WAC 388-444-0040 Can I volunteer for an unpaid work program in order to meet the work requirements under WAC 388-444-0030?

The department makes unpaid work programs available for persons who need to meet work requirements under WAC 388-444-0030.

1. The following are considered unpaid work programs: 
   1. Workfare, which includes:
      1. Thirty days of job search activities in the first month beginning with the first day of application or sixteen hours of volunteer work with a public or private nonprofit agency; and
      2. In subsequent months, sixteen hours per month of volunteer work with a public or private nonprofit agency allows you to remain eligible for Basic Food benefits.
      3. Workfare does not include enforced community service or for paying fines or debts due to legal problems.
   2. Work experience (WEX) which provides supervised, unpaid work for at least twenty hours a week.   WEX is intended to improve a person’s work skills and make them more competitive in the job market. WEX must be for a nonprofit organization, government agency, or tribal entity.  
2. We may not require you to participate more than one hundred twenty (120) hours per month in an unpaid-work program, paid work, or a combination of activities.  ABAWDs may volunteer to participate in activities beyond one hundred twenty (120) hours per month.
3. The department may pay for some of the costs for you to participate in work programs. We set the standards for the amount we will pay for these expenses.