Effective Date of Rule: February 1, 2011.

     Purpose: This filing amends subsection (6) to clarify the start date for Basic Food when an applicant is denied Basic Food and reapplies within sixty days of the first application. If the applicant is determined to be eligible, benefits start the date the department received all the information necessary to determine eligibility, if the delay in the first thirty days was caused by the applicant. This amendment is consistent with WAC 388-406-0055 and supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) federal regulations under 7 C.F.R. 273.2(h).

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-406-0040.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, and 74.08A.010.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 10-21-091 on October 20, 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     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: December 23, 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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