in job search, accept a job, keep working, advance in your job and/or increase your wages.

     (c) 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.)

     (3) What type of support services may I receive and what limits apply?

     There is a limit of three thousand dollars per person per program year (July 1st to June 30th) for WorkFirst support services you may receive. Most types of support services have dollar limits.

     The chart below shows the types of support services that are available for the different activities (as indicated by an "x") and the limits that apply.

     Definitions:

     • Work-related activities include looking for work or participating in workplace activities, such as community jobs or a work experience position.

     •• Safety-related activities include meeting significant or emergency family safety needs, such as dealing with family violence. When approved, safety-related support services can exceed the dollar or category limits listed below.

     ••• Some support services are available if you need them for other required activities in your IRP.

Type of support service	Limit	• Work	•• Safety	••• Other
Reasonable accommodation for employment	$1,000 for each request	x
Clothing/uniforms	$200 per adult per program year	x
Diapers	$50 per child per month	x
((Employer reimbursement))	((Reimburse 50 percent of employer costs during on-the-job training))	((x))
Haircut	$40 per each request	x
Lunch	Same rate as established by OFM for state employees	x
Personal hygiene	$50 per adult per program year	x
Professional, trade, association, union and bonds	$300 for each fee	x
Relocation related to employment (can include rent, housing, and deposits)	$1,000 per program year	x
Short-term lodging and meals in connection with job interviews/tests	Same rate as established by OFM for state employees	x
Tools/equipment	$500 ((for each request)) per program year	x
Car repair needed to restore car to operable condition	$500 per program year	x	x
License/fees/liability insurance	$600 per ((each license, fee or liability insurance request per)) program year	x	x
Mileage, transportation, and/or public transportation	Same rate as established by OFM for state employees	x	x
Transportation allotment	Up to: $10 for immediate need, or $20 twice a month if you live within 40 miles of your local WorkFirst office, or $30 twice a month if you live more than 40 miles from your local WorkFirst office.	x	x
Counseling	No limit	x	x	x
Educational expenses	$300 for each request if it is an approved activity in your IRP and you do not qualify for sufficient student financial aid to meet the cost	x		x
Medical exams (not covered by Medicaid)	$150 per exam	x	x	x
Public transportation	$150 per month	x	x	x
Testing-diagnostic	$200 each	x	x	x

     (4) What are the other requirements to receive support services?

     Other restrictions on receiving support services are determined by the department or its agents. They will decide what support services you receive, as follows:

     (a) It is within available funds; and

     (b) It does not assist, promote, or deter religious activity; and

     (c) There is no other way to meet the cost.

     (5) What is a transitional work expense?

     (a) A transitional work expense is a special type of support services that is only paid once in a lifetime. It is authorized in two payments of five hundred dollars to cover your work expenses and help you exit TANF sooner and stay off of assistance longer. The first payment is made in the month after your TANF grant closes if you can show you have a plan for staying employed and off of TANF. ((The second payment is paid if you are still employed and off of TANF three months later.))

     (b) To qualify for the first transitional work expense payment of five hundred dollars, you must also meet the following conditions:

     (i) You are in unsubsidized employment; or

     (ii) You are in subsidized employment that does not use TANF funds or does not end with your TANF grant; and

     (iii) You are in the assistance unit and getting a TANF/SFA grant of one hundred dollars or less a month; and

     (iv) Neither you or anyone else in your assistance unit is in sanction status; and

     (v) You voluntarily stop getting your TANF/SFA grant.

     (c) To qualify for the second payment of five hundred dollars you must meet the following conditions:

     (i) Have not received a TANF/SFA grant or diversion cash assistance (DCA) for three months after you stopped your TANF/SFA grant; and

     (ii) Are still employed.

     (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 388-310-1600, then discontinue your support services until you participate as required.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.04.050, 78.08A.340, 74.04.050, and [WSR] 99-14-043. 01-17-053, § 388-310-0800, filed 8/13/01, effective 9/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.04.050, and 78.08A.340. 00-13-106, § 388-310-0800, filed 6/21/00, effective 7/1/00. 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.]

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