WSR 08-10-068

PROPOSED RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Health and Recovery Services Administration)

[ Filed May 5, 2008, 3:38 p.m. ]

     Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 08-01-020.

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: The department is amending WAC 388-450-0085 Does the department count all of my self-employment income to determine if I am eligible for benefits?

     Hearing Location(s): Blake Office Park East, Rose Room, 4500 10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA 98503 (one block north of the intersection of Pacific Avenue S.E. and Alhadeff Lane. A map or directions are available at http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/msa/rpau/docket.html or by calling (360) 664-6094), on June 10, 2008, at 10:00 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: Not sooner than June 11, 2008.

     Submit Written Comments to: DSHS Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504, delivery 4500 10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA 98503, e-mail schilse@dshs.wa.gov, fax (360) 664-6185, by 5 p.m. on June 10, 2008.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Jennisha Johnson, DSHS rules consultant, by June 3, 2008, TTY (360) 664-6178 or (360) 664-6094 or by e-mail at johnsjl4@dshs.wa.gov.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The department is amending this rule to remove barriers and increase accessibility to clients seeking children's and pregnancy medical assistance, per new state law RCW 74.09.470.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: To be in compliance with RCW.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.057, 74.09.470, and 74.08.090.

     Statute Being Implemented: RCW 74.09.470.

     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: Wendy Boedigheimer, P.O. Box 45504, Olympia, WA 98504-5504, (360) 725-1306; Implementation and Enforcement: Colleen Clifford, P.O. Box 45534, Olympia, WA 98504-5534, (360) 725-2075.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The department has analyzed the rules and determined that no new costs will be imposed on small businesses or nonprofit organization[s].

     A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. Rules are exempt per RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(vii) relating only to client medical or financial eligibility.

May 1, 2008

Stephanie E. Schiller

Rules Coordinator

3939.4
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 06-08-045, filed 3/30/06, effective 5/1/06)

WAC 388-450-0085   Does the department count all of my self-employment income to determine if I am eligible for benefits?   This section applies to cash assistance, Basic Food, and medical programs for children, pregnant women, and families.

     For cash, Basic Food, and family medical programs:

     (1) We decide how much of your self-employment income to count by:

     (a) Adding together your gross self-employment income and any profit you make from selling your business property or equipment;

     (b) Subtracting your business expenses as described in subsection (2) below; and

     (c) Dividing the remaining amount of self-employment income by the number of months over which the income will be averaged.

     (2) We subtract one hundred dollars as a business expense even if your costs are less than this. If you want us to subtract your actual costs of more than one hundred dollars, you must list and give us proof of your expenses for us to count them. We never allow the following expenses:

     (a) Federal, state, and local income taxes;

     (b) Money set aside for retirement purposes;

     (c) Personal work-related expenses (such as travel to and from work);

     (d) Net losses from previous periods;

     (e) Depreciation; or

     (f) Any amount that is more than the payment you get from a boarder for lodging and meals.

     (3) If you have worked at your business for less than a year, we figure your gross self-employment income by averaging:

     (a) The income over the period of time the business has been in operation; and

     (b) The monthly amount we estimate you will get for the coming year.

     (4) For cash and medical assistance, if your self-employment expenses are more than your self-employment income, we do not use this "loss" to reduce income from other self-employment businesses or other sources of income to your assistance unit.

     (5) For Basic Food, we use a "loss" from self-employment farming or fishing income to reduce other sources of income only if you meet the following three conditions:

     (a) Someone in your assistance unit is a self-employed farmer or fisher;

     (b) Your gross yearly income from farming or fishing is or is expected to be at least one thousand dollars; and

     (c) Your allowable costs for farming or fishing are more than your income from farming or fishing.

     For children's and pregnancy medical programs:

     (6) If you have worked long enough at the business to file a federal tax return last year and it represents your current income, we figure your gross self-employment income by:

     (a) Adding together your gross self-employment income from your return and any profit you make from selling your business property or equipment;

     (b) Subtracting your allowable business expenses except as described in subsection (2) above; and

     (c) Averaging the income over the period the income covers.

     (7) If you have worked at your business for less than a year or if you did not file a federal tax return in the last year and, the business records represent your current income, we figure your gross self-employment income by:

     (a) Adding together your gross self-employment income and any profit you make from selling your business property or equipment over the period of time the business has been in operation within the last year;

     (b) Subtracting your allowable business expenses except as described in subsection (2) above; and

     (c) Averaging the income we estimate you will get for the coming year.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, and 7 C.F.R. 273.9 and 273.11. 06-08-045, § 388-450-0085, filed 3/30/06, effective 5/1/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, and 74.04.510. 03-13-045, § 388-450-0085, filed 6/11/03, effective 8/1/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.510. 01-19-020, § 388-450-0085, filed 9/11/01, effective 10/1/01; 99-16-024, § 388-450-0085, filed 7/26/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-450-0085, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office