Source: http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/law/wsr/2003/20/03-20-071.htm
Timestamp: 2020-08-14 14:20:58
Document Index: 441328842

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 388', '§ 388', '§ 388', '§ 388', '§ 388', '§ 388', '§ 388', '§ 388', '§ 388', '§ 388', '§ 388', '§ 388', '§ 388', '§ 388', '§ 388', '§ 388', '§ 388', '§ 388', '§ 388', '§ 388', '§ 388', '§ 388', '§ 388', '§ 388', '§ 388', '§ 388', '§ 388', '§ 388']

WSR 03-20-071
[ Filed September 29, 2003, 2:38 p.m. , effective October 1, 2003 ]
Date of Adoption: September 29, 2003.
Purpose: The department is amending rules in chapters 388-450, 388-478, and 388-492 WAC to update income, benefit, and deduction standards for basic food and WASHCAP. These changes are necessary to comply with federal requirements for the food stamp program. The following rules are amended, WAC 388-450-0185 Does the department count all of my income to determine my eligibility and benefits for food assistance?, 388-450-0190 How does the department figure my shelter cost income deduction for food assistance?, 388-450-0195 Utility allowances for food assistance programs, 388-478-0060 What are the income limits and maximum benefit amounts for food assistance?, 388-492-0040 Can I choose whether I get WASHCAP or regular food assistance?, and 388-492-0070 How are my Washington state combined application program (WASHCAP) benefits calculated?
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-450-0185, 388-450-0190, 388-450-0195, 388-478-0060, 388-492-0040, and 388-492-0070.
Reasons for this Finding: The United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) publishes new income standards, maximum benefit amounts, standard deduction, and maximum shelter standards at the end of each federal fiscal year to be used in the next federal fiscal year effective for October benefits. In addition, FNS requires the department to adjust the standard utility allowance and WASHCAP standards each year. These changes must be implemented at the start of each federal fiscal year (October 1). The department filed proposed rules as WSR 03-17-089 to adopt these rules as permanent rules, and a public hearing was held on September 23, 2003.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 03-01-045, filed 12/10/02, effective 1/10/03)
WAC 388-492-0040 Can I choose whether I get WASHCAP or ((regular)) Basic Food ((assistance))? You can choose to have ((regular)) Basic Food ((assistance)) benefits instead of WASHCAP benefits when:
(1) Your shelter costs are more than ((four)) five hundred ((ninety-nine)) fourteen dollars a month. We count the following items as a shelter cost:
(a) Rent or mortgage;
(c) Homeowner's insurance (for the building only); or
(d) Mandatory homeowner's association or condo fees.
(2) Your out-of pocket medical expenses are more than thirty-five dollars a month;
(3) You would get more benefits from being in the ((regular)) Basic Food ((assistance)) program; or
(4) You are waiting to receive WASHCAP benefits.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510. 03-01-045, § 388-492-0040, filed 12/10/02, effective 1/10/03; 02-15-148, § 388-492-0040, filed 7/22/02, effective 9/1/02; 01-21-058, § 388-492-0040, filed 10/16/01, effective 12/1/01.]
WAC 388-492-0070 How are my Washington state combined application program (WASHCAP) benefits calculated? We calculate your WASHCAP benefits as follows:
(1) We begin with your gross income. (Social Security Administration (SSA) tells us how much income you have.)
(a) If SSA tells us you pay three hundred two dollars or more a month for shelter, we use three hundred ((twelve)) twenty-one dollars as your shelter cost; or
(b) If SSA tells us you pay less than three hundred ((one)) two dollars ((a month or less)) for shelter, we use one hundred fifty-five dollars as your shelter cost; and
(c) If you are eligible for WASHCAP, your assistance unit will get at least ten dollars food benefits each month.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510. 03-01-045, § 388-492-0070, filed 12/10/02, effective 1/10/03; 02-15-148, § 388-492-0070, filed 7/22/02, effective 9/1/02; 01-21-058, § 388-492-0070, filed 10/16/01, effective 12/1/01.]
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 02-22-044, filed 10/30/02, effective 12/1/02)
WAC 388-450-0185 Does the department count all of my income to determine my eligibility and benefits for Basic Food ((assistance))? We subtract the following amounts from your assistance unit's (AU's) countable income before we determine your Basic Food ((assistance)) benefit amount:
5 $((147)) 149
6 or more $((168)) 171
(b) We subtract allowable dependent care expenses that are payable to someone outside ((or)) of your AU:
(4) Medical expenses over thirty-five dollars a month owed or anticipated by an elderly or disabled ((household member as described)) person in your AU as allowed under WAC 388-450-0200.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and H.R. 2646 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. 02-22-044, § 388-450-0185, filed 10/30/02, effective 12/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.510. 99-16-024, § 388-450-0185, filed 7/26/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-450-0185, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 02-22-045, filed 10/30/02, effective 12/1/02)
WAC 388-450-0190 How does the department figure my shelter cost income deduction for Basic Food ((assistance))? The department calculates your shelter cost income deduction as follows:
(1) First, we add up the amounts your assistance unit (AU) must pay each month for shelter. We do not count any overdue amounts, late fees, penalties or any amount you pay ahead of time as an allowable cost. We count the following expenses as an allowable shelter cost:
(a) Ongoing rent, lease, and mortgage payments;
(ii) AU has current occupants who are not claiming the shelter costs for Basic Food ((assistance)) purposes; and
(a) Up to a maximum of three hundred ((sixty-seven)) seventy-eight dollars if no one in your AU is elderly or disabled and you were found eligible for benefits or were recertified for benefits either on or after March 1, 2001; or
(b) The entire amount if someone in your AU is elderly or disabled, even if the amount is over three hundred ((sixty-seven)) seventy-eight dollars.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090. 02-22-045, § 388-450-0190, filed 10/30/02, effective 12/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510. 01-21-059, § 388-450-0190, filed 10/16/01, effective 12/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.510. 01-06-030, § 388-450-0190, filed 3/2/01, effective 4/2/01; 99-16-024, § 388-450-0190, filed 7/26/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-450-0190, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]
WAC 388-450-0195 Utility allowances for Basic Food ((assistance)) programs. (1) For Basic Food ((assistance programs)), "utilities" include the following:
(c) Water and ((sewerage)) sewer;
(2) The department uses the amounts below if you have utility costs separate from your rent or mortgage payment. We add your utility allowance to your rent or mortgage payment to determine your total shelter costs. We use total shelter costs to determine your Basic Food ((assistance)) benefits.
1 $ ((275)) 287
2 $ ((283)) 295
3 $ ((291)) 304
4 $ ((300)) 313
5 $ ((308)) 321
6 or more $ ((316)) 330
(b) If your AU does not qualify for the SUA and you have utility costs other than telephone costs, you get a limited utility allowance (LUA) of two hundred ((fifteen)) twenty-three dollars.
(c) If your AU has only telephone costs and no other utility costs, you get a telephone utility allowance (TUA) of ((thirty-five)) thirty-six dollars.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090. 02-22-045, § 388-450-0195, filed 10/30/02, effective 12/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510. 01-21-059, § 388-450-0195, filed 10/16/01, effective 12/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510. 00-22-065, § 388-450-0195, filed 10/27/00, effective 11/1/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.040.510 [74.04.510]. 99-24-052, § 388-450-0195, filed 11/29/99, effective 12/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510. 99-09-055, § 388-450-0195, filed 4/19/99, effective 5/20/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510 and 7 CFR 273.9 (d)(6). 99-01-069, § 388-450-0195, filed 12/14/98, effective 1/14/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-450-0195, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 02-21-050, filed 10/14/02, effective 12/1/02)
WAC 388-478-0060 What are the income limits and maximum benefit amounts for Basic Food ((assistance))? If your assistance unit (AU) meets all other eligibility requirements for Basic Food ((assistance)), your AU must have income at or below the limits in column B and C to get Basic Food ((assistance)), unless you meet one of the exceptions listed below. The maximum monthly food assistance benefit your AU could receive is listed in column D.
EFFECTIVE ((10-1-2002)) 10-1-2003
1 $((960)) 973 $((739)) 749 $((139)) 141 $((1,219)) 1,235
2 ((1,294)) 1,313 ((995)) 1,010 ((256)) 259 ((1,642)) 1,667
3 ((1,628)) 1,654 ((1,252)) 1,272 ((366)) 371 ((2,066)) 2,099
4 ((1,961)) 1,994 ((1,509)) 1,534 ((465)) 471 ((2,489)) 2,530
5 ((2,295)) 2,334 ((1,765)) 1,795 ((553)) 560 ((2,913)) 2,962
6 ((2,629)) 2,674 ((2,022)) 2,057 ((663)) 672 ((3,336)) 3,394
7 ((2,962)) 3,014 ((2,279)) 2,319 ((733)) 743 ((3,760)) 3,826
8 ((3,296)) 3,354 ((2,535)) 2,580 ((838)) 849 ((4,183)) 4,257
9 ((3,630)) 3,695 ((2,792)) 2,842 ((943)) 955 ((4,607)) 4,689
10 ((3,964)) 4,036 ((3,049)) 3,104 ((1,048)) 1,061 ((5,031)) 5,121
Each Additional Member +((334)) 341 +((257)) 262 +((105)) 106 +((424)) 432
(1) If your AU is categorically eligible as under WAC 388-414-0001, your AU does not have to meet the gross or net income standards in columns B and C. We do budget your AU's income to decide the amount of Basic Food ((assistance)) your AU will receive.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090. 02-21-050, § 388-478-0060, filed 10/14/02, effective 12/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510. 01-21-059, § 388-478-0060, filed 10/16/01, effective 12/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510, 74.08.090. 00-23-013, § 388-478-0060, filed 11/3/00, effective 12/4/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510. 99-24-053, § 388-478-0060, filed 11/29/99, effective 12/30/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.510. 99-16-024, § 388-478-0060, filed 7/26/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.500, 74.04.510, 74.08.090. 99-05-074, § 388-478-0060, filed 2/17/99, effective 3/20/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-478-0060, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]