Purpose: Amending WAC 388-492-0070 How are my WASHCAP food benefits calculated?, to clarify what information the department uses to calculate shelter cost standard deductions in WASHCAP. Also, the amendments indicate that the net income calculation is derived using a rounding method versus exact figures, consistent with the Basic Food program net income calculation.

     Further amendments implement federal rules that require the department to adjust the shelter deduction standards for food benefits every year based on the consumer price index (CPI); this is also specifically reflected in the WASHCAP state plan waivers.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-492-0070.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 05-14-098 on June 30, 2005.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: August 12, 2005.

Andy Fernando, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

     (1) We begin with your gross income.

     (2) We subtract one hundred thirty-four dollars from your gross income to get your countable income.

     (3) We figure your shelter cost ((as follows)) based on information we receive from Social Security Administration (SSA), unless you report a change as described under WAC 388-492-0080. If you pay:

     (a) ((If SSA tells us you pay)) Three hundred ((nineteen)) twenty-nine dollars or more a month for shelter, we use three hundred ((twenty-nine)) forty dollars as your shelter cost; or

     (b) ((If SSA tells us you pay)) Less than three hundred ((nineteen)) twenty-nine dollars for shelter, we use one hundred ((fifty-nine)) sixty-four dollars as your shelter cost; and

     (c) We add the current limited utility allowance under WAC 388-450-0195 to determine your total shelter cost.

     (4) We figure your shelter deduction by subtracting one half of your countable income from your shelter cost.

     (5) We figure your net income by subtracting your shelter deduction from your countable income and rounding the resulting figure up from fifty cents and down from forty-nine cents to the nearest whole dollar.

     (6) We figure your WASHCAP food benefits (allotment) by:

     (a) Multiplying your net income by thirty percent and rounding up to the next whole dollar; and

     (b) Subtracting the result from the maximum allotment under WAC 388-478-0060.

     (c) If you are eligible for WASHCAP, you will get at least ten dollars in food benefits each month.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090. 05-08-008, § 388-492-0070, filed 3/25/05, effective 4/25/05; 04-23-026, § 388-492-0070, filed 11/8/04, effective 12/9/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510. 03-21-030, § 388-492-0070, filed 10/7/03, effective 12/1/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510. 03-01-045, § 388-492-0070, filed 12/10/02, effective 1/10/03; 02-15-148, § 388-492-0070, filed 7/22/02, effective 9/1/02; 01-21-058, § 388-492-0070, filed 10/16/01, effective 12/1/01.]

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office