WSR 22-20-084
PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
[Filed October 3, 2022, 11:39 a.m.]
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is planning to amend WAC 388-412-0015 General information about your food assistance allotments, 388-450-0185 What income deductions does the department allow when determining if I am eligible for food benefits and the amount of my monthly benefits?, 388-450-0190 How does the department figure my shelter cost income deduction for basic food?, 388-450-0195 Does the department use my utility costs when calculating my basic food or WASHCAP benefits?, 388-470-0005 How do resources affect my eligibility for cash assistance and basic food?, and 388-478-0060 What are the income limits and maximum benefit amounts for basic food?; and other related rules as appropriate.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.04.005, 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, 74.08A.010, 74.08A.120, and 74.08A.250.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) has issued annual updates to standards for the federal fiscal year 2023, effective October 1, 2022. These updates affect the standard deduction, shelter deduction, homeless shelter deduction, utility deduction, minimum and maximum allotments, and resource limits for the basic food program.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: USDA FNS.
Process for Developing New Rule: The department invites the public to review and provide input on the draft language of this rule. Draft material and information about how to participate may be obtained from the department representative listed below.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Alexis Miller, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, phone 253-579-3144, email alexis.a.miller@dshs.wa.gov.
October 3, 2022
Katherine I. Vasquez
Rules Coordinator