PROPOSED RULES
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 10-17-116.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: The department is proposing to amend WAC 388-432-0005 Can I get help from DSHS for a family emergency without receiving monthly cash assistance?
Hearing Location(s): Office Building 2, Auditorium, DSHS Headquarters, 1115 Washington, Olympia, WA 98504 (public parking at 11th and Jefferson. A map is available at http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/msa/rpau/RPAU-OB-2directions.html or by calling (360) 664-6094), on November 9, 2010, at 10:00 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than November 10, 2010.
Submit Written Comments to: DSHS Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504-5850, delivery 1115 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, e-mail DSHSRPAURulesCoordinator@dshs.wa.gov, fax (360) 664-6185, by 5 p.m. on November 9, 2010.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Jennisha Johnson, DSHS rules consultant, by October 26, 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 to reduce the maximum diversion cash assistance benefits from $1500 to $1250. The proposal is necessary to reduce program costs in response to a budget shortfall. The proposal will impact clients who are requesting emergency assistance benefits by limiting the maximum allotment.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: The proposed amendments are necessary for the program to contain costs and ensure the program's fiscal stability.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and 74.08A.210(4).
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, and 74.08.090.
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: Kerry Judge, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, (360) 725-4630.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The proposed rule does not have an economic impact on small businesses. The proposed rule reduces the annual benefit limit of diversion cash assistance to TANF/SFA eligible clients in response to budget reductions.
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." The proposed rule reduces diversion cash assistance availability from $1500 to $1250 in a twelve-month period.
September 30, 2010
Katherine I. Vasquez
Rules Coordinator
4229.1(1) To get DCA, you must:
(a) Meet all the eligibility rules for temporary assistance for needy families (TANF)/state family assistance (SFA) except:
(i) You do not have to participate in WorkFirst requirements as defined in chapter 388-310 WAC; and
(ii) You do not have to assign child support rights or cooperate with division of child support as defined in chapter 388-422 WAC.
(b) Have a current bona fide or approved need for living expenses;
(c) Provide proof that your need exists; and
(d) Have or expect to get enough income or resources to support yourselves for at least twelve months.
(2) You may get DCA to help pay for one or more of the following needs:
(a) Child care;
(b) Housing;
(c) Transportation;
(d) Expenses to get or keep a job;
(e) Food costs, but not if an adult member of your family has been disqualified for food stamps; or
(f) Medical costs, except when an adult member of your family is not eligible because of failure to provide third party liability (TPL) information as defined in WAC 388-505-0540.
(3) DCA payments are limited to:
(a) One thousand ((five hundred)) two hundred fifty
dollars once in a twelve-month period which starts with the
month the DCA benefits begin; and
(b) The cost of your need.
(4) We do not budget your income or make you use your resources to lower the amount of DCA payments you can receive.
(5) DCA payments can be paid:
(a) All at once; or
(b) As separate payments over a thirty-day period. The thirty-day period starts with the date of your first DCA payment.
(6) When it is possible, we pay your DCA benefit directly to the service provider.
(7) You are not eligible for DCA if:
(a) Any adult member of your assistance unit got DCA within the last twelve months;
(b) Any adult member of your assistance unit gets TANF/SFA;
(c) Any adult member of your assistance unit is not eligible for cash assistance for any reason unless one parent in a two-parent-assistance unit is receiving SSI; or
(d) Your assistance unit does not have a needy adult (such as when you do not receive TANF/SFA payment for yourself but receive it for the children only).
(8) If you apply for DCA after your TANF/SFA grant has been terminated, we consider you an applicant for DCA.
(9) If you apply for TANF/SFA and you received DCA less than twelve months ago:
(a) We set up a DCA loan.
(i) The amount of the loan is one-twelfth of the total DCA benefit times the number of months that are left in the twelve-month period.
(ii) The first month begins with the month DCA benefits began.
(b) We collect the loan only by reducing your grant. We take five percent of your TANF/SFA grant each month.
(10) If you stop getting TANF/SFA before you have repaid the loan, we stop collecting the loan unless you get back on TANF/SFA.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.04.050. 01-03-066, § 388-432-0005, filed 1/12/01, effective 3/1/01.]