WSR 15-19-030

PROPOSED RULES

[Filed September 9, 2015, 10:30 a.m.]

Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 15-15-158.

Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: The department is proposing to amend WAC 388-478-0020 Payment standards for TANF, SFA, and RCA, 388-478-0035 What are the maximum earned income limits for TANF, SFA, PWA, and RCA?, and 388-436-0050 Determining financial need and benefit amount for CEAP.

Hearing Location(s): Office Building 2, DSHS Headquarters, 1115 Washington, Olympia, WA 98504 (public parking at 11th and Jefferson. A map is available at http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/msa/rpau/RPAU-OB-2directions.html), on October 27, 2015, at 10:00 a.m.

Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than October 28, 2015.

Submit Written Comments to: DSHS Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504, e-mail DSHSRPAURulesCoordinator@dshs.wa.gov, fax (360) 664-6185, by 5:00 p.m., October 27, 2015.

Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Jeff Kildahl, DSHS rules consultant, by October 13, 2015, phone (360) 664-6092, TTY (360) 664-6178, or e-mail KildaJA@dshs.wa.gov.

Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The department is proposing to amend WAC 388-478-0020, 388-478-0035, and 388-436-0050 to implement a nine percent increase in the payment standards for temporary assistance for needy families (TANF), state family assistance (SFA), and refugee cash assistance (RCA), the financial need and benefit amount limits for the consolidated emergency assistance program (CEAP), and the nine percent increase in the maximum earned income limits for the TANF, SFA, RCA, and the pregnancy women assistance (PWA) programs.

These rules were amended via emergency adoption on July 1, 2015, as WSR 15-15-005.

Reasons Supporting Proposal: The Washington state 2015-17 biennial operating budget (ESSB 6052 [section] 207) provides funding to increase the TANF, SFA, RCA, and CEAP payment standards by nine percent. This increase will provide essential supports to needy families and their vulnerable children.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.08.090, and 74.08A.230.

Name of Proponent: Department of social and health services, governmental.

Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation, and Enforcement: Leslie Kozak, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, (360) 725-4589.

No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The proposed rule does not have an economic impact on small businesses.

A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. This amendment is 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."

August 26, 2015

Katherine I. Vasquez

Rules Coordinator

Assistance Unit Size	Payment Standard		Assistance Unit Size	Payment Standard
1	$((305)) 332		6	$((736)) 802
2	((385)) 420		7	((850)) 927
3	((478)) 521		8	((941)) 1,026
4	((562)) 613		9	((1,033)) 1,126
5	((648)) 706		10 or more	((1,123)) 1,224

Assistance Unit Size	Payment Standard		Assistance Unit Size	Payment Standard
1	$((185)) 202		6	$((447)) 487
2	((235)) 256		7	((517)) 564
3	((290)) 316		8	((572)) 623
4	((342)) 373		9	((628)) 685
5	((394)) 429		10 or more	((683)) 744

Number of Family Members	Maximum Earned Income Level		Number of Family Members	Maximum Monthly Earned Income Level
1	$((610)) 665		6	$((1,472)) 1,604
2	((770)) 839		7	((1,700)) 1,853
3	((955)) 1,042		8	((1,882)) 2,051
4	((1,124)) 1,225		9	((2,066)) 2,252
5	((1,295)) 1,413		10 or more	((2,246)) 2,448

Assistance Unit Members	Net Income Limit
1	$((275)) 300
2	((346)) 377
3	((429)) 468
4	((505)) 550
5	((582)) 634
6	((662)) 722
7	((762)) 834
8 or more	((847)) 923

	1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8 or more
Food	$((184)) 201		$((235)) 256		$((290)) 316		$((342)) 373		$((394)) 429		$((447)) 487		$((510)) 556		$((564)) 615
Shelter	((225)) 245		((284)) 310		((354)) 386		((417)) 455		((479)) 522		((543)) 592		((629)) 686		((695)) 758
Clothing	((26)) 28		((33)) 36		((41)) 45		((48)) 52		((55)) 60		((64)) 70		((72)) 78		((82)) 89
Minor Medical Care	((156)) 170		((199)) 217		((247)) 269		((290)) 316		((334)) 364		((377)) 411		((439)) 479		((485)) 529
Utilities	((76)) 83		((96)) 105		((119)) 130		((139)) 152		((161)) 175		((184)) 201		((213)) 232		((235)) 256
Household maintenance	((55)) 60		((71)) 77		((88)) 96		((103)) 112		((119)) 130		((135)) 147		((156)) 170		((172)) 187
Job related transportation	((305)) 332		((385)) 420		((478)) 521		((562)) 613		((648)) 706		((736)) 802		((850)) 927		((941)) 1,026
Child related transportation	((305)) 332		((385)) 420		((478)) 521		((562)) 613		((648)) 706		((736)) 802		((850)) 927		((941)) 1,026