(Effective until August 1, 2024)

PDFWAC 388-450-0170

Does the department provide an earned income deduction as an incentive for persons who receive TANF/SFA to work?

This section applies to TANF/SFA, RCA and PWA.
(1) If a client works, the department only counts some of the income to determine eligibility and benefit level.
(2) We only count fifty percent of your monthly gross earned income. We do this to encourage you to work.
(3) If you pay for care before we approve your benefits, we subtract the amount you pay for those dependent children or incapacitated adults who get cash assistance with you.
(a) The amount we subtract is:
(i) Prorated according to the date you are eligible for benefits;
(ii) Cannot be more than your gross monthly income; and
(iii) Cannot exceed the following for each dependent child or incapacitated adult:
Dependent Care Maximum Deductions
Hours Worked
Per Month
Child Two Years of Age & Under
Child Over Two Years of Age or Incapacitated Adult
0 -
 
40
 
$
50.00
 
 
$
43.75
 
41 -
 
80
 
$
100.00
 
 
$
87.50
 
81 -
 
120
 
$
150.00
 
 
$
131.25
 
121 or
 
More
 
$
200.00
 
 
$
175.00
 
(b) In order to get this deduction:
(i) The person providing the care must be someone other than the parent or stepparent of the child or incapacitated adult; and
(ii) You must verify the expense.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.005, 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.08A.100, 74.04.770, 74.62.030, 41.05.021, 74.09.035, 74.09.530, and 2011 1st sp.s. c 15, 2013 2nd sp.s. c 10, and the 2013 biennial budget. WSR 15-02-006, § 388-450-0170, filed 12/26/14, effective 1/26/15. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.005, 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, 74.08A.100, 74.04.770, 74.04.0052, 74.04.655, 74.08.043, 74.08.335, and 2011 1st sp.s. c 36. WSR 12-10-042, § 388-450-0170, filed 4/27/12, effective 6/1/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057. WSR 04-03-051, § 388-450-0170, filed 1/15/04, effective 2/15/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.08A.100, 74.09.080, and 74.09.415. WSR 02-17-030, § 388-450-0170, filed 8/12/02, effective 9/12/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. WSR 98-16-044, § 388-450-0170, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]
(Effective August 1, 2024)

PDFWAC 388-450-0170

Does the department provide an earned income deduction for households that receive TANF/SFA, RCA, and PWA to work?

(1) If an individual is working, the department only counts some of the income to determine eligibility and benefit level.
(2) We start by deducting the first $500 of the total household's earned income.
(3) We then subtract 50% of the remaining monthly gross earned income.
(4) If you pay for care before we approve your benefits, we subtract the amount you paid for those dependent children or incapacitated adults who get cash assistance with you.
(a) The amount we subtract is:
(i) Prorated according to the date you are eligible for benefits;
(ii) Cannot be more than your gross monthly income; and
(iii) Cannot exceed the following for each dependent child or incapacitated adult:
Dependent Care Maximum Deductions
Hours Worked
Per Month
Child Under Two Years of Age
Child Two Years of Age and Older or Incapacitated Adult
0 -
 
40
 
$
50.00
 
 
$
43.75
 
41 -
 
80
 
$
100.00
 
 
$
87.50
 
81 -
 
120
 
$
150.00
 
 
$
131.25
 
121 or
 
More
 
$
200.00
 
 
$
175.00
 
(b) In order to get this deduction:
(i) The person providing the care must be someone other than the parent or stepparent of the child or incapacitated adult; and
(ii) You must verify the expense.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.021, 49.46.120, 74.04.005, 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510, 74.04.655, 74.04.770, 74.04.0052, 74.08.025, 74.08.043, 74.08.090, 74.08.335, 74.08A.100, 74.08A.120, 74.08A.230, 74.09.035, 74.09.530, and 74.62.030. WSR 24-11-019, § 388-450-0170, filed 5/7/24, effective 8/1/24. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.005, 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.08A.100, 74.04.770, 74.62.030, 41.05.021, 74.09.035, 74.09.530, and 2011 1st sp.s. c 15, 2013 2nd sp.s. c 10, and the 2013 biennial budget. WSR 15-02-006, § 388-450-0170, filed 12/26/14, effective 1/26/15. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.005, 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, 74.08A.100, 74.04.770, 74.04.0052, 74.04.655, 74.08.043, 74.08.335, and 2011 1st sp.s. c 36. WSR 12-10-042, § 388-450-0170, filed 4/27/12, effective 6/1/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057. WSR 04-03-051, § 388-450-0170, filed 1/15/04, effective 2/15/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.08A.100, 74.09.080, and 74.09.415. WSR 02-17-030, § 388-450-0170, filed 8/12/02, effective 9/12/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. WSR 98-16-044, § 388-450-0170, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]