PROPOSED RULES
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 99-05-045.
Title of Rule: WAC 388-478-0055 SSI standards.
Purpose: Reduce SSI state supplement amount to hold total state spending for SSI state supplements to levels mandated by the Washington state legislature and correct a typographical error in the standards for an individual living alone with an ineligible spouse.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.08.090, 74.04.057.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 74.08.090, 74.04.057.
Summary: WAC 388-478-0055 SSI standards, is being amended to hold total state spending for SSI state supplements to CY 1994 levels as mandated by the Washington state legislature. SSI state supplementation standards for "individuals living alone" are being reduced by $1 for October through December 1999. SSI standards with the state supplement will be reduced from $527 to $526 for those in King, Pierce, Snohomish, Kitsap, and Thurston counties and from $506.55 to $505.55 for those in all other counties. Approximately 81,000 clients will be impacted. WAC 388-478-0055 is also being amended to correct a typographical error in the amount of the federal benefit for individuals living alone with an ineligible spouse for both Areas 1 and 2. The federal benefit should be $500.00 instead of $500.67 and the combined federal/state benefits should be 67 cents less. In both the Area 1 and 2 standards, clients have been receiving the correct state supplement benefit level, i.e., the amount published in current WAC.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Jay Emry, LGC, 1009 College Street S.E., Lacey, WA 98503, (360) 413-3021.
Name of Proponent: Department of Social and Health Services, governmental.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: This rule sets supplemental security income (SSI) state supplement amounts for this state's 90,000 SSI beneficiaries.
Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: See Summary above.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. This change does not affect small business.
RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to this rule adoption. This amendment does not meet the definition of a significant legislative rule.
Hearing Location: Lacey Government Center (behind Tokyo Bento Restaurant), 1009 College Street S.E., Room 104-B, Lacey, WA 98503, on August 24, 1999, at 10:00 a.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Paige Wall by August 13, 1999, phone (360) 664-6094, TTY (360) 664-6178, e-mail wallpg@dshs.wa.gov.
Submit Written Comments to: Identify WAC Numbers, Paige Wall, Rules Coordinator, Rules and Policies Assistance Unit, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504-5850, fax (360) 664-6185, by August 24, 1999.
Date of Intended Adoption: August 26, 1999.
July 14, 1999
Marie Myerchin-Redifer, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit
2598.2(1) Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a cash assistance program for needy individuals and couples who meet federal disability guidelines as aged, blind or disabled. Since the SSI program began in January 1974, the state of Washington has supplemented the federal benefit level with state funds, known as the SSI state supplement. Persons found eligible for SSI receive cash assistance based on the combined federal and state supplement benefit levels, minus countable income.
(2) Effective ((January)) October 1, 1999, the federal, state and combined benefit levels
for an eligible individual and couple are:
(a) Area I: King, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston, and Kitsap Counties.
(i) Living alone (own household or alternate care, except nursing homes or medical institutions).
| LIVING ALONE | Federal Benefit Level | State Supplement Benefit Level | Combined Federal/State Benefit Level | |||
| Individual | $ 500.00 | $(( |
$(( |
|||
| Individual with One Essential Person1 | $ 750.00 | $21.00 | $ 771.00 | |||
| Couple, both Eligible | $ 751.00 | $21.00 | $ 772.00 | |||
| Couple with One Essential Person2 | $ 751.00 | $21.00 | $ 772.00 | |||
| Couple includes Ineligible Spouse | $ (( 500.00 |
$167.20 | $ (( 667.20 |
|||
| SHARED LIVING | Federal Benefit Level | State Supplement Benefit Level | Combined Benefit Level | |||
| Individual | $ 333.34 | $4.81 | $ 338.15 | |||
| Individual with One Essential Person3 | $ 500.00 | $5.30 | $ 505.30 | |||
| Couple, Both Eligible | $ 500.67 | $5.30 | $ 505.97 | |||
| Couple includes One Essential Person4 | $ 500.67 | $5.30 | $ 505.97 | |||
| Couple includes Ineligible Spouse | $ 333.34 | $102.76 | $ 436.10 | |||
(i) Living alone (own household or alternate care, except nursing homes or medical institutions).
| LIVING ALONE | Federal Benefit Level | State Supplement Benefit Level | Combined Federal/State Benefit Level | |||
| Individual | $ 500.00 | $(( |
$ (( |
|||
| Individual with One Essential Person1 | $ 750.00 | $0 | $ 750.00 | |||
| Couple, Both Eligible | $ 751.00 | $0 | $ 751.00 | |||
| Couple with One Essential Person2 | $ 751.00 | $0 | $ 751.00 | |||
| Couple includes Ineligible Spouse | $ (( 500.00 |
$137.25 | $ (( 637.25 |
|||
| SHARED LIVING | Federal Benefit Level | State Supplement Benefit Level | Combined Benefit Level | |||
| Individual | $ 333.34 | $4.81 | $ 338.15 | |||
| Individual with One Essential Person3 | $ 500.00 | $5.30 | $ 505.30 | |||
| Couple, Both Eligible | $ 500.67 | $5.30 | $ 505.97 | |||
| Couple includes One Essential Person4 | $ 500.67 | $5.30 | $ 505.97 | |||
| Couple includes Ineligible Spouse | $ 333.34 | $102.76 | $ 436.10 | |||
| MEDICAL INSTITUTION | Federal Benefit Level | State Supplement Benefit Level | Combined Benefit Level | |||
| Individual | $30.00 | $11.62 | $41.62 | |||
The combined federal/state SSI benefit level for MIL clients is the higher of the following:
(i) The state assistance standard they received in December 1973, except for those converted in a "D" living arrangement (residing in a medical institution at the time of conversion), plus the federal cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) since then; or
(ii) The current standard.
1 Eligible individual with more than one essential person living alone: $ 500.00 for the eligible individual plus $ 250.00 for each essential
person (no state supplement).
2 Eligible couple with one or more essential persons living alone: $ 751.00 for eligible couple plus $ 250.00 for each essential person (no state supplement).
3 Eligible individual with more than one essential person in shared living: $ 333.34 for eligible individual plus $ 166.66 for each essential person (no state supplement).
4 Eligible couple with one or more essential persons in shared living: $ 500.67 for eligible couple plus $ 166.66 for each essential person (no state supplement).
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.630. 99-04-103, § 388-478-0055, filed 2/3/99, effective 3/6/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-478-0055, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98. Formerly WAC 388-511-1115.]