Washington Administrative Code › Title 388 - Social and Health Services, Department of › ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS › Chapter 388-412 - Benefit issuances › Section 388-412-0046 - What is the purpose of DSHS cash and food assistance benefits and how can I use my benefits?

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) What is the
				purpose of DSHS cash benefits?
(a) DSHS cash
				assistance benefits are provided to low-income residents who qualify for public
				assistance programs. These benefits are intended to help pay for basic living
				expenses as described under
				RCW
				74.04.770. TANF cash grants must be used for
				the sole benefit of the children, and we may require proof that you are using
				your TANF cash assistance to benefit your children as allowed under
				RCW
				74.12.260.
(b) Your electronic benefit transfer (EBT)
				card or cash assistance benefits may only be used by you, an eligible member of
				your household, an authorized non-member, or an authorized
				representative/protective payee for the purposes of your cash assistance
				program. You are not allowed to sell, attempt to sell, exchange, or donate your
				EBT card or benefits to any other person or entity.
(i) An authorized non-member is a person
				selected, by the household, to use the EBT card and make purchases for the sole
				benefit of the household, on behalf of the household, on an as-needed
				basis.
(c) You may use
				your cash benefits to pay a reasonable amount of basic living expenses such as:
(i) Shelter;
(ii) Utilities such as heating, telephone,
				water, sewer, garbage, and recycling;
(iii) Food;
(iv) Transportation;
(v) Clothing;
(vi) Household maintenance;
(vii) Personal hygiene;
(viii) Employment- or school-related items;
				and
(ix) Other necessary
				incidentals and items.
(d) It is illegal to use electronic benefit
				transfer (EBT) cards or cash obtained with EBT cards to:
(i) Gamble. Gambling includes:
(A) The purchase of lottery
				tickets;
(B) The purchase of pull
				tabs;
(C) Use of punch
				boards;
(D) Purchase of bingo
				cards;
(E) Betting on horse
				racing;
(F) Participating in casino
				games; and
(G) Participating in
				other games of chance as found in chapters 9.46, 67.16 and 67.70 RCW.
(ii) Purchase cigarettes as
				defined in
				RCW
				82.24.010 or tobacco products as defined in
				RCW
				82.26.010;
(iii) Purchase any items regulated under
				Title 66 RCW;
(iv) Purchase or
				participate in any activities in any of the following locations:
(A) Taverns licensed under
				RCW
				66.24.330;
(B) Beer/wine specialty stores licensed under
				RCW
				66.24.371, except if the store is an
				authorized supplemental nutrition assistance program or women, infants, and
				children retailer;
(C) Nightclubs
				licensed under
				RCW
				66.24.600;
(D) Bail bond agencies regulated under
				chapter 18.185 RCW;
(E) Gambling
				establishments licensed under chapter 9.46 RCW;
(F) Tattoo, body piercing, or body art shops
				regulated under chapter 18.300 RCW;
(G) Adult entertainment venues with
				performances that contain erotic material where minors under the age of 18 are
				prohibited under
				RCW
				9.68A.150;
(H) Any establishments where persons under
				the age of 18 are not permitted.
(e) If you use your electronic benefit
				transfer (EBT) card or cash obtained from your EBT card illegally we may:
(i) Assign a protective payee to manage your
				cash assistance benefits under WAC
				388-460-0035;
(ii) For households receiving TANF, require
				proof that your benefits are being used for the benefit of the children in the
				household;
(iii) Terminate your
				cash benefits; or
(iv) Pursue legal
				action, including criminal prosecution.