Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 10-18-106.

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: The department is amending WAC 388-406-0040 What happens if the processing of my application is delayed?

     Hearing Location(s): Office Building 2, Auditorium, DSHS Headquarters, 1115 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504 (public parking at 11th and Jefferson. A map is available at http://www.dshs.wa.gov/msa/rpau/RPAU-OB-2directions.html or by calling (360) 664-6094), on November 23, 2010, at 10:00 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than November 24, 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 23, 2010.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Jennisha Johnson, DSHS rules consultant, by November 9, 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 proposed amendment to subsection (6) of this rule will clarify the start date for Basic Food.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: The amendment will provide clarity and be consistent with other sections of chapter 388-406 WAC.

     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 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: Kim Chea, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, (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 amendment clarifies the start date of Basic Food 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."

October 12, 2010

Katherine I. Vasquez

Rules Coordinator

     (a) Basic Food, we promptly process your request for benefits even if we need more information to determine eligibility for cash or medical;

     (b) Medical assistance, we promptly process your request for medical even if we need more information to determine eligibility for cash or Basic Food.

     (2) If you have completed your required interview under WAC 388-452-0005 and we have enough information to determine eligibility, then we promptly process your application even if it is after thirty days from the date of your application.

     (3) If additional information is needed to determine eligibility, we give you:

     (a) A written request for the additional information; and

     (b) An additional thirty days to provide the information.

     (4) If you fail to keep or reschedule your interview in the first thirty calendar days after filing your application, your application will be denied on the thirtieth day, or the first business day after the thirtieth day. If you are still interested in Basic Food benefits, you will need to reapply. Benefits will be based on your second application date.

     (5) If we have not processed your application for Basic Food by the sixtieth day and:

     (a) You are responsible for the delay, we deny your request for benefits.

     (b) If we are responsible for the delay, we:

     (i) Promptly process your request if we have the information needed to determine eligibility; or

     (ii) Deny your request if we don't have enough information to determine eligibility. If we deny your request we notify you of your right to file a new application and that you may be entitled to benefits lost.

     (6) If you reapply for Basic Food by the sixtieth day of your first application, met your interview requirements under WAC 388-452-0005, and are eligible, we ((give you)) start your benefits ((lost)) from:

     (a) The date of your first application, if we caused the delay in the first thirty days; or

     (b) ((The month following the month of your first application)) The date we have enough information to make an eligibility decision, if you caused the delay in the first thirty days.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090. 07-13-019, § 388-406-0040, filed 6/11/07, effective 7/12/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510. 03-22-039, § 388-406-0040, 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, § 388-406-0040, filed 6/21/02, effective 7/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.510. 99-16-024, § 388-406-0040, 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, § 388-406-0040, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98. Formerly WAC 388-504-0480.]

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