Pregnancy and Women's Health - Criteria for Cash Assistance
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Pregnancy and Women's Health - Criteria for Cash Assistance

Revised June 15, 2012

Purpose: This section addresses the pregnancy requirement for the TANF, SFA, and PWA cash assistance programs.
WAC 388-400-0055Who is eligible for the Pregnant Women Assistance (PWA) program?
WAC 388-462-0010Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) or State Family Assistance (SFA) eligibility for pregnant women.

ACES PROCEDURES

See Temporary Assistance for Needy Families - Pregnant Women With No Other Children

WAC 388-400-0055

WAC 388-400-0055

Effective June 1, 2012

WAC 388-400-0055 Who is eligible for the Pregnant Women Assistance (PWA) program?

Effective November 1, 2011:

  1. You can get pregnant women assistance (PWA), if you:
    1. Are pregnant as verified by a medical professional;
    2. Meet the citizenship/alien status requirements of WAC 388-424-0010;
    3. Live in the state of Washington per WAC 388-468-0005;
    4. Do not live in a public institution unless specifically allowed under RCW 74.08.025;
    5. Meet TANF/SFA:
      1. Income requirements under chapter 388-450 WAC;
      2. Resource requirements under chapter 388-470 WAC; and
      3. Transfer of property requirements under chapter 388-488 WAC.
    6. Tell us your Social Security number as required under WAC 388-476-0005;
    7. Report changes of circumstances as required under WAC 388-418-0005; and
  2. If you are an unmarried pregnant minor your living arrangements must  meet the requirements of WAC 388-486-0005.
  3. You cannot get PWA if you:
    1. Are eligible for temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) benefits;
    2. Are eligible for state family assistance (SFA) benefits;
    3. Refuse or fail to meet a TANF or SFA eligibility rule;
    4. Refuse or fail to participate in drug or alcohol treatment as required in WAC 388-449-0220 without good cause; or
    5. Are eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.

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.

WAC 388-462-0010

WAC 388-462-0010

Effective August 1, 1999

WAC 388-462-0010 Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF) or State Family Assistance (SFA) eligibility for pregnant women.

  1. If you are already receiving TANF or SFA benefits, your pregnancy will not change your eligibility or benefit level. 

  2. If you are not currently receiving TANF or SFA benefits, you may be eligible for these benefits if your pregnancy and expected date of delivery has been verified by a licensed medical practitioner.  

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

A pregnant woman may qualify for TANF or SFA in any stage of her pregnancy. A pregnant women who is ineligible for TANF or SFA due a condition she cannot cure, such as the 60 month time limit or a permanent disqualification, may be eligible for PWA.

See PROGRAM SUMMARY  for other eligibility factors for TANF, SFA and PWA.

See INCOME to determine need and payment level.

See TEEN PARENTS for school attendance and living situation requirements for unmarried pregnant teens.

See ASSISTANCE UNITS for assistance unit rules for pregnant women.

WORKER RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. Determine if the client's needs are being met by SSI (e.g., an SSI ineligible spouse) or if the client is otherwise eligible for TANF (e.g., a parent of a child on SSI or a non-parental caretaker of a TANF eligible child).

  2. Verify pregnancy and expected date of delivery.

  3. Inform the client of her right for post adoption cash benefit if she chooses to relinquish the child for adoption.

  4. Verify household composition (See VERIFICATION)

  5. Obtain information about the father of the unborn.

    1. The presence of the unborn's father in the home may affect income eligibility, categorical eligibility, resource eligibility, and benefit level.

      1. If not married to the client, determine if the father's income affects eligibility (See INCOME).

      2. If married to the client, determine (in addition to factors noted above) if community resources affect eligibility (See RESOURCES) and if allocated income effects eligibility and benefit level (See INCOME).

    2. If the father of the unborn is absent from the home, do not complete a Division of Child Support (DCS) referral on the unborn. Document information provided by the client about the absent parent, such as his name, address and place of employment. This information can be used to:

      1. Provide a complete statement of the client's circumstances to help establish current eligibility;

      2. Ensure that the client's statements are consistent and accurate when completing subsequent case actions (e.g., adding the newborn to the TANF grant); and

      3. Provide information useful to workers investigating allegations of fraud.

Modification Date: June 15, 2012