CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES

[Filed April 12, 2021, 3:24 p.m., effective May 13, 2021]

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

Purpose: Grant relief from the work requirement for single parents participating in the working connections child care program and enrolled in specified education programs.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 110-15-0040 and 110-15-0045.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 43.216.055 and 43.216.065.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 21-01-184 on December 21, 2020.

Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: "Full time student," "good standing," and "vocational education" definitions inserted in WAC 110-15-0045.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Date Adopted: April 12, 2021.

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 18-14-078, filed 6/29/18, effective 7/1/18)

WAC 110-15-0040Approved activities for applicants and consumers participating in WorkFirst.

(1) Applicants and consumers who participate in WorkFirst activities may be eligible for WCCC benefits for the following approved activities in their individual responsibility plans (IRPs), for up to a maximum of sixteen hours per day, including:

(((1)))(a) An approved WorkFirst activity under WAC 388-310-0200, with the following exception: In-home/relative providers who are paid child care subsidies to care for children receiving WCCC benefits may not receive those benefits for their own children during the hours in which they provide subsidized child care. These consumers may be eligible for other approved activities in their IRPs;

(((2)))(b) Employment as defined in WAC ((170-290-0003))110-15-0003;

(((3)))(c) Self-employment as defined in WAC ((170-290-0003))110-15-0003 and as described in the consumer's current WorkFirst IRP;

(((4) Transportation))(d) Travel time between the ((location of)) child care location and the consumer's place of employment or approved activity;

(((5)))(e) Up to ten hours per week of study time for approved classes; ((and

(6)))(f) Up to eight hours of sleep time before or after a night shift; and

(g) Any activity approved by tribal TANF.

(2) WorkFirst consumers participating in approved activities for at least one hundred ten hours per month as described in WAC 110-15-0190 are considered to have a schedule of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except when:

(a) The consumer's IRP specifies a different schedule; or

(b) Verified differently by the consumer.

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 19-08-020, filed 3/26/19, effective 4/26/19)

WAC 110-15-0045Approved activities for applicants and consumers not participating in WorkFirst.

(1) Applicants and consumers not participating in WorkFirst activities may be eligible for WCCC benefits for the following approved activities ((as described below.

(1) Applicants and consumers who are)):

(a) ((Employed))Employment;

(b) ((Self-employed))Self-employment; or

(i) High school or a general educational development (GED) program for consumers under twenty-two years of age;

(ii) A vocational education program that is combined with an average of twenty or more employment hours per week or sixteen more work-study hours per week;

(iii) A vocational education program for consumers who are single parents enrolled full time and in good standing. For the purposes of this section, a "vocational education program" means a course of study at an accredited institute of postsecondary education leading to a specific occupational degree or certificate not resulting in a bachelor's or advanced degree; "enrolled full time" means a consumer is attending a college or vocational school and meets its definition of full-time student; and "good standing" means the consumer is enrolled in a college or vocational school and is compliant with its rules, policies, enrollment, and academic requirements;

(iv) Supplemental nutrition assistance program employment & training ((services)) (SNAP E&T) ((may be eligible for WCCC benefits for up to a maximum of sixteen hours per day, including travel, study, and sleep time before or after a night shift.

(2) Special requirements for education.

(a) An applicant or consumer who is under twenty-two years of age:

(i) May be eligible for WCCC benefits for high school (HS) or general educational development (GED) program without a minimum number of employment hours.

(ii) May be eligible for WCCC benefits for up to thirty-six months during the consumer's lifetime for participation in vocational education. The consumer must work either an average of twenty or more hours per week of unsubsidized employment or an average of sixteen or more hours per week in a paid federal or state work study program. The vocational education program must lead to a degree or certificate in a specific occupation and be offered by the following accredited entities only:

(A) Public and private technical college or school;

(B) Community college; or

(b) An applicant or consumer who is twenty-two years of age or older:

(i) May be eligible for WCCC benefits up to twenty-four months during the consumer's lifetime for participation in high school/general education development, adult basic education (ABE) or English as a second language (ESL). The consumer must work either an average of twenty or more hours per week of unsubsidized employment, or an average of sixteen or more hours per week in a paid federal or state work study program.

(ii) May be eligible for WCCC benefits up to thirty-six months during the consumer's lifetime for participation in vocational education. The consumer must work either an average of twenty or more hours per week of unsubsidized employment, or an average of sixteen or more hours per week in a paid federal or state work study program. The vocational education program must lead to a degree or certificate in a specific occupation and be offered by the following accredited entities only:

(A) Public and private technical college or school;

(B) Community college; or

(c) An applicant or consumer may be eligible for WCCC benefits up to ten hours per week for study time for approved classes)); or

(v) Adult basic education (ABE) and English as a second language (ESL) for consumers who are at least twenty-two years old.

(d) Applicants and consumers who meet the requirements of (c) of this subsection are eligible to receive subsidy payment for up to ten hours per week of study time for approved classes.

(2) Applicants and consumers who are eligible under the terms of this section are eligible to receive subsidy payment for transportation time between the child care location and the consumer's place of employment or approved activity.

(3) Applicants and consumers who are eligible under the terms of this section are eligible to receive subsidy payment for up to eight hours of sleep time before or after a night shift.