SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES

(Economic Services Administration)

[Filed March 12, 2026, 12:36 p.m.]

Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 26-02-040.

Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: The department of social and health services (DSHS) is proposing to amend WAC 388-412-0005 General information about your cash benefits.

Hearing Location(s): On April 21, 2026, 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 April 22, 2026.

Submit Written Comments to: DSHS Rules Coordinator, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504, email DSHSRPAURulesCoordinator@dshs.wa.gov, beginning noon on March 18, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. on April 21, 2026.

Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Shelley Tencza, rules consultant, phone 360-664-6036, TTY 711 relay service, email shelley.tencza@dshs.wa.gov, by 5:00 p.m. on April 7, 2026.

Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: These amendments will better align cash benefit rules with RCW 74.04.760. If applicable, these amendments will 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.

Statute Being Implemented: RCW 74.04.760.

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: Sam Del Vecchio, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, 425-339-4841.

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, "[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."

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 only correct typographical errors, make address or name changes, or clarify language of a rule without changing its effect; and rule content is explicitly and specifically dictated by statute.

Is exempt under RCW 19.85.025(4).

Is exempt under RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(vii).

Explanation of exemptions: These amendments do not impact small businesses. They only impact DSHS customers.

Scope of exemption for rule proposal:

Katherine I. Vasquez

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 12-06-070, filed 3/6/12, effective 4/6/12)

WAC 388-412-0005General information about your cash benefits.

(1) Each separate cash assistance unit (AU) gets a separate benefit amount. If several AUs live in the same house, each AU gets a separate benefit amount.

(2) You cannot receive the same type of benefits in:

(a) Two states in the same month; or

(b) Two AUs in the same month; unless

(3) If you are married and both you and your spouse get aged, blind, or disabled (ABD) assistance, you and your spouse are one AU.

(4) Your grant is rounded down to the next whole dollar amount unless:

(a) You get a clothing and personal incidental (CPI) allowance; or

(b) Your benefits are reduced to pay an overpayment.

(5) We do not issue any cash benefits if you are eligible for less than ((ten dollars))$10.00 unless((:

(a) You get a CPI allowance;

(b) Your))your benefits are reduced to pay an overpayment((; or

(6) You may use your cash benefits to pay for basic living expenses as detailed under WAC 388-412-0046 (1)(c).

(7) You may not use your electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards or cash obtained with EBT cards for any of the activities specified under WAC 388-412-0046 (1)(d).

(8) If you choose to withdraw your cash benefits using an automated teller machine (ATM), our EBT vendor may charge a fee for the transaction in addition to any charges by the bank or ATM owner.