Opinion ID: 623898
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Plaintiff Monica Navarro Pimentel

Text: Pimentel has been receiving food assistance benefits since 2005. Her household, or “assistance unit,” currently consists of herself and her three children, ages fifteen, six, and two. Her two youngest children are U.S. citizens. Pimentel first applied for Basic Food benefits in 2005, on behalf of herself and her two children; her youngest child was not yet born. She recalls completing only a single application form for food assistance, and that form did not distinguish between SNAP and FAP benefits. She was told, in a letter from the state, that she was approved for expedited food assistance benefits in the amounts of $100 and $94 for the next two months, respectively. A separate letter notified her that she and her oldest child “A.N.P.” were denied food assistance benefits because “[i]mmigrants have to meet certain requirements to get these benefits. You do not meet these requirements.” The letter cited several provisions of the Washington Administrative Code, namely WAC 388-424-0005, 388-4240010, 388-424-0015, 388-424-0020, 388-424-0025, 388-4620015, 388-505-0110, 388-505-0210, and referred Pimentel to a government website. Finally, the letter informed her that “[i]f you disagree with any of our decisions, you may ask to have your case reviewed. You can also ask for a fair hearing. Your fair hearing rights are included in this letter.” Pimentel does not recall receiving more specific information from DSHS regarding which immigration requirements she and
A year later, Pimentel filed an I-360 self-petition under the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (“VAWA”) on behalf of herself and A.N.P. She was subsequently informed, through an I-797 notice, that she had established a prima facie 2212 PIMENTEL v. DREYFUS case under the VAWA’s self-petitioning provisions, qualifying her and her son to receive certain public benefits while they awaited a final decision. Pimentel immediately submitted to DSHS an updated eligibility-review form, attaching the I- 797 notice. Her monthly food assistance benefit was subsequently increased to $245. Soon thereafter, Pimentel received a second notice from the federal government, advising her that her VAWA self-petition had been approved and that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services had placed her case under deferred action. She requested and was approved deferred action for her and A.N.P., and both are now pursuing legal permanent residence (“LPR”). As a victim of domestic abuse, Pimentel is a “qualified alien,” as defined in WAC 388-424-0001, who would otherwise be eligible for SNAP benefits, but for the citizenship and alien-status requirements of WAC 388-424-0020. Pimentel’s attorneys maintain that A.N.P., as a minor child of a victim of domestic abuse, is eligible for SNAP benefits under WAC 388-424-0020(2)(b)(i) and (ii). Pimentel’s youngest child was born in late 2008, and she reported this fact to DSHS about a month later. DSHS then increased her monthly food assistance amount to $565.