Economic Services Administration

WACs 388-436-0050, 388-478-0020, 388-478-0027, 388-478-0033 & 388-478-0035

The department is planning to amend WAC 388-436-0050, Determining financial need and benefit amount for CEAP, 388-478-0020, Payment standards for TANF, SFA, and RCA, 388-478-0027, What is the payment standard for pregnant women assistance (PWA)?, 388-478-0033, What are the payment standards for aged, blind, or disabled (ABD) cash assistance?, 388-478-0035, What are the maximum earned income limits for TANF, SFA, PWA, and RCA?, and other related rules as may be required. Planned amendments will implement an 8% payment standard increase (effective January 1, 2024) for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), State Family Assistance (SFA), Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA), Aged, Blind, or Disabled cash assistance (ABD), and Pregnant Women Assistance (PWA) programs, as approved via the 2024-2025 Operating Budget. Amendments will also update net income limits and allowable benefit amounts for the Consolidated Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP).

WACs 388-408-0035, 388-450-0140, 388-489-0005 & 388-489-0010

The Department is planning to amend WAC 388-408-0035, Who is in my assistance unit for basic food?, 388-450-0140, How does the income of an ineligible assistance unit member affect my eligibility and benefits for basic food?, 388-489-0005, Who is eligible for transitional food assistance?, 388-489-0010, How is my transitional food assistance benefit calculated? and other related rules as required. Effective January 1, 2024, planned amendments will implement SSB 5785 (Chapter 98, Laws of 2022) and allow DSHS to provide transitional food assistance (TFA) for a period of five months to households that stop receiving temporary assistance for needy families and are not in full-family sanction status. If a household member has been in WorkFirst sanction, but the household is still receiving benefits, the remaining eligible household members may receive TFA.

WAC 388-400-0005

The department is planning to amend WAC 388-400-0005, Who is eligible for temporary assistance for needy families? and other rules as may be required. Planned amendments will remove WorkFirst orientation as a condition of TANF eligibility.

WAC 388-412-0040

The department is proposing to amend WAC 388-412-0040, Can I get my benefits replaced? and other related rules as appropriate. Planned amendments will authorize replacement of skimmed or stolen Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, pending final approval of our 2023 State Plan for the Replacement of Stolen EBT Benefits. Planned amendments will also authorize replacement of state Food Assistance Program (FAP) benefits. In addition, these amendments will update WAC language to align with federal rules as needed.

Title 388 WAC

The department plans to adopt new WAC section(s) in title 388 WAC – 388-xxx-xxxx, Diaper Related Payment (DRP), and adopt or amend other related rules as may be required.

WAC 388-478-0015

The department is planning to amend WAC 388-478-0015, Need standards for cash assistance, and other related rules as may be required. Planned amendments will update standards of need for cash assistance programs as required annually by RCW 74.04.770.

WAC 388-460-0005

The department is planning to amend WAC 388-460-0005, Can I choose someone to apply for basic food for my assistance unit? and other related rules as appropriate.

WAC 388-450-0015, 388-470-0045 & 388-470-0055

The department is planning to amend WAC 388-450-0015, What types of income are not used by the department to figure out my benefits?, 388-470-0045, How do my resources count towards the resource limits for cash assistance?, 388-470-0055, How do my resources count towards the resource limit for basic food? and other related rules as may be required.

WAC 388-412-0015, 388-450-0185, 388-450-0190, 388-450-0195, 388-470-0005 & 388-478-0060

The department is adopting emergency amendments to WAC 388-412-0015, General information about your food assistance allotments, 388-450-0185, What income deductions does the department allow when determining if I am eligible for food benefits and the amount of my monthly benefits?, 388-450-0190, How does the department figure my shelter cost income deduction for basic food?, 388-450-0195, Does the department use my utility costs when calculating my basic food or WASHCAP benefits?, 388-470-0005, How do resources affect my eligibility for cash assistance and basic food?, and 388-478-0060, What are the income limits and maximum benefit amounts for basic food? and other related rules as appropriate.

WAC 388-444-0055

The department is planning to amend WAC 388-444-0055, What are the penalties if I refuse or fail to meet Basic Food work requirements? and other related rules as appropriate.

WACs 388-400-0060, 388-400-0070, 388-434-0005, 388-449-0001, 388-449-0200, 388-452-0005, 388-478-0006, and 388-478-0033

The department is planning to amend the following rules and any related rules as may be required: WAC 388-400-0060, Who is eligible for aged, blind, or disabled (ABD) cash assistance?, 388-400-0070, Who is eligible for referral to the housing and essential needs (HEN) program?, 388-434-0005, How often does the department review my eligibility for benefits?, 388-449-0001, What are the disability requirements for the aged, blind, or disabled (ABD) program?, 388-449-0200, Am I eligible for cash assistance for aged, blind, or disabled (ABD) while waiting for supplemental security income (SSI)?, 388-452-0005, Do I have to be interviewed in order to get cash and basic food benefits?, 388-478-0006, The clothing, personal maintenance, and necessary incidentals (CPI) payment standard for cash assistance., and 388-478-0033, What are the payment standards for aged, blind, or disabled (ABD) cash assistance?

Chapter 388-14A WAC

DCS proposes to amend, adopt, or repeal as needed various sections in Chapter 388-14A WAC to make the administrative support establishment process more efficient and user-friendly as we: (1) implement ESSB 6037 (Chapter 6, Laws of 2018, which adopted the 2017 version of the Uniform Parentage Act), and the technical corrections made to that bill by SSB 5333 (Chapter 46, Laws of 2019), as well as (2) update terminology and to clarify and streamline the rules and procedures regarding parentage to conform with current state and federal laws.

WAC 388-484-0006

The department is planning to amend WAC 388-484-0006, TANF/SFA time limit extensions. During this rule-making, other related rules may be identified and amended as be required.

WAC 388-454-0006

The department is planning to amend WAC 388-454-0006, “The department makes background checks on adults who are acting in place of a parent without court-ordered custody” and other related rules as may be required.

WACs 388-424-0001, 388-424-0020, 388-466-0005

The department is planning to amend the following WAC sections:

388-424-0001, “Citizenship and immigration status–Definitions.”

388-424-0020, “How does my alien status impact my eligibility for federally funded Basic Food benefits?”

388-466-0005, “Immigration status requirements for refugee cash assistance.”

And other related rules as may be required.

WACs 388-400-0030, 388-466-0120, -0150

The department is planning to amend WAC 388-400-0030, Who is eligible for refugee cash assistance?; 388-466-0120, Refugee cash assistance (RCA); 388-466-0150, Refugee employment and training services, and other related rules as may be appropriate.

Olga Walker

(360) 725-4641

WACs 388-410-0020, -0030, & 388-446-0015

The department is planning to amend WAC 388-410-0020, “What happens if I receive more basic food, FAP, or WASHCAP benefits than I am supposed to receive?”; WAC 388-410-0030, “How does the department calculate and set up my basic food, FAP, or WASHCAP overpayment?”; WAC 388-446-0015, “What is an intentional program violation (IPV) and administrative disqualification hearing (ADH) for basic food?”; and other related rules as required.

388-424-0015

The department is planning to amend WAC 388-424-0015, Immigrant eligibility restrictions for the state family assistance, ABD cash, and PWA programs, and other related rules as may be required.

WAC 388-418-0011, 388-447-0130, 388-449-0230, 388-400-0060

The department is planning to amend WAC 388-418-0011, What is a mid-certification review, and do I have to complete one in order to keep receiving benefits?; 388-447-0130, What referral to the housing and essential needs (HEN) program rules may the department implement during a state of emergency?; 388-449-0230, What aged, blind or disabled (ABD) program rules may the department implement during a state of emergency?; 388-400-0060, Who is eligible for aged, blind or disabled (ABD) cash assistance?; and other related rules as may be required.

WAC 388-310-0800

The department is planning to amend WAC 388-310-0800, WorkFirst - Support Services, and other related rules as may be required.

WAC 388-434-0015

The department is planning to adopt WAC 388-434-0015, Waiving mid-certification reviews during the COVID-19 pandemic, and other related rules as may be required. 

WAC 388-436-0050 & WAC 388-478-0005

The department is planning to amend WAC 388-436-0050, Determining financial need and benefit amount for CEAP; WAC 388-478-0005, Cash assistance need and payment standards and grant maximum; and other related rules as may be required.

WAC 388-310-1450

The department is planning to amend WAC 388-310-1450, Pregnancy to employment; and other related rules as may be required.

WAC 388-478-0033

The department is proposing to amend WAC 388-478-0033, What are the payment standards for aged, blind, or disabled (ABD) cash assistance?; and other related rules as may be required.  In anticipation of enactment of the 2021-2023 supplemental operating budget, which includes funding to increase the ABD payment standard as of September 1, 2022, planned amendments to WAC 388-478-0033 will reflect the updated payment standard.  

WAC 388-478-0015

The department is planning to amend WAC 388-478-0015, Need standards for cash
assistance; and other rules as may be required.

WAC 388-422-0020

The department is planning to amend WAC 388-422-0020, What if you are afraid that cooperating with the division of child support (DCS) may be dangerous for you or the child in your care?; and other related rules as may be required.

Sarah Garcia (360) 522-2214

Chapter 388-439 WAC

The department is planning to adopt chapter 388-439 WAC Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) Program to include the following WACs: 388-439-0005, What is the pandemic EBT program?; 388-439-0010, Eligibility of pandemic EBT benefits for the 2020-2021 school year; 388-439-0015, General information about pandemic EBT benefits; 388-439-0020, Eligibility of pandemic EBT benefits for children under age six; 388-439-0025, Eligibility of pandemic EBT benefits during the 2021 summer period, and create or amend other related rules as appropriate. Existing emergency rules related to this filing are in place under WSR 21-08-010 and WSR 21-16-017.

Chapters 388-394 and 489 WAC

The department is planning to create and adopt new WAC chapter 388-394, Transitional Cash Assistance, and amend WAC chapter 388-489, Transitional Food Assistance and other related rules as may be required. These amendments are necessary to implement Section 2 of Substitute House Bill 1151 (Chapter 9, Laws of 2021), effective July 1, 2022. The Transitional Cash Assistance (TCA) program will be a state-funded cash assistance benefit available to households with children, not simultaneously receiving TANF, who terminate basic food benefits due to exceeding the gross income limit or voluntary closure. Families receiving TCA are eligible for Transitional Food Assistance for a period of five months.

WAC 388-310-0350

The department is planning to amend WAC 388-310-0350, WorkFirst- Other exemptions from mandatory participation, and other related rules as may be required.

Chapter 388-436 WAC

The department plans to adopt a new WAC section in chapter 388-436 WAC, Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund – (PEAF) and other related rules as may be required.

Chapter 388-14A WAC

The Division of Child Support (DCS) is proposing to amend WAC 388-14A-4300, 388-14A-4301, 388-14A-4302, 388-14A-4303, and 388-14A-4304 to clarify applicable lookback periods and statutes of limitations for daycare expenses under In re the Marriage of Blackburn, 12 Wn.App.2d. 798, 460 P.3d 202 (2020). DCS is also considering changes regarding the circumstances in which a daycare overpayment hearing is applicable, various hearing procedures, and how notices are sent by DCS and the Office of Administrative Hearings. DCS may also make other changes as necessary.

WAC 388-14A-3375

The Division of Child Support is proposing to amend WAC 388-14A-3375 What kinds of credits does the division of child support give when establishing or enforcing an administrative support order?

WACs 388-412-0015, 388-450-0185, 0190, 0195, 388-470-0005, 388-478-0060

The department is planning to amend WAC 388-412-0015, General information about your food assistance allotments; 388-450-0185, What income deductions does the department allow when determining if I am eligible for food benefits and the amount of my monthly benefits?; 388-450-0190, How does the department figure my shelter cost income deduction for basic food?; 388-450-0195, Does the department use my utility costs when calculating my basic food or WASHCAP benefits?; 388-470-0005, How do resources affect my eligibility for cash assistance and basic food?; and 388-478-0060, What are the income limits and maximum benefit amounts for basic food?; and other related rules as may be required.

WAC 388-464-0001

The department is planning to amend WAC 388-464-0001, Am I required to cooperate with quality assurance? and other related rules as may be required.

WAC 388-412-0025

The department is planning to amend WAC 388-412-0025, How do I receive my benefits? and other related rules as may be required.