Purpose: WAC 388-450-0195 Utility allowances for Basic Food programs, is amended to meet federal criteria regarding eligibility for the limited utility allowance (LUA) for the food stamp program, administered as the Washington Basic Food program. The United States Code of Federal Regulations, 7 C.F.R. 273.9 (d)(6)(iii)(A), defines the specific criteria necessary for LUA eligibility. The existing rule is amended to be in compliance with the referenced C.F.R. governing food stamp utility allowances. Additional amendments are made to improve clarity regarding qualifying utility expenses.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-450-0195.

     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 05-06-085 on March 1, 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     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.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: April 12, 2005.

Andy Fernando, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

     (a) Heating ((and cooking)) or cooling fuel;

     (b) ((Cooling and)) Electricity or gas;

     (c) Water ((and)) or sewer;

     (d) Well or septic tank installation/maintenance;

     (e) Garbage ((and))/trash collection; and

     (((e) Basic)) (f) Telephone service.

     (2) The department uses the amounts below if you have utility costs separate from your rent or mortgage payment. We add your utility allowance to your rent or mortgage payment to determine your total shelter costs. We use total shelter costs to determine your Basic Food benefits.

     (a) If you have heating or cooling costs, you get a standard utility allowance (SUA) that depends on your assistance unit's size.

Assistance Unit (AU) Size	Utility Allowance
1	$278
2	$287
3	$295
4	$304
5	$312
6 or more	$321

     (b) If your AU does not qualify for the SUA and you have any two utility costs ((other than telephone costs)) listed above, you get a limited utility allowance (LUA) of two hundred twenty-two dollars.

     (c) If your AU has only telephone costs and no other utility costs, you get a telephone utility allowance (TUA) of thirty-seven dollars.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057. 04-23-025, § 388-450-0195, 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, § 388-450-0195, filed 10/7/03, effective 12/1/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090. 02-22-045, § 388-450-0195, filed 10/30/02, effective 12/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510. 01-21-059, § 388-450-0195, filed 10/16/01, effective 12/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510. 00-22-065, § 388-450-0195, filed 10/27/00, effective 11/1/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.040.510 [74.04.510]. 99-24-052, § 388-450-0195, filed 11/29/99, effective 12/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510. 99-09-055, § 388-450-0195, filed 4/19/99, effective 5/20/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510 and 7 CFR 273.9 (d)(6). 99-01-069, § 388-450-0195, filed 12/14/98, effective 1/14/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-450-0195, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]

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