WSR 18-09-088
PERMANENT RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
[Filed April 17, 2018, 3:09 p.m., effective July 1, 2018]
Effective Date of Rule: July 1, 2018.
Purpose: The 2018 supplemental operating budget, section 207(b) (chapter 299, Laws of 2018) signed into law on March 27, 2018, includes a 9.3 percent grant increase to the temporary assistance for needy families (TANF), state family assistance (SFA), and refugee cash assistance (RCA) programs effective July 1, 2018. The department is amending WAC 388-478-0020, 388-478-0035, and 388-436-0050 in order to increase the grant amount by 9.3 percent, increase the financial need and benefit amount limits for the consolidated emergency assistance program, and increase the maximum earned income limits for the TANF, SFA, RCA, and pregnant women assistance programs.
The proposed rules filed as WSR 18-05-064 on February 16, 2018, contained a 2.5 percent grant increase effective July 1, 2018, that was included in the 2017-2019 biennial operating budget (chapter 1, Laws of 2017). The corresponding dollar amounts contained in WAC 388-478-0020, 388-478-0035, and 388-436-0050 have now been amended to reflect the 9.3 percent increase included in the 2018 supplemental operating budget in order for the department to be in compliance with state law, an additional 6.8 percent over the 2.5 percent increase originally included in the 2017-2019 biennial operating budget.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-478-0020, 388-478-0035, and 388-436-0050.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.08.090, 74.08A.230.
Other Authority: 2018 supplemental operating budget (chapter 299, Laws of 2018), 2017-2019 biennial operating budget (chapter 1, Laws of 2017).
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 18-05-064 on February 16, 2018.
Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: The 2018 supplemental operating budget includes a TANF, SFA, and RCA grant increase of 9.3 percent effective July 1, 2018. This is a 6.8 percent difference from the 2.5 percent increase included in the 2017-2019 operating budget ESSB 5883 (chapter 1, Laws of 2017) also effective July 1, 2018. The corresponding dollar amounts listed in WAC 388-478-0020, 388-478-0035, and 388-436-0050 have been amended to reflect the 9.3 percent increase, rather than the 2.5 percent increase previously proposed, in order for the department to be in compliance with state law.
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 3, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the 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 0, 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 3, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: April 16, 2018.
Katherine I. Vasquez
Rules Coordinator
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 16-01-093, filed 12/15/15, effective 1/15/16)
WAC 388-436-0050 Determining financial need and benefit amount for CEAP.
(1) To be eligible for ((CEAP assistance))
the consolidated emergency assistance program (CEAP), the assistance unit's nonexcluded income, minus allowable deductions, must be less than ninety percent of the ((TANF))
temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) payment standard for households with shelter costs. The net income limit for CEAP assistance units is:
Assistance unit members
Net income limit
1
(($300)) $327
2
((377)) 413
3
((468)) 512
4
((550)) 603
5
((634)) 695
6
((722)) 789
7
((834)) 912
8 or more
((923)) 1,009
(2) The assistance unit's allowable amount of need is the lesser of:
(a) The TANF payment standard, based on assistance unit size, for households with shelter costs as specified under WAC 388-478-0020; or
(b) The assistance unit's actual emergent need, not to exceed maximum allowable amounts, for the following items:
Need item: Maximum allowable amount by assistance unit size:
 
1
 
2
 
3
 
4
 
5
 
6
 
7
 
8 or more
Food
(($201))
$220
 
(($256))
$280
 
(($316))
$345
 
(($373))
$408
 
(($429))
$469
 
(($487))
$532
 
(($556))
$608
 
(($615))
$672
 
Shelter
((245))
268
 
((310))
339
 
((386))
422
 
((455))
497
 
((522))
571
 
((592))
647
 
((686))
750
 
((758))
828
 
Clothing
((28))
31
 
((36))
39
 
((45))
49
 
((52))
57
 
((60))
66
 
((70))
77
 
((78))
85
 
((89))
97
 
Minor medical care
((170))
186
 
((217))
237
 
((269))
294
 
((316))
345
 
((364))
398
 
((411))
449
 
((479))
524
 
((529))
578
 
Utilities
((83))
91
 
((105))
115
 
((130))
142
 
((152))
166
 
((175))
191
 
((201))
220
 
((232))
254
 
((256))
280
 
Household maintenance
((60))
66
 
((77))
84
 
((96))
105
 
((112))
122
 
((130))
142
 
((147))
161
 
((170))
186
 
((187))
204
 
Job related transportation
((332))
363
 
((420))
459
 
((521))
569
 
((613))
670
 
((706))
772
 
((802))
877
 
((927))
1,013
 
((1,026))
1,121
 
Child related transportation
((332))
363
 
((420))
459
 
((521))
569
 
((613))
670
 
((706))
772
 
((802))
877
 
((927))
1,013
 
((1,026))
1,121
 
(3) The assistance unit's CEAP payment is determined by computing the difference between the allowable amount of need, as determined under subsection (2) of this section, and the total of:
(a) The assistance unit's net income, as determined under subsection (1) of this section and WAC 388-436-0045;
(b) Cash on hand, if not already counted as income; and
(c) The value of other nonexcluded resources available to the assistance unit.
(4) The assistance unit is not eligible for CEAP if the amount of income and resources, as determined in subsection (3) of this section, is equal to or exceeds its allowable amount of need.
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 16-01-093, filed 12/15/15, effective 1/15/16)
WAC 388-478-0020 Payment standards for TANF, SFA, and RCA.
(1) The maximum monthly payment standards for temporary assistance for needy families (TANF), state family assistance (SFA), and refugee cash assistance (RCA) assistance units with obligations to pay shelter costs are:
Assistance unit size
Payment standard
Assistance unit size
Payment standard
1
(($332))
$363
 
6
(($802))
$877
 
2
((420))
459
 
7
((927))
1,013
 
3
((521))
569
 
8
((1,026))
1,121
 
4
((613))
670
 
9
((1,126))
1,231
 
5
((706))
772
 
10 or more
((1,224))
1,338
 
(2) The maximum monthly payment standards for TANF, SFA, and RCA assistance units with shelter provided at no cost are:
Assistance unit size
Payment standard
Assistance unit size
Payment standard
1
(($202))
$221
 
6
(($487))
$532
 
2
((256))
280
 
7
((564))
616
 
3
((316))
345
 
8
((623))
681
 
4
((373))
408
 
9
((685))
749
 
5
((429))
469
 
10 or more
((744))
813
 
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 16-01-093, filed 12/15/15, effective 1/15/16)
WAC 388-478-0035 What are the maximum earned income limits for TANF, SFA, PWA and RCA?
To be eligible for temporary assistance for needy families (TANF), state family assistance (SFA), refugee cash assistance (RCA), or a pregnant women assistance (PWA), a family's gross earned income must be below the following levels:
Number of family members
Maximum earned income level
Number of family members
Maximum monthly earned income level
1
(($665))
$726
 
6
(($1,604))
$1,754
 
2
((839))
918
 
7
((1,853))
2,026
 
3
((1,042))
1,138
 
8
((2,051))
2,242
 
4
((1,225))
1,340
 
9
((2,252))
2,462
 
5
((1,413))
1,544
 
10 or more
((2,448))
2,676