WSR 26-03-088
PERMANENT RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
[Filed January 20, 2026, 3:20 p.m., effective February 20, 2026]
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: The department of social and health services is adopting amendments to 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? These amendments will update and clarify employment and training services, support services, and participation requirements for the basic food employment and training program.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-444-0015 and 388-444-0025.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 25-23-029 on November 12, 2025.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: January 20, 2026.
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.