WSR 26-07-059
PROPOSED RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Community Services Division)
[Filed March 17, 2026, 11:44 a.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 26-01-213.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: The department of social and health services (DSHS) is proposing amendments to WAC 388-478-0015 Need standards for cash assistance.
Hearing Location(s): On April 21, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., virtually via Teams or call in. See the DSHS website at https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sesa/rpau/proposed-rules-and-public-hearings for the most current information.
Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than April 22, 2026.
Submit Written Comments to: DSHS Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504, email DSHSRPAURulesCoordinator@dshs.wa.gov, beginning March 18, 2026, noon, by April 21, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Shelley Tencza, rules consultant, phone 360-664-6036, TTY 711 relay service, email shelley.tencza@dshs.wa.gov, by April 7, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: These amendments are necessary per RCW
74.04.770, which requires DSHS to annually update standards of need using an existing, broadly used national standard. These amendments reflect this update using the University of Washington center for women's welfare self-sufficiency standard.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: See above.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: DSHS, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation, and Enforcement: Patrick Budde, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, 360-764-0068.
A school district fiscal impact statement is not required under RCW
28A.305.135.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW
34.05.328. These rules are exempt as allowed under RCW
34.05.328 (5)(b)(vii) which states in part, "this 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.["]
This rule proposal, or portions of the proposal, is exempt from requirements of the Regulatory Fairness Act because the proposal:
Is exempt under RCW
19.85.025(3) as the rules relate only to internal governmental operations that are not subject to violation by a nongovernment party; rules are adopting or incorporating by reference without material change federal statutes or regulations, Washington state statutes, rules of other Washington state agencies, shoreline master programs other than those programs governing shorelines of statewide significance, or, as referenced by Washington state law, national consensus codes that generally establish industry standards, if the material adopted or incorporated regulates the same subject matter and conduct as the adopting or incorporating rule; and rule content is explicitly and specifically dictated by statute.
Explanation of exemptions: These amendments do not impact small businesses. They only impact DSHS customers.
Scope of exemption for rule proposal:
Is fully exempt.
March 12, 2026
Katherine I. Vasquez
Rules Coordinator
SHS-5129.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 25-10-017, filed 4/25/25, effective 7/1/25)
WAC 388-478-0015Need standards for cash assistance.
The monthly need and payment standards for cash assistance are based on a determination of the assistance unit size. The need standards for cash assistance units are:
Assistance unit size | Need standard |
1 | $((3,816))3,942 | |
2 | ((6,044))6,276 | |
3 | ((7,433))7,678 | |
4 | ((9,579))9,907 | |
5 | ((11,481))11,846 | |
6 | ((13,399))13,822 | |
7 | ((15,335))15,831 | |
8 | ((17,220))17,687 | |
9 | ((19,314))19,947 | |
10 or more | ((22,379))23,046 | |