Opinion ID: 623898
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: FAP Elimination

Text: In September 2010, DSHS announced in the Washington State Register that, pursuant to RCW 74.04.050, it might amend or repeal its rules related to eligibility and benefit levels for the state-funded FAP due to budget cuts. Wash. St. Reg. 10-19-135. In November, DSHS published notice of a proposed rulemaking that would amend WAC 388-400-0040, 388-424-0020, and 388-489-0025 and repeal WAC 388-400PIMENTEL v. DREYFUS 2213 0045 and 388-424-0025. Wash. St. Reg. 10-23-109. DSHS provided a public comment period through December 21 and held a public hearing on that day. Meanwhile, on December 15, Governor Gregoire released her proposed 2011-2013 operating budget, which would eliminate FAP. On December 17, the governor released her proposed 2011 supplemental budget bill, which would eliminate FAP for the balance of the 2009-2011 fiscal term, saving an additional $7.21 million in state funds. DSHS adopted the new regulation on December 29, terminating FAP, effective February 1, 2011. WAC 388400-0040. DSHS headquarters notified its regional administrators that FAP was being eliminated as a result of budget reductions. According to John Camp, Administrator for Food Assistance Programs, approximately 10,581 households were receiving state food assistance as of December 2010. Of those, approximately 3,491 households were receiving only FAP benefits, while 7,090 households received a combination of SNAP and FAP benefits.

DSHS sent a January 16, 2011 letter to assistance units receiving FAP benefits, such as Pimentel’s household. Listing a number of administrative regulations, the letter informed recipients that “[t]he state-funded Food Assistance Program (FAP) will end 01/31/11 because of state budget cuts. You don’t have administrative hearing rights when a program ends.” However, at the end of the letter was the following: “If you disagree with any of our decisions, you may ask to have the case reviewed. You can also ask for an administrative hearing.” The letter listed the members of the assistance unit who, according to DSHS, had been receiving FAP benefits, and set forth the amount of monthly Basic Food benefits that the household would receive when these benefits terminated 2214 PIMENTEL v. DREYFUS on January 31. Pimentel’s notice identified her and her son A.N.P. as recipients who would no longer receive statefunded FAP benefits after January 31 due to the program’s termination.
DSHS sent a second notice to assistance units composed of individuals eligible for both federal and state food assistance. Pimentel received this notice, informing her that “[t]he number of people getting assistance with you has changed” and reiterating that “[t]he state-funded Food Assistance Program (FAP) will end 01/31/11 because of state budget cuts. You don’t have administrative hearing rights when a program ends.” The notice went on to explain that “FAP provides food benefits to legal immigrants who don’t meet the citizenship or alien status rules for federally-funded food benefits. If your household includes people eligible to receive federally-funded food benefits, your food assistance includes both FAP and federally-funded food benefits. This change won’t affect your household’s receipt of federally-funded food benefits.” Like the first notice, the end of the second notice informed Pimentel of her ability to “ask for an administrative hearing.” The letter provided no explanation as to how DSHS determined Pimentel’s and her son’s alien status. Pimentel says she could not determine whether DSHS had properly calculated her household’s federal Basic Food benefits because the letter did not explain why she or her eldest son did not meet the citizenship or alien-status requirements for federal Basic Food benefits, nor did it indicate what information DSHS relied on in making its determination. According to Pimentel, the letter also failed to show adequately how DSHS prorated any ineligible member’s income or allowable expenses in accordance with WAC 388-450-0140, or otherwise set forth the income, deduction, and expense figures used by DSHS so that Pimentel could review DSHS’s computation of SNAP benefits on her own. Pimentel avers that these letters were the first notice PIMENTEL v. DREYFUS 2215 she ever received from DSHS that she and A.N.P. had been receiving state-funded assistance under FAP rather than federally funded assistance under SNAP. Her attorneys confirm that, based on their review of documents Pimentel received from DSHS (produced in response to their request for public records), none of the prior notices Pimentel received from DSHS indicated that she and A.N.P. were receiving statefunded, rather than federally funded, food benefits, nor did they indicate why Pimentel and A.N.P. were ineligible for federal food assistance.
After commencement of this lawsuit, DSHS sent a third notice to assistance units receiving state-funded food assistance benefits, intended to explain which household members were ineligible for federal food assistance benefits due to their alien or citizenship status. Pimentel received one of these notices, dated February 3, 2011. Her notice states the following: [Monica S. Navarro Pimentel and A.N.P.] are not eligible for federally-funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits under the Washington Basic Food program because they do not meet the citizenship or alien status requirements under WAC 388-400-0040 and 388-424-0020. We reviewed the following documents to decide whether these persons are eligible for federal SNAP benefits through the Washington Basic Food program: ... USCIS I-797, Supplemental Notice of Deferred Action dated 1-11-11 USCIS I-797, Supplemental Notice of Deferred Action dated 1-17-09 (Expired) 2216 PIMENTEL v. DREYFUS USCIS I-797, Establishment of Prima Facie case dated 6-12-06 (Expired) USCIS I-797C, I360 Petition of Amerasian, Wid- ower or special immigrant dated 5-18-06 ... If you disagree with any of our decisions, you may ask to have the case reviewed. You can also ask for an administrative hearing. Administrative hearing rights are included in this letter.