WSR 18-05-078

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed February 20, 2018, 11:20 a.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department is planning to amend WAC 388-412-0015 General information about your food assistance allotments, 388-450-0185 What income deductions does the department allow when determining if I am eligible for food benefits and the amount of my monthly benefits?, 388-450-0190 How does the department figure my shelter cost income deduction for basic food?, 388-450-0195 Does the department use my utility costs when calculating my basic food or WASHCAP benefits?, 388-478-0060 What are the income limits and maximum benefit amounts for basic food?; and other related rules as may be required in order to implement annual adjustments to standards for the Washington basic food program and Washington combined application project (WASHCAP).

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.04.005, 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, 74.08A.120.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: These standards adjustments are required by federal regulations and approved department waivers. Under federal regulations, these standards must be adjusted annually in order to determine a client's eligibility and benefit level for the Washington basic food program or WASHCAP.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: The United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) annually adjusts income and payment standards, the standard deduction, and maximum shelter deductions for the upcoming federal fiscal year. FNS also requires that the department adjust the SNAP utility allowance and WASHCAP standards on an annual basis. The department of social and health services (DSHS) adopts the new FNS standards into administrative rule. The department adjusts WASHCAP standards as required under the department's approved waiver based on changes to the consumer price index.

The department will update the current standard utility allowance (SUA) for basic food, adjusting for inflation for the various utilities included in the SUA deduction and submitting proposed standards to FNS for approval. The standards approved by FNS will be adopted by the department for use in determining monthly benefits for basic food and WASHCAP.

Process for Developing New Rule: DSHS welcomes the public to take part in developing the rules. Anyone interested should contact the staff person identified below. At a later date, DSHS will file a proposal with the office of the code reviser with a notice of proposed rule making. A copy of the proposal will be sent to everyone on the mailing list and to anyone who requests a copy.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Holly St. John, Program Manager, Economic Services Administration, Community Services Division, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, phone 360-725-4895, fax 360-725-4905, email Holly.St.John@dshs.wa.gov.

February 20, 2018

Katherine I. Vasquez

Rules Coordinator