Date of Adoption: February 12, 1999.

Purpose: Eliminates use of actual utility expenses as a utility deduction used to calculate food assistance benefits. Instead, clients will be eligible for one of three utility allowances. This change is expected to reduce the food stamp program error rate.

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-450-0195.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.510.

Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that state or federal law or federal rule or a federal deadline for state receipt of federal funds requires immediate adoption of a rule.

Reasons for this Finding: This change is necessary to reduce food stamp error rates and error rate penalties and ensure continued federal funding participation. This will affect client benefits March 1, 1999.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0. Effective Date of Rule: March 1, 1999.

February 12, 1999

Marie Myerchin-Redifer

Manager

(((1))) You can use the amounts in the chart below ((or use actual utility costs)) to calculate total shelter costs. Total shelter costs are used in calculating your food assistance benefits.

If you have to pay:	Then, you can use the:
Separate heating or cooling costs	Standard utility allowance (SUA) of $211
Separate utility costs, but no heating or cooling costs	Limited utility allowance (LUA) of $158
Separate costs for phone service only	Telephone utility allowance (TUA) of $29

(((2) Use actual utility costs if greater than the SUA or LUA or if you are not eligible for the SUA or LUA.))

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510 and 7 CFR 273.9 (d)(6).  99-01-069, § 388-450-0195, filed 12/14/98, effective 1/14/99.  Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090.  98-16-044, § 388-450-0195, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]

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