WSR 05-18-066

PROPOSED RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)

[ Filed September 6, 2005, 4:25 p.m. ]

     Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 05-12-131.

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 388-450-0185 Does the department count all of my income to determine my eligibility and benefits for Basic Food?, 388-450-0190 How does the department figure my shelter cost income deduction for Basic Food?, and 388-478-0060 What are the income limits and maximum benefit amounts for Basic Food?

     Hearing Location(s): Blake Office Park East, Rose Room, 4500 10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA (one block north of the intersection of Pacific Avenue S.E. and Alhadeff Lane, behind Goodyear Tire. A map or directions are available at http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/msa/rpau/docket.html or by calling (360) 664-6097), on October 11, 2005, at 10:00 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than October 12, 2005.

     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 11, 2005.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Stephanie Schiller, DSHS Rules Consultant, by October 7, 2005, TTY (360) 664-6178 or phone (360) 664-6097 or by e-mail at schilse@dshs.wa.gov.

     Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The amended rules adopt federal standards on income deductions for the Washington Basic Food and WASHCAP programs. These new standards which go into effect on October 1, 2005, will result in a small increase in the income limits, maximum benefit amounts, and deductions used to calculate benefits for these programs.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: Federal regulations established by the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) require the department to annually update standards for the food stamp program implemented in Washington state as WASHCAP and the Washington Basic Food program.

     The proposed changes implement federal income standards, maximum allotment, maximum shelter deduction, and standard deduction used for the Washington Basic Food program and WASHCAP program. Consistent with federal regulations, the department updates these standards annually at the beginning of the federal fiscal year on October 1st.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090.

     Statute Being Implemented: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090.

     Rule is necessary because of federal law, 7 C.F.R. 273.9.

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

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: John Camp, 1009 College S.E., Lacey, WA 98504-5470, (360) 725-4616.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. This proposed rule does not have an economic impact on small businesses, it only affects 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 implement federal income standards, maximum allotment amounts, and income deductions for food stamp benefits under Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulations § 273.9.

August 29, 2005

Andy Fernando, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

3588.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 04-23-025, filed 11/8/04, effective 12/9/04)

WAC 388-450-0185   Does the department count all of my income to determine my eligibility and benefits for Basic Food?   We subtract the following amounts from your assistance unit's (AU's) countable income before we determine your Basic Food benefit amount:

     (1) A standard deduction based on the number of people in your AU under WAC 388-408-0035:


Eligible and ineligible AU members Standard deduction
1 $134
2 $134
3 $134
4 $134
5 $((153)) 157
6 or more $((175)) 179

     (2) Twenty percent of your AU's gross earned income (earned income deduction);

     (3) Your AU's expected monthly dependent care expense as described below:

     (a) The dependent care must be needed for AU member to:

     (i) Keep work, look for work, or accept work;

     (ii) Attend training or education to prepare for employment; or

     (iii) Meet employment and training requirements under chapter 388-444 WAC.

     (b) We subtract allowable dependent care expenses that are payable to someone outside of your AU:

     (i) Up to two hundred dollars for each dependent under age two; and

     (ii) Up to one hundred seventy-five dollars for each dependent age two or older.

     (4) Medical expenses over thirty-five dollars a month owed or anticipated by an elderly or disabled person in your AU as allowed under WAC 388-450-0200.

     (5) Legally obligated current or back child support paid to someone outside of your AU:

     (a) For a person who is not in your AU; or

     (b) For a person who is in your AU to cover a period of time when they were not living with you.

     (6) A portion of your shelter costs as described in WAC 388-450-0190.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057. 04-23-025, § 388-450-0185, 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, § 388-450-0185, filed 10/7/03, effective 12/1/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and H.R. 2646 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. 02-22-044, § 388-450-0185, filed 10/30/02, effective 12/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.510. 99-16-024, § 388-450-0185, filed 7/26/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-450-0185, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]


AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 04-23-025, filed 11/8/04, effective 12/9/04)

WAC 388-450-0190   How does the department figure my shelter cost income deduction for Basic Food?   The department calculates your shelter cost income deduction as follows:

     (1) First, we add up the amounts your assistance unit (AU) must pay each month for shelter. We do not count any overdue amounts, late fees, penalties or ((any amount)) mortgage payments you ((pay)) make ahead of time as an allowable cost. We count the following expenses as an allowable shelter cost in the month the expense is due:

     (a) Monthly rent, lease, and mortgage payments;

     (b) Property taxes;

     (c) Homeowner's association or condo fees;

     (d) Homeowner's insurance for the building only;

     (e) Utility allowance your AU is eligible for under WAC 388-450-0195;

     (f) Out-of-pocket repairs for the home if it was substantially damaged or destroyed due to a natural disaster such as a fire or flood;

     (g) Expense of a temporarily unoccupied home because of employment, training away from the home, illness, or abandonment caused by a natural disaster or casualty loss if your:

     (i) AU intends to return to the home;

     (ii) AU has current occupants who are not claiming the shelter costs for Basic Food purposes; and

     (iii) AU's home is not being leased or rented during your AU's absence.

     (2) Second, we subtract all deductions your AU is eligible for under WAC 388-450-0185 (1) through (5) from your AU's gross income. The result is your AU's net income.

     (3) Finally, we subtract one-half of your AU's net income from your AU's total shelter costs. The result is your excess shelter costs. Your AU's shelter cost deduction is the excess shelter costs:

     (a) Up to a maximum of ((three)) four hundred ((eighty-eight)) dollars if no one in your AU is elderly or disabled; or

     (b) The entire amount if an eligible person in your AU is elderly or disabled, even if the amount is over ((three)) four hundred ((eighty-eight)) dollars.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057. 04-23-025, § 388-450-0190, filed 11/8/04, effective 12/9/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510. 04-07-138, § 388-450-0190, filed 3/22/04, effective 5/1/04; 03-21-030, § 388-450-0190, 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, § 388-450-0190, filed 10/30/02, effective 12/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510. 01-21-059, § 388-450-0190, filed 10/16/01, effective 12/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.510. 01-06-030, § 388-450-0190, filed 3/2/01, effective 4/2/01; 99-16-024, § 388-450-0190, filed 7/26/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-450-0190, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]

3590.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 04-23-025, filed 11/8/04, effective 12/9/04)

WAC 388-478-0060   What are the income limits and maximum benefit amounts for Basic Food?   If your assistance unit (AU) meets all other eligibility requirements for Basic Food, your AU must have income at or below the limits in column B and C to get Basic Food, unless you meet one of the exceptions listed below. The maximum monthly food assistance benefit your AU could receive is listed in column D.

EFFECTIVE ((10-1-04)) 10-1-05
Column A

Number of Eligible AU Members

 Column B

Maximum

Gross Monthly

Income

 Column C

Maximum Net

Monthly Income

 Column D

Maximum

Allotment

 Column E

165% of Poverty

Level
1 $((1,009))

1037

 $((776))

798

 $((149))

152

 $((1,281))

1316
2 ((1,354))

1390

 ((1,041))

1070

 ((274))

278

 ((1,718))

1765
3 ((1,698))

1744

 ((1,306))

1341

 ((393))

399

 ((2,155))

2213
4 ((2,043))

2097

 ((1,571))

1613

 ((499))

506

 ((2,592))

2661
5 ((2,387))

2450

 ((1,836))

1885

 ((592))

601

 ((3,030))

3109
6 ((2,732))

2803

 ((2,101))

2156

 ((711))

722

 ((3,467))

3558
7 ((3,076))

3156

 ((2,366))

2428

 ((786))

798

 ((3,904))

4006
8 ((3,421))

3509

 ((2,631))

2700

 ((898))

912

 ((4,341))

4454
9 ((3,766))

3863

 ((2,896))

2972

 ((1,010))

1026

 ((4,779))

4903
10 ((4,111))

4217

 ((3,161))

3244

 ((1,112))

1140

 ((5,217))

5532
Each Additional Member +((345))

354

 + ((265))

272

 +((112))

114

 +((438))

449

     Exceptions:

     (1) If your AU is categorically eligible as under WAC 388-414-0001, your AU does not have to meet the gross or net income standards in columns B and C. We do budget your AU's income to decide the amount of Basic Food your AU will receive.

     (2) If your AU includes a member who is sixty years of age or older or has a disability, your income must be at or below the limit in column C only.

     (3) If you are sixty years of age or older and cannot buy and cook your own meals because of a permanent disability, we will use column E to decide if you can be a separate AU.

     (4) If your AU has zero income, your benefits are the maximum allotment in column D, based on the number of eligible members in your AU.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057. 04-23-025, § 388-478-0060, 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, § 388-478-0060, filed 10/7/03, effective 12/1/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090. 02-21-050, § 388-478-0060, filed 10/14/02, effective 12/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510. 01-21-059, § 388-478-0060, filed 10/16/01, effective 12/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510, 74.08.090. 00-23-013, § 388-478-0060, filed 11/3/00, effective 12/4/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510. 99-24-053, § 388-478-0060, filed 11/29/99, effective 12/30/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.510. 99-16-024, § 388-478-0060, filed 7/26/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.500, 74.04.510, 74.08.090. 99-05-074, § 388-478-0060, filed 2/17/99, effective 3/20/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-478-0060, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]

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