Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 03-17-085.

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 388-400-0005 Who is eligible for temporary assistance for needy families? and 388-400-0025 General assistance-unemployable -- General eligibility requirements.

     Hearing Location(s): Blake Office Park East (behind Goodyear Courtesy Tire), Rose Room, 4500 10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA, on October 26, 2004, at 10:00 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than October 27, 2004.

     Submit Written Comments to: DSHS Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504, delivery 4500 10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA, e-mail fernaax@dshs.wa.gov, fax (360) 664-6185, by 5:00 p.m., October 26, 2004.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Fred Swenson, DSHS Rules Consultant, by October 22, 2004, TTY (360) 664-6178 or (360) 664-6097.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: These rules provide an overview of rules related to temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) and general assistance - unemployable (GA-U). The changes proposed to the following rules are necessary to implement simplified reporting in October 2004 as required by SB 6411.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: These rules are necessary to implement the department's simplified reporting initiative for cash assistance, medical assistance, and the Washington Basic Food program.

     The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 provides states the option to implement simplified reporting for the food stamp program. SB 6411 (chapter 54, Laws of 2004) requires the department to implement simplified reporting for food stamps by October 31, 2004. The department plans to implement simplified reporting for cash, medical, and the Basic Food program beginning in October 2004.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, SB 6411 (chapter 54, Laws of 2004).

     Statute Being Implemented: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, SB 6411 (chapter 54, Laws of 2004).

     Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

     Name of Proponent: Department of Social and Health Services, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: John Camp, Policy Analyst, 1009 College S.E., Lacey, WA 98504, (360) 725-4616.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. These proposed rules do not have an economic impact on small businesses; they only affect DSHS clients by outlining the rules clients must meet in order to be eligible for the department's cash assistance or food benefit programs.

     A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. These amendments are exempt as allowed under RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(vii) which states in-part, "[t]his section does not apply to. . . .rules of the department of social and health services relating only to client medical or financial eligibility and rules concerning liability for care of dependents." These rules adopt federal requirements and implement program options under Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 273 regarding eligibility for food stamp benefits as well as requirements under Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations and the TANF state plan for benefits under the TANF program. The department also applies these requirements to the general assistance program.

September 15, 2004

Brian H. Lindgren, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

     (a) Can be in a TANF/SFA assistance unit as allowed under WAC 388-408-0015 through 388-408-0030;

     (b) Meet the citizenship/alien status requirements of WAC 388-424-0001;

     (c) Live in the state of Washington. A child must live with a caretaker relative, guardian, or custodian who meets the state residency requirements of WAC 388-468-0005;

     (d) Do not live in a public institution unless specifically allowed under RCW 74.08.025;

     (e) Meet TANF/SFA:

     (i) Income requirements under chapter 388-450 WAC;

     (ii) Resource requirements under chapter 388-470 WAC; and

     (iii) Transfer of property requirements under chapter 388-488 WAC.

     (f) Assign your rights to child support as required under WAC 388-422-0005;

     (g) Cooperate with the division of child support (DCS) as required under WAC 388-422-0010 by helping them:

     (i) Prove who is the father of children applying for or getting TANF or SFA; and

     (ii) Collect child support.

     (h) Tell us your Social Security number as required under WAC 388-476-0005;

     (i) Cooperate in a review of your eligibility as required under WAC 388-434-0005;

     (j) Cooperate in a quality assurance review as required under WAC 388-464-0001;

     (k) Participate in the WorkFirst program as required under chapter 388-310 WAC; ((and))

     (l) Report changes of circumstances as required under WAC 388-418-0005; and

     (m) Complete a six-month report and provide proof of any changes as required under WAC 388-418-0011.

     (2) If you are an adult and do not have a child living with you, you must be pregnant and meet the requirements of WAC 388-462-0010.

     (3) If you are an unmarried pregnant teen or teen parent:

     (a) Your living arrangements must meet the requirements of WAC 388-486-0005; and

     (b) You must attend school as required under WAC 388-486-0010.

     (4) In addition to rules listed in subsection (1) of this section, a child must meet the following rules to get TANF:

     (a) Meet the age requirements under WAC 388-404-0005; and

     (b) Live in the home of a relative, court-ordered guardian, court-ordered custodian, or other adult acting in loco parentis as required under WAC 388-454-0005; or

     (c) If the child lives with a parent or other adult relative that provides care for the child, that adult cannot have used up their sixty-month lifetime limit of TANF or SFA cash benefits as defined in WAC 388-484-0005.

     (5) You cannot get TANF if you have been:

     (a) Convicted of certain felonies and other crimes under WAC 388-442-0010; or

     (b) Convicted of unlawful practices to get public assistance under WAC 388-446-0005 or 388-446-0010.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090. 04-15-057, § 388-400-0005, filed 7/13/04, effective 8/13/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.057, 2000 2nd sp.s. c 1. 01-03-121, § 388-400-0005, filed 1/22/01, effective 3/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and 74.04.510. 00-05-007, § 388-400-0005, filed 2/4/00, effective 3/6/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-400-0005, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]

     (a) ((You)) Are incapacitated as required under WAC 388-448-0010 through 388-448-0120;

     (b) ((You)) Are at least eighteen years old or, if under eighteen, a member of a married couple;

     (c) ((You)) Are in financial need according to GAU income and resource rules in chapters 388-450, 388-470 and 388-488 WAC;

     (d) ((You)) Meet the general assistance citizenship/alien status requirements under WAC 388-424-0015(2);

     (e) ((You)) Provide a Social Security number as required under WAC 388-476-0005;

     (f) ((You)) Reside in the state of Washington as required under WAC 388-468-0005;

     (g) ((You)) Undergo a treatment and referral assessment as provided under WAC 388-448-0130 through 388-448-0150;

     (h) ((You)) Assign interim assistance as provided under WAC 388-448-0210;

     (i) Report changes of circumstances as required under WAC 388-418-0005; and

     (j) Complete a six-month report and provide proof of any changes as required under WAC 388-418-0011.

     (2) You cannot get GAU benefits if:

     (a) You are eligible for temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) benefits;

     (b) You are eligible for state family assistance (SFA) benefits unless you are not eligible under WAC 388-400-0010;

     (c) You have the ability to, but refuse to meet a TANF or SFA eligibility rule;

     (d) You are eligible for supplemental security income (SSI) benefits;

     (e) You are an ineligible spouse of an SSI recipient; or

     (f) You were denied benefits or your benefits were terminated by the Social Security Administration (SSA) for failing to follow a SSI program rule or application requirement.

     (3) The assistance unit will be established according to WAC 388-408-0010.

     (4) You may be eligible for GAU if you reside in a public institution. A "public institution" is an institution that is supported by public funds, and a governmental unit either is responsible for it or exercises administrative control over it. Your eligibility will depend upon the type of institution you are in.

     (a) If you reside in a public institution and are otherwise eligible for GAU, you may be eligible for general assistance if you are:

     (i) A patient in a public medical institution; or

     (ii) A patient in a public mental institution and are:

     (A) Sixty-five years of age or older; or

     (B) Twenty years of age or younger.

     (b) You are not eligible for GAU when you are in the custody of or confined in a public institution such as a state penitentiary or county jail including placement:

     (i) In a work release program; or

     (ii) Outside of the institution.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090. 04-15-057, § 388-400-0025, filed 7/13/04, effective 8/13/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.057, 74.08.090. 00-15-017, § 388-400-0025, filed 7/10/00, effective 9/1/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-400-0025, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]

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