Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 11-02-069.

     Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: The community services division (CSD) is proposing to amend WAC 388-492-0070 How are my WASHCAP food benefits calculated?

     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 May 24, 2011, at 10:00 a.m.

     Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than May 25, 2011.

     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 May 24, 2011.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Jennisha Johnson, DSHS rules consultant, by May 10, 2011, 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 amend its rules to comply with federal requirements for combined application project cost neutrality and is proposing to increase Washington state combined application project (WASHCAP) shelter standards. It is anticipated that many WASHCAP recipients not receiving the maximum benefit will see an increase in their monthly benefit.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: As required by the WASHCAP demonstration project waiver with the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service, the department conducted its periodic caseload review to evaluate the cost neutrality between WASHCAP and the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) administered as the Washington Basic Food program or Basic Food. Based on the findings of this review, the department must amend its rules to ensure that WASHCAP benefits are cost neutral to SNAP.

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

     Statute Being Implemented: RCW 74.04.005, 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, and 74.08.090.

     Rule is necessary because of federal law, 7 C.F.R. § 273.23.

     Name of Proponent: Department of social and health services, governmental.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Robert Thibodeau, 712 Pear Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, (360) 725-4634.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. These proposed rules do not have an economic impact on small businesses. The proposed amendment only affects certain DSHS clients who receive food assistance under WASHCAP by increasing the allowed shelter cost standard used in the benefit budgeting process.

     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."

April 13, 2011

Katherine I. Vasquez

Rules Coordinator

     (1) We begin with your gross income.

     (2) We subtract the current standard deduction for one person under WAC 388-450-0185 from your gross income to get your countable income.

     (3) We figure your shelter cost based on information we receive from the Social Security Administration (SSA), unless you report a change as described under WAC 388-492-0080. If you pay:

     (a) Three hundred dollars or more a month for shelter, we use three hundred ((seventy-nine)) eighty dollars as your shelter cost; or

     (b) Less than three hundred dollars for shelter, we use one hundred ((eighty-two)) ninety-five dollars as your shelter cost; and

     (c) We add the current standard utility allowance under WAC 388-450-0195 to determine your total shelter cost.

     (4) We figure your shelter deduction by subtracting one half of your countable income from your shelter cost.

     (5) We figure your net income by subtracting your shelter deduction from your countable income and rounding the resulting figure up from fifty cents and down from forty-nine cents to the nearest whole dollar.

     (6) We figure your WASHCAP food benefits (allotment) by:

     (a) Multiplying your net income by thirty percent and rounding up to the next whole dollar; and

     (b) Subtracting the result from the maximum allotment under WAC 388-478-0060.

     (c) If you are eligible for WASHCAP, you will get at least the minimum monthly benefit for Basic Food under WAC 388-412-0015.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.08.090, 74.08A.903, and 7 C.F.R. 273.23. 10-23-115, § 388-492-0070, filed 11/17/10, effective 12/18/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.005, 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, and 7 C.F.R. 273.9. 09-24-001, § 388-492-0070, filed 11/18/09, effective 12/19/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510, and 74.08.090. 09-12-068, § 388-492-0070, filed 5/29/09, effective 7/1/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, and 7 C.F.R. 273.9. 08-21-106, § 388-492-0070, filed 10/16/08, effective 11/16/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510 and 7 C.F.R. § 273.9. 07-22-036, § 388-492-0070, filed 10/30/07, effective 11/30/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090 and 7 C.F.R. 273.9 (d)(6)(iii)(b). 06-21-011, § 388-492-0070, filed 10/6/06, effective 11/6/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090. 05-17-155, § 388-492-0070, filed 8/22/05, effective 10/1/05; 05-08-008, § 388-492-0070, filed 3/25/05, effective 4/25/05; 04-23-026, § 388-492-0070, filed 11/8/04, effective 12/9/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510. 03-21-030, § 388-492-0070, filed 10/7/03, effective 12/1/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510. 03-01-045, § 388-492-0070, filed 12/10/02, effective 1/10/03; 02-15-148, § 388-492-0070, filed 7/22/02, effective 9/1/02; 01-21-058, § 388-492-0070, filed 10/16/01, effective 12/1/01.]

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