WSR 25-23-029
PROPOSED RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
[Filed November 12, 2025, 10:04 a.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 25-19-004.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: The department of social and health services (DSHS) is proposing to amend WAC 388-444-0015 How can the basic food employment and training (BFET) program help me find work?, and 388-444-0025 What support services may the basic food employment and training (BFET) program pay to help me participate?
Hearing Location(s): On December 23, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., virtually via Teams or call in. See the DSHS website at https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sesa/rpau/proposed-rules-and-public-hearings for the most current information.
Date of Intended Adoption: Not earlier than December 24, 2025.
Submit Written Comments to: DSHS Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504, email DSHSRPAURulesCoordinator@dshs.wa.gov, beginning November 19, 2025, noon, by December 23, 2025, 5:00 p.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Shelley Tencza, DSHS rules consultant, phone 360-664-6036, TTY 711 relay service, email shelley.tencza@dshs.wa.gov, by December 9, 2025, 5:00 p.m.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: These amendments update and clarify employment and training services, support services, and participation requirements for the BFET program. As applicable, the amendments make additional changes required to improve clarity, update policy, or better align rule language with state and federal law or regulations.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: See above.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: DSHS, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation, and Enforcement: Felicia Talbott, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, 360-764-9557.
A school district fiscal impact statement is not required under RCW
28A.305.135.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW
34.05.328. These rules are exempt as allowed under RCW
34.05.328 (5)(b)(vii) which states in part, "this 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.["]
This rule proposal, or portions of the proposal, is exempt from requirements of the Regulatory Fairness Act because the proposal:
Is exempt under RCW
19.85.025(3) as the rules relate only to internal governmental operations that are not subject to violation by a nongovernment party; rules are adopting or incorporating by reference without material change federal statutes or regulations, Washington state statutes, rules of other Washington state agencies, shoreline master programs other than those programs governing shorelines of statewide significance, or, as referenced by Washington state law, national consensus codes that generally establish industry standards, if the material adopted or incorporated regulates the same subject matter and conduct as the adopting or incorporating rule; and rules only correct typographical errors, make address or name changes, or clarify language of a rule without changing its effect.
Explanation of exemptions: These amendments do not impact small businesses. They only impact DSHS customers.
Scope of exemption for rule proposal:
Is fully exempt.
November 7, 2025
Katherine I. Vasquez
Rules Coordinator
SHS-5118.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 21-19-040, filed 9/10/21, effective 10/11/21)
WAC 388-444-0015How can the basic food employment and training (BFET) program help me find work?
The basic food employment and training (BFET) program is the name for Washington's voluntary supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) employment and training program.
(1) If you receive federally funded basic food benefits, SNAP, and are at least ((sixteen))16 years of age or older (see additional requirements to serve ((sixteen))16 to ((seventeen))17 year olds ((below))in this section) and are able to work at least ((twenty))20 hours per week (see additional requirements ((below))in this section), you may choose to receive services through the BFET program in one or more of the following activities, if we currently provide the service in the county where you live:
(a) Job search and training, which may include:
(i) Labor market information;
(ii) Job seeking skills instruction;
(iii) Resume writing;
(iv) Job skills assessment;
(v) Coaching;
(vi) Work ethic training; or
(vii) Job placement services.
(b) Supervised job search, which may include:
(i) Use of computer, email, fax, telephone;
(ii) Search of job listings; and
(iii) Securing identification, professional license, or certifications.
(c) Basic education, which may include:
(i) Education in basic computer skills;
(ii) Literacy or math training;
(iii) High school equivalency (formerly GED); or
(iv) Basic education for adults (BEA)((; or)).
(((v)))(d) English as a second language (ESL).
(((d)))(e) Life skills training, which may include:
(i) Work preparation;
(ii) Health and well-being;
(iii) Effective communication;
(iv) Personal strength builders; or
(v) Community engagement.
(((e)))(f) Vocational education, which may be:
(i) Credentialed;
(ii) Recognized by an independent third party; or
(iii) Accepted by local industry employers.
(((f)))(g) Job retention services, which may include:
(i) Counseling;
(ii) Coaching;
(iii) Case management; and
(iv) Participant reimbursements.
(((g)))(h) Paid or unpaid work based learning.
(i) Self-employment training, which may include:
(i) Technical assistance;
(ii) Creating financial marketing plans;
(iii) Accessing small business grants; and
(iv) Finding other business support services.
(j) Integrated education and training, which may include:
(i) Vocational education and English language acquisition; or
(ii) Vocational education and basic education; or
(iii) Vocational education, language acquisition, and basic education.
(2) If you are eligible to participate in BFET activities, you must be able to participate ((in BFET twenty))or work at least 20 hours per week, up to ((forty))40 hours per week.
(((a)))(3) Youth ages ((sixteen))16 to ((seventeen))17 may participate in BFET programs, whether they receive basic food benefits independently or through their parents basic food case.
(((i)))(a) The participation exception for youth are secondary education, or high school equivalency classes.
(((ii)))(b) Youth may participate in vocational education programs if they have received or in the process of receiving their high school equivalency.
(((iii)))(c) Youth ((sixteen))16 years and older do not require parental consent to participate in BFET.
(((iv)))(d) Persons with a verified disability (which may include those receiving services from the division of vocational rehabilitation) may be eligible for BFET services.
(((3)))(4) If you are an able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD) ((and able to work)), you may be eligible for BFET services.
(((4)))(5) If you receive employment and training services within multiple department of social and health services administrations, you cannot receive duplication of services, nor duplication of support services.
(((5)))(6) If you receive benefits under the state-funded food assistance program (FAP), you are not eligible to participate in BFET.
(((6)))(7) If you receive temporary assistance to needy families (TANF), you are not eligible to participate in BFET.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 21-19-040, filed 9/10/21, effective 10/11/21)
WAC 388-444-0025What support services may the basic food employment and training (BFET) program ((pay))support to help me participate?
The BFET program may ((pay))support certain ((actual)) expenses needed for you to participate in the BFET program based on contractors' programs. The BFET program may ((pay for))support the following expenses:
(1) Transportation related costs;
(2) Books and training supplies;
(3) Clothing;
(4) Educational or credential testing;
(5) Housing ((or utilities));
(6) Personal hygiene; or
(7) Child care or medical;
(a) Dependent care costs for each dependent through ((twelve))12 years of age.
(b) We do not pay your dependent care costs if:
(i) The child is ((thirteen))13 years of age or older unless they are:
(A) Physically ((and/)) or mentally unable to care for themselves; or
(B) Under court order requiring adult supervision; or
(C) Any member in the food assistance unit provides the dependent care.
(ii) We do not use the cost of dependent care the department pays for under subsection (1) of this section as an income deduction for your household's dependent care costs under WAC 388-450-0185.