WAC 388-489-0005 Who is Eligible for Transitional Food Assistance?

If your family stops receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash benefits, including benefits from a tribal program, you will be eligible for transitional food assistance for up to five months if you meet all the following eligibility requirements:  

1. Your family was receiving Basic Food at the time we determined you were no longer eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families;

2. After your family stops receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, no other member of your Basic Food assistance unit continues to receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families;

3. Your family did not move out of the State of Washington WAC 388-468-0005;

4. Your family was not in sanction status at the time your Temporary Assistance for Needy Families grant ended. Sanction status means:

   1. We reduced or stopped your family’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families grant payment because a family member is not:

      1. Meeting WorkFirst Program requirements WAC 388-310-1600; or

      2. Cooperating with the Division of Child Support WAC 388-422-0010; or

   2. We decided that a member of your family was not eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families because the member:

      1. Failed to meet teen parent living arrangement WAC 388-486-0005 or teen parent school attendance requirements WAC 388-410-0010; or

      2. Was convicted of unlawful practices WAC 388-446-0005 or for receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families in two or more states at the same time WAC 388-446-0010; or

   3. If you are receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits from a tribal program, your family’s grant is reduced or stopped for a reason that is the same as one of the reasons listed in 4.a. or 4.b;

5. At the time your family’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families grant ended your Basic Food assistance unit did not become ineligible because:

   1. You were applying for recertification of your Basic Food benefits and refused to cooperate with the application process; or

   2. All members are ineligible for Basic Food for the reasons stated in WAC 388-489-0025(3).

6. There is no limit to the number of times your family may leave Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and receive Transitional Food Assistance.