WSR 05-05-086

PROPOSED RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)

[ Filed February 15, 2005, 3:55 p.m. ]

     Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 05-02-012.

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 388-492-0070 How are my Washington state combined application program (WASHCAP) benefits calculated?

     Hearing Location(s): Blake Office Park East (behind Goodyear Courtesy Tire), Rose Room, 4500 10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA, on March 22, 2005, at 10:00 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than March 23, 2005.

     Submit Written Comments to: DSHS Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504, delivery 4500 10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA, e-mail fernaax@dshs.wa.gov, fax (360) 664-6185, by 5:00 p.m., March 22, 2005.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Fred Swenson, DSHS Rules Consultant, by March 18, 2005, TTY (360) 664-6178 or (360) 664-6097.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: To amend WAC 388-492-0070 How are my Washington state combined application program (WASHCAP) benefits calculated?, effective January 1, 2005, in order to be consistent with a federal waive amendment regarding how WASHCAP benefits are calculated. Specifically, the department is amending the utility allowance methodology used to calculate WASHCAP benefit amounts.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: The change will bring the department into compliance with the demonstration project cost-neutrality provisions stipulated in the federal waiver. This rule is currently in place by emergency filing; this step is necessary to ensure permanent rule adoption.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090.

     Statute Being Implemented: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090.

     Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

     Name of Proponent: Department of Social and Health Services, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Rebecca Henrie, 1009 College S.E., Lacey, WA 98504, (360) 725-4615.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. This proposed rule does not have an economic impact on small businesses, it only affects DSHS clients by outlining the rules clients must meet in order to be eligible for the department's cash assistance or food benefit programs.

     A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. These amendments are exempt as allowed under RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(vii) which states in-part, "[t]his section does not apply to...rules of the department of social and health services relating only to client medical or financial eligibility and rules concerning liability for care of dependents."

February 11, 2005

Andy Fernando, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

3502.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 04-23-026, filed 11/8/04, effective 12/9/04)

WAC 388-492-0070   How are my WASHCAP food benefits calculated?   We calculate your food benefits as follows:

     (1) We begin with your gross income.

     (2) We subtract one hundred thirty-four dollars from your gross income to get your countable income.

     (3) We figure your shelter cost as follows:

     (a) If SSA tells us you pay three hundred nineteen dollars or more a month for shelter, we use three hundred twenty-nine dollars as your shelter cost; or

     (b) If SSA tells us you pay less than three hundred nineteen dollars for shelter, we use one hundred fifty-nine dollars as your shelter cost; and

     (c) We add the current ((standard)) limited utility allowance under WAC 388-450-0195 to determine your total shelter cost.

     (4) We figure your shelter deduction by subtracting one half of your countable income from your shelter cost.

     (5) We figure your net income by subtracting your shelter deduction from your countable income.

     (6) We figure your WASHCAP food benefits (allotment) by:

     (a) Multiplying your net income by thirty percent and rounding up to the next whole dollar; and

     (b) Subtracting the result from the maximum allotment under WAC 388-478-0060.

     (c) If you are eligible for WASHCAP, you will get at least ten dollars in food benefits each month.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510. 04-23-026, § 388-492-0070, filed 11/8/04, effective 12/9/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510. 03-21-030, § 388-492-0070, filed 10/7/03, effective 12/1/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510. 03-01-045, § 388-492-0070, filed 12/10/02, effective 1/10/03; 02-15-148, § 388-492-0070, filed 7/22/02, effective 9/1/02; 01-21-058, § 388-492-0070, filed 10/16/01, effective 12/1/01.]

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