PERMANENT RULES
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: The community services division amends WAC 388-476-0005 Social Security number requirements, to better align with federal requirements under C.F.R. 273.6. The amended rule will allow a Basic Food household to provide proof of a newborn Social Security number at the next recertification or within six months following the month the baby was born, whichever is later.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-476-0005.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.08.090, 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, and 74.04.510.
Other Authority: Title 7, 273.6 C.F.R.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 10-13-127 on June 22, 2010.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: August 5, 2010.
Katherine I. Vasquez
Rules Coordinator
4207.1(2) If the person is unable to provide the SSN, either because it is not known or has not been issued, the person must:
(a) Apply for the SSN;
(b) Provide proof that the SSN has been applied for; and
(c) Provide the SSN when it is received.
(3) Assistance will not be delayed, denied or terminated pending the issuance of an SSN by the Social Security Administration. However, a person who does not comply with these requirements is not eligible for assistance.
(4) For cash, medical, and food assistance benefits, a person cannot be disqualified from receiving benefits for refusing to apply for or supply an SSN based on religious grounds.
(5) For food assistance programs:
(a) A person can receive benefits for the month of application and the following month if the person attempted to apply for the SSN and made every effort to provide the needed information to the Social Security Administration.
(b) ((A newborn may receive benefits for up to six months
from the date of birth if the household is unable to provide
proof of application for an SSN at the time of birth)) If a
person is unable to provide proof of application for a SSN for
a newborn:
(i) The newborn can receive Basic Food with the household while effort is being made to get the SSN.
(ii) For the newborn to continue receiving Basic Food benefits; the household must provide proof of application for SSN or the SSN for the newborn, at the next recertification, or within six months following the month the baby is born, whichever is later.
(6) For medical programs, a newborn as described in WAC 388-505-0210(1) is eligible for categorically needy (CN) medical without meeting the SSN requirement until the baby's first birthday.
(7) There is no SSN requirement for the following programs:
(a) The consolidated emergency assistance program;
(b) The refugee cash and medical assistance program;
(c) The alien emergency medical program;
(d) The state-funded pregnant woman program; and
(e) Detoxification services.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090. 03-20-061, § 388-476-0005, filed 9/26/03, effective 10/27/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.510. 99-17-025, § 388-476-0005, filed 8/10/99, effective 10/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-476-0005, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98. Formerly WAC 388-505-0530.]