PROPOSED RULES
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 09-20-079.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: The community services division is proposing to amend WAC 388-406-0055 When do my benefits start?
Hearing Location(s): Blake Office Park East, Rose Room, 4500 10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA 98503 (one block north of the intersection of Pacific Avenue S.E. and Alhadeff Lane. A map or directions are available at http://www.dshs.wa.gov/msa/rpau/docket.html or by calling (360) 664-6094), on April 6, 2010, at 10:00 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: No earlier than April 7, 2010.
Submit Written Comments to: DSHS Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504-5850, delivery 4500 10th Avenue S.E., Lacey, WA 98503, e-mail DSHSRPAURulesCoordinator@dshs.wa.gov, fax (360) 664-6185, by 5 p.m. on April 6, 2010.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Jennisha Johnson, DSHS rules consultant, by March 23, 2010, TTY (360) 664-6178 or (360) 664-6094 or by e-mail at johnsjl4@dshs.wa.gov.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The department is proposing this amendment to comply with the conditions of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) waiver 2010182 and policy memo 88-4.
Under current rules, if the department was unable to process an application for food assistance within the first thirty day period due to a delay on the part of the consumer, the department would approve benefits starting the first of the month following the month of application if the customer provided the required verifications by the end of [the] second thirty day period.
Under the proposed rule, if the information was provided by the end of the second thirty day period, the department would approve benefits starting the date the information was provided.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: To comply with the conditions of USDA, FNS waiver 2010182 and policy memo 88-4.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, and 74.08A.010.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, and 74.08A.010.
Rule is necessary because of federal law, 7 C.F.R. 273.
Name of Proponent: Department of social and health services, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Kimberly Chea, 712 Pear Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98503, (360) 725-4653.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The proposed rules do not have an economic impact on small businesses. The proposed amendments only affect DSHS clients by clarifying the start date of their benefits.
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."
February 22, 2010
Don Goldsby, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit
4179.1(1) Cash assistance, your benefits start:
(a) The date we have enough information to make an eligibility decision; or
(b) No later than the thirtieth day for TANF, SFA, or RCA; or
(c) No later than the forty-fifth day for general assistance (GA) unless you are confined in a Washington state public institution as defined in WAC 388-406-0005 (6)(a) on the forty-fifth day, in which case your benefits will start on the date you are released from confinement.
(2) Basic Food, your benefits start from the date you applied unless:
(a) You are recertified for Basic Food. If you are recertified for Basic Food, we determine the date your benefits start under WAC 388-434-0010;
(b) You applied for Basic Food while living in an institution. If you apply for Basic Food while living in an institution, the date you are released from the institution determines your start date as follows. If you are expected to leave the institution:
(i) Within thirty days of the date we receive your application, your benefits start on the date you leave the institution; or
(ii) More than thirty days from the date we receive your application, we deny your application for Basic Food. You may apply for Basic Food again when your date of release from the institution is closer.
(c) We were unable to process your application within
thirty days because of a delay on your part. If you caused
the delay, but submit required verification by the end of the
second thirty-day period, we approve your benefits starting
the ((first day of the month following the month you applied
for benefits)) date you provide the required verification. We
start your benefits from this date even if we denied your
application for Basic Food.
(d) We initially denied your application for Basic Food and your assistance unit (AU) becomes categorically eligible (CE) within sixty days from the date you applied. If your AU becoming CE under WAC 388-414-0001 makes you eligible for Basic Food, the date we approve Basic Food is the date your AU became CE.
(e) You are approved for transitional food assistance under chapter 388-489 WAC. We determine the date transitional benefits start as described under WAC 388-489-0015.
(f) You receive transitional food assistance with people you used to live with, and are now approved to receive Basic Food in a different assistance unit:
(i) We must give the other assistance unit ten days notice as described under WAC 388-458-0025 before we remove you from the transitional food assistance benefits.
(ii) Your Basic Food benefits start the first of the month after we remove you from the transitional benefits. For example, if we remove you from transitional benefits on November 30th, you are eligible for Basic Food on December 1st.
(3) Medical assistance, the date your benefits start is stated in chapter 388-416 WAC.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.060, 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and 2009 c 198. 09-20-031, § 388-406-0055, filed 9/29/09, effective 11/1/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, and 74.08A.010. 05-19-060, § 388-406-0055, filed 9/16/05, effective 11/1/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510. 03-22-039, § 388-406-0055, filed 10/28/03, effective 12/1/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, and 74.08.090. 02-14-023, § 388-406-0055, filed 6/21/02, effective 7/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-406-0055, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]