WSR 97-02-034
PROPOSED RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Public Assistance)
[Filed December 24, 1996, 2:13 p.m.]
Original Notice.
Exempt from preproposal statement of inquiry under RCW 34.05.310(4).
Title of Rule: WAC 388-49-470 Income--Exclusions.
Purpose: Consider as income, for food stamp program purposes, state-defined energy allowances in refugee assistance grants.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.510.
Statute Being Implemented: 7 U.S.C. 2014 (d) and (k).
Summary: Eliminates state-defined energy allowance in refugee assistance grant as an income exclusion and now considers that allowance as income.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: Amendment to 7 U.S.C. 2014 by section 808 of HR 3734 (Public Law 104-193).
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Joan Wirth, Division of Income Assistance, (360) 413-3073.
Name of Proponent: Department of Social and Health Services, governmental.
Rule is necessary because of federal law, Amendment to 7 U.S.C. 2014 (d) and (k) in the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996.
Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: Consider as income, for food stamp program purposes, state-defined energy allowances in refugee assistance grants. The anticipated effect of this rule is reduced food stamp benefits for households receiving refugee assistance grants.
Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: See above.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. Does not apply to this rule.
Section 201, chapter 403, Laws of 1995, does not apply to this rule adoption. This section does not apply to the Department of Social and Health Services.
Hearing Location: Lacey Government Center (behind Tokyo Bento restaurant), 1009 College Street S.E., Room 104-A, Lacey, WA 98503, on February 4, 1997, at 10:00 a.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Merry Kogut by January 14, 1997, TTY (360) 902-8324, or (360) 902-8317.
Submit Written Comments to: Leslie Baldwin, Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504-5850, FAX (360) 902-8292, by February 4, 1997.
Date of Intended Adoption: February 5, 1997.
December 23, 1996
Merry A. Kogut, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending 96-22-100, filed 11/6/96, effective 12/7/96)
WAC 388-49-470 Income--Exclusions. (1) The department shall exclude the following income:
(a) Money withheld from an income source to repay a prior overpayment from that same income source except for money withheld to recoup an intentional noncompliance overpayment from a federal, state, or local means-tested program;
(b) Income specifically excluded by any federal statute from consideration as income in the food stamp program;
(c) The earned income of household members who are:
(i) Seventeen years of age or under; and
(ii) Attending elementary or secondary school at least half time.
(d) Infrequent or irregular income, received during a three-month period by a prospectively budgeted household, that:
(i) Cannot be reasonably anticipated as available; and
(ii) Shall not exceed thirty dollars for all household members.
(e) Loans, including those from private individuals and commercial institutions, other than educational loans where repayment is deferred;
(f) Nonrecurring lump sum payments;
(g) Income used for the cost of producing self-employment income;
(h) Educational assistance financed in whole or in part with Title IV funds or issued by the Bureau of Indian Affairs;
(i) Educational assistance to the extent such assistance is earmarked by the school or actually paid by the student for the following educational expenses:
(i) Tuition;
(ii) Mandatory fees, including rental or purchase of equipment, materials, and supplies related to pursuing the course of study;
(iii) Books;
(iv) Supplies;
(v) Transportation; and
(vi) Miscellaneous personal expenses.
(j) Reimbursements for past or future expenses to the extent the reimbursements do not:
(i) Exceed the actual expense; and
(ii) Represent a gain or benefit to the household.
(k) Any gain or benefit not in money;
(l) Vendor payments as defined in WAC 388-49-020;
(m) Money received and used for the care and maintenance of a third-party beneficiary who is not a household member;
(n) Supplemental payments or allowances made under federal, state, or local laws for the purpose of offsetting increased energy costs;
(o) ((Energy allowances included in refugee assistance grants.
(p))) Support payments owed to a household member, but specified by
the support court order or other legally binding written support or
alimony agreement to go directly to a third-party beneficiary rather than
to the household;
(((q))) (p) Support payments on behalf of a household member, not
required by the support court order or other legally binding written
support or alimony agreement and paid directly to a third party rather
than to the household;
(((r))) (q) Payments from the individual and family grant program;
(((s))) (r) Public assistance payments:
(i) Over and above the regular warrant amount;
(ii) Not normally a part of the regular warrant; and
(iii) Paid directly to a third party on behalf of the household.
(((t))) (s) From Jobs Training Partnership Act programs:
(i) Allowances; and
(ii) Earnings from on-the-job training by household members under parental control and eighteen years of age and younger.
(((u))) (t) Cash donations based on need:
(i) Received directly by the household;
(ii) From one or more private, nonprofit, charitable organizations; and
(iii) Not exceeding three hundred dollars in any federal fiscal year quarter.
(((v))) (u) Earned income credit;
(((w))) (v) Governmental foster care payments received by households
with foster care individuals who are considered to be boarders under WAC
388-49-020(10).
(2) When earnings or amount of work performed by a household member described in subsection (1)(c) of this section, cannot be differentiated from the earnings or work performed by other household members, the department shall:
(a) Prorate the earnings equally among the working members; and
(b) Exclude the household member's pro rata share.
(3) When the intended beneficiaries of a single payment for care and maintenance of a third-party beneficiary include both household members and persons not in the household, the department shall exclude:
(a) Any identifiable portion intended and used for the care and maintenance of the person out of the household; or
(b) The lesser of:
(i) The actual amount used from a single payment for the care of a person outside the household; or
(ii) A pro rata share of the single payment when the single payment
does not identify the portion intended for the care of the person outside
the household.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510 and Section 807 and 808 of H.R. 3734 (Public Law 104-193). 96-22-100, 388-49-470, filed 11/6/96, effective 12/7/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510 and 7 CFR 273.9 (c)(16). 94-22-029 (Order 3802), 388-49-470, filed 10/26/94, effective 1/1/95. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510, P.L. 103-66 (8-10-93) and 7 CFR 273.11(k). 94-16-074 (Order 3766), 388-49-470, filed 7/29/94, effective 9/1/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510 and 1992 479B. 93-17-032 (Order 3614), 388-49-470, filed 8/11/93, effective 9/11/93. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510 and 7 CFR 273.9 (b)(5), (c)(2), and (c)(6). 92-22-051 (Order 3475), 388-49-470, filed 10/28/92, effective 12/1/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510 and Public Law 102-237. 92-11-063 (Order 3392), 388-49-470, filed 5/19/92, effective 6/19/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510. 92-03-119 (Order 3316), 388-49-470, filed 1/21/92, effective 2/21/92; 91-06-004 (Order 3141), 388- 49-470, filed 2/21/91, effective 3/24/91; 90-15-028 (Order 3040), 388-49-470, filed 7/13/90, effective 8/13/90; 89-24-040 (Order 2911), 388-49-470, filed 12/1/89, effective 1/1/90; 89-11-101 (Order 2800), 388-49-470, filed 5/24/89; 88-21-096 (Order 2716), 388-49-470, filed 10/19/88; 88-08-079 (Order 2617), 388-49-470, filed 4/6/88. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050. 88-02-031 (Order 2575), 388-49-470, filed 12/31/87.]