AH
WSR 97-10-036
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
(Public Assistance)
[Filed April 30, 1997, 4:30 p.m., effective May 1, 1997]
Date of Adoption: April 30, 1997.
Purpose: Pass along the 2.9 percent federal cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for the supplemental security income (SSI) program and move from the "total expenditure method" of computing the SSI state supplement payment to the "payment levels method."
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-250-1700.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.08.090, 74.04.630.
Other Authority: Social Security Act COLA changes at FR pages 55346-51.
Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that state or federal law or federal rule or a federal deadline for state receipt of federal funds requires immediate adoption of a rule.
Reasons for this Finding: This emergency order will extend the emergency rule in effect since January 1, 1997, to allow time for the department to complete the permanent rule adoption process.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, amended 1, repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, amended 1, repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, amended 0, repealed 0.
Effective Date of Rule: May 1, 1997.
April 30, 1997
Merry A. Kogut, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending Order 3972, filed 4/26/96, effective 5/27/96 WAC 388-250-1700 Standards of assistance--Supplemental security
income. Effective January 1, ((1996)) 1997, the standards of SSI
assistance paid to an eligible individual and couple are:
(1) Living alone (own household or alternate care, except nursing
homes or medical institutions).
Federal
SSI State
Standard Benefit Supplement
Area I: King, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston, and Kitsap
Counties
Individual (($495.42 $470.00 $ 25.42))
$512.00 $484.00 $ 28.00
Individual with one essential person ((724.98 705.00 19.98))
748.00 726.00 22.00
Couple:
Both eligible ((724.98 705.00 19.98))
748.00 726.00 22.00
Includes one essential person ((724.98 705.00 19.98))
748.00 726.00 22.00
Includes ineligible spouse ((622.73 470.00 152.73))
652.20 484.00 168.20
Area II: All Counties Other Than the Above
Individual (($476.86 470.00 6.86))
$491.55 484.00 7.55
Individual with one essential person ((705.00 705.00)) 0
726.00 726.00
Couple:
Both eligible ((705.00 705.00)) 0
726.00 726.00
Includes one essential person ((705.00 705.00)) 0
726.00 726.00
Includes ineligible spouse ((595.53 470.00 125.53))
622.25 484.00 138.25
Areas I and II:
Eligible individual with more than one essential person: $((470.00)) 484.00 for eligible individual plus
$((235.00)) 242.00 for each essential person (no state supplement).
Eligible couple with one or more essential persons: $((705.00)) 726.00 for eligible couple plus
$((235.00)) 242.00 for each essential person (no state supplement).
(2) Shared living (Supplied shelter): Area I and II
Federal
SSI State
Standard Benefit Supplement
Individual (($318.62 $313.34 $ 5.28))
$328.48 $322.67 $ 5.81
Individual with one essential person ((475.72 470.00 5.72))
490.30 484.00 6.30
Couple:
Both eligible ((475.72 470.00 5.72))
490.30 484.00 6.30
Includes one essential person ((475.72 470.00 5.72))
490.30 484.00 6.30
Includes ineligible spouse ((407.55 313.34 94.21))
426.43 322.67 103.76
Area I and II:
Eligible individual with more than one essential person: $((313.34)) 322.67 for eligible individual plus
$((156.66)) 161.33 for each essential person (no state supplement).
Eligible couple with one or more essential persons: $((470.00)) 484.00 for eligible couple plus
$((156.66)) 161.33 for each essential person (no state supplement).
(3) Residing in a medical institution: Area I and II
Federal
SSI State
Standard Benefit Supplement
No change $41.62 $30.00 $11.62
(4) Mandatory income level (MIL) for grandfathered claimant.
Increased by ((two)) three dollars and ((nineteen)) seventy-eight cents
for all MIL clients, except for those converted in a "D" living
arrangement (residing in a medical institution at the time of
conversion).
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and Legislative decision in the 1995 Budget Bill. 96-10-044 (Order 3972), 388-250-1700, filed 4/26/96, effective 5/27/96; 95-20-028 (Order 3903), 388-250-1700, filed 9/27/95, effective 10/28/95. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050 and 45 CFR 233.20 (a)(2)(vi). 95-03-046 (Order 3822), 388-250-1700, filed 1/11/95, effective 2/11/95. Statutory Authority: 1994 sp.s. c 6. 94-15-003 (Order 3750), 388-250-1700, filed 7/7/94, effective 8/7/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090. 94-09-001 (Order 3729), 388-250-1700, filed 4/6/94, effective 5/7/94.]