Date of Adoption: November 7, 2002.

     Purpose: Need standards for cash assistance programs represent the amount of income required by individuals and families to maintain a minimum and adequate standard of living. Need standards are based on assistance unit size and include basic requirements for food, clothing, shelter, energy costs, transportation, household maintenance and operations, personal maintenance, and necessary incidentals. This rule specifies the need standards for cash assistance based on assistance unit size.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-478-0015.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.08.090, 74.04.510, and 74.04.770.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 02-20-039 on September 24, 2002.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Other Findings Required by Other Provisions of Law as Precondition to Adoption or Effectiveness of Rule: Pursuant to RCW 34.05.380 (3)(a), such action is required by the state or federal constitution, a statute, or court order. This rule change is necessary to comply with statutory requirements of RCW 74.04.770. Failure to meet these requirements could result in loss of benefits for needy clients.
     Effective Date of Rule: December 1, 2002.

November 7, 2002

Brian H. Lindgren, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

     (1) For assistance units with obligation to pay shelter costs:

Assistance Unit Size	Need Standard
1	$ ((797)) 944
2	((1,008)) 1,194
3	((1,247)) 1,474
4	((1,467)) 1,740
5	((1,690)) 2,005
6	((1,918)) 2,271
7	((2,215)) 2,624
8	((2,452)) 2,905
9	((2,693)) 3,185
10 or more	((2,926)) 3,465

     (2) For assistance units with shelter provided at no cost:

Assistance Unit Size	Need Standard
1	$ ((480)) 492
2	((607)) 623
3	((752)) 769
4	((884)) 907
5	((1,019)) 1,046
6	((1,156)) 1,184
7	((1,335)) 1,369
8	((1,478)) 1,515
9	((1,623)) 1,661
10 or more	((1,764)) 1,807

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and 74.04.200. 01-11-108, § 388-478-0015, filed 5/21/01, effective 7/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.200. 99-04-056, § 388-478-0015, filed 1/29/99, effective 3/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-478-0015, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]

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