Washington Administrative Code › Title 388 - Social and Health Services, Department of › ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS › Chapter 388-472 - RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES › Section 388-472-0005 - What are my rights and responsibilities?

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
For the purposes of this chapter, "we" and "us" refer to the
				  department and "you" refers to the applicant or recipient.
(1) If you apply for or get cash, a referral
				to the housing and essential needs (HEN) program, or food assistance benefits
				you have the right to:
(a) Have your rights
				and responsibilities explained to you and given to you in writing;
(b) Have us explain the legal use of DSHS
				benefits to you;
(c) Be treated
				politely and fairly no matter what your race, color, political beliefs,
				national origin, religion, age, gender, disability or birthplace;
(d) Request benefits by giving us an
				application form using any method listed under WAC
				388-406-0010. You can ask for and
				get a receipt when you give us an application or other documents;
(e) Have your application processed as soon
				as possible. Unless your application is delayed under WAC
				388-406-0040, we process your
				application for benefits within thirty days, except:
(i) If you are eligible for expedited
				services under WAC
				388-406-0015, you get food
				assistance within seven days. If we deny you expedited services, you have a
				right to ask that the decision be reviewed by the department within two working
				days from the date we denied your request for expedited services;
(ii) Aged, blind, or disabled (ABD)
				assistance, or referral to the housing and essential needs (HEN) program, may
				take up to forty-five days.
(f) Be given at least ten days to give us
				information needed to determine your eligibility and be given more time if you
				ask for it. If we do not have the information needed to decide your
				eligibility, then we may deny your request for benefits;
(g) Have the information you give us kept
				private. We may share some facts with other agencies for efficient management
				of federal and state programs;
(h)
				Ask us not to collect child support (which includes medical support, as defined
				in WAC 388-14A-1020 ) if you fear the
				noncustodial parent may harm you, your children, or the children in your
				care;
(i) Ask for extra money to
				help pay for temporary emergency shelter costs, such as an eviction or a
				utility shutoff, if you get TANF;
(j) Get a written notice, in most cases, at
				least ten days before we make changes to lower or stop your benefits;
(k) Ask for an administrative hearing if you
				disagree with a decision we make. You can also ask a supervisor or
				administrator to review our decision or action without affecting your right to
				a fair hearing;
(l) Have
				interpreter or translator services given to you at no cost and without
				delay;
(m) Refuse to speak to a
				fraud investigator. You do not have to let an investigator into your home. You
				may ask the investigator to come back at another time. Such a request will not
				affect your eligibility for benefits; and
(n) Get help from us to register to
				vote.