Program Summary - Food Assistance Program
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Program Summary - Food Assistance Program

Revised June 29, 2012

Purpose: The Food Assistance Program (FAP) is a state-funded program that provides food assistance to legal immigrants who aren't eligible for federal Basic Food benefits soley because of their alien status.
WAC 388-400-0050If I am not eligible for federal benefits through Washington Basic Food program because of my alien status, can I receive benefits through the state-funded food assistance program?

WAC 388-400-0050

WAC 388-400-0050

Effective July 1, 2012

WAC 388-400-0050 If I am not eligible for federal benefits through Washington Basic Food program because of my alien status, can I receive benefits through the state-funded food assistance program?

  1. If you are not eligible for federally-funded  Basic Food benefits solely because you do not meet the alien status requirements under WAC 388-424-0020, you may be eligible for the state-funded food assistance program (FAP) if you meet both of the following requirements:
    1. You are a Washington state resident; and
    2. You meet the alien status requirements under WAC 388-424-0030.
  2. FAP follows the same eligibility rules as federally-funded Basic Food except for rules related to alien status.  A summary of the rules for Basic Food is found in WAC 388-400-0040.
  3. Benefits for FAP are set by the biennial state operating budget as described in RCW 74.08A.120(3).  These benefits are calculated as described in subsections (4) and (5) of this section.
  4. If your assistance unit (AU) includes both people who are eligible for federally-funded Basic Food benefits and people who are eligible for state-funded FAP benefits, we determine the amount of your federal and state food benefits by applying the following process:
    1. We calculate your AU's monthly benefits under WAC 388-450-0162 as if all the eligible persons in your AU could receive federally-funded Basic Food benefits; and
    2. We then calculate your AU's monthly benefits under WAC 388-450-0162 for only the people in your AU who are eligible for federally-funded benefits.

      If (a) is more than (b

      If (b) is more than (a)

      Your AU receives:

      • Basic Food benefits in the amount calculated using step (b); and
      • FAP benefits equal to half the difference between (a) and (b), rounded down to the next whole dollar.

      Your AU receives Basic Food benefits in the amount calculated using step (b).
  5. If your AU only includes persons eligible for FAP, we determine the amount of your state-funded FAP benefits by:
    1. Applying the calculation for Basic Food under WAC 388-450-0162 as if all the persons in your AU were eligible to receive Basic Food; and
    2. Issuing FAP benefits to your AU equal to half the amount calculated in subsections (5)(a), rounded down to the next whole dollar.

This is a reprint of the official rule as published by the Office of the Code Reviser. If there are previous versions of this rule, they can be found using the Legislative Search page.

CLARIFYING INFORMATION

Who is eligible for FAP?

FAP consists of two distinct immigrant groups:

  • Qualified aliens who have not met the requirements for age, work quarters, or 5-year timeframe as a qualified alien in order to be eligible for Basic Food benefits under the federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP).  This population will cycle through FAP within 5 years or less and become eligible for federal benefits.
  • Nonqualified aliens  who are immigrants, but will not be eligible for federal benefits unless they have an adjustment of their immigration status.  These immigrants are referred to as Persons Residing Under Color of Law (PRUCOL). 

Persons considered PRUCOL are legally in the U.S., but do not have an official status as a qualified alien with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.  Immigrants, such as applicants for political asylum or withholding of deportation, who have not yet received a final order are considered PRUCOL.

Undocumented immigrants  are not eligible for either federally-funded Basic Food or state-funded SNAP.

Examples of Immigrants who are eligible for FAP if they meet all other eligibility criteria for Basic Food:

·      Abused aliens who are a relative of a U.S. citizen with an approved I-130 petition but not meeting the other requirements of battered immigrants, as described in WAC 388-424-0001. 

·      Abused aliens who have self-petitioned under VAWA but not yet received "Notice of "Prima Facie" eligibility, as described in WAC 388-424-0001.

·      Applicants for adjustment of status, asylum, cancellation of removal, suspension of deportation or withholding of deportation or removal.

·      Cancellation of removal, deferred action or suspension of deportation granted. (Note: if a person is granted cancellation of removal or suspension of deportation based on having been abused or granted deferred action based on an approved self-petition as an abused alien, they are a "qualified alien").

·      Deferred enforced departure granted.

·      Family Unity granted.

·      "K", "S", "U" or "V" statuses, designated on a person's visa, allow holders to work and eventually to adjust to Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status.

·      Lawful temporary residents under the amnesty program of the Immigration Reform and control Act (IRCA), including those admitted under Sections 210 ("special agricultural workers") and 245A of the INA.

·      Citizens of the Marshall Islands, Micronesia or Palau.  These individuals have special rights under Compacts of Free Association and are lawfully allowed to enter, reside and work in the U.S. but are not U.S. Nationals.

·      Order of suspension granted.

·      Paroled into the U.S. for a period of one year or less.

·      Residing in the U.S since prior to January 1, 1972.

·      Eligible to petition as special immigrant juveniles.  These are juveniles who have been declared a "dependent of the state" and eligible for long-term foster care due to abuse, neglect or abandonment.

·      Stay of deportation or removal granted.

·      Temporary protected status granted.

·      Voluntary departure granted - definite or indefinite time.

Resources:

WORKER RESPONSIBILITIES

If a person is approved for FAP, we must let the person know what documents were used to determine SNAP (Basic Food) ineligibility.  This information will need to be added into the appropriate free form text box in the ACES letters.

Modification Date: June 29, 2012