Date of Adoption: January 3, 2000.

Purpose: Amend WAC 388-450-0035, to describe the eligibility rules for the new WorkFirst work study program.

Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 388-450-0035.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.08.090, 74.04.050, and 74.08A.320.

Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.

Reasons for this Finding: Community and technical colleges receive funding from various state and federal sources to provide college work study opportunities. College work study allows TANF participants to meet WorkFirst requirements and earn a wage while they learn the skills they need to progress towards living wage employment. The department has just recently received approval to fund a new type of work study, the WorkFirst work study program, with TANF funds. This program will expand the number of work study slots available for TANF participants. Under federal food stamp rules, however, the department must budget WorkFirst work study earnings differently that other types of work study (due to its TANF funding source). The department must file this emergency adoption to clarify food assistance eligibility rules for the WorkFirst work study program, before participants can enter the program, receive wages and start to learn new skills.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.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

January 3, 2000

Marie Myerchin-Redifer, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

This section applies to TANF/SFA, RCA, GA, TANF/SFA-related medical and food assistance programs. Unless otherwise stated, exclusions and disregards of educational benefits apply to clients engaged in undergraduate studies only.

(1) We exclude the educational assistance in the form of grants, loans or work study, issued from Title IV of the Higher Education Amendments (Title IV - HEA) and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) education assistance programs. Examples of Title IV - HEA and BIA educational assistance include but are not limited to:

(a) College work study (federal and state);

(b) Pell grants; and

(c) BIA higher education grants.

(2) We do not count the following types of educational assistance, in the form of grants, loans, or work study when determining a student's need:

(a) Assistance under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act, P.L. 101-391 for attendance costs identified by the institution as specified in subsections (3) and (4) of this section; and

(b) Educational assistance made available under any program administered by the Department of Education (DOE) to an undergraduate student. Examples of programs administered by DOE include but are not limited to:

(i) Christa McAuliffe Fellowship Program;

(ii) Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program; and

(iii) Library Career Training Program.

(3) Educational assistance under subsection (2)(a) of this section is disregarded when used for the following attendance costs when a student is attending school less than half-time:

(a) Tuition;

(b) Fees; and

(c) Costs for purchase or rental of equipment, materials, or supplies required of all students in the same course of study.

(4) Educational assistance under subsection (2)(a) of this section that is used for the following expenses is disregarded in addition to the costs specified in subsection (3) of this section when the student is attending school at least half-time:

(a) Books;

(b) Supplies;

(c) Transportation;

(d) Dependent care; and

(e) Miscellaneous personal expenses.

(5) For TANF/SFA, RCA, GA, and TANF/SFA-related medical assistance, the amount of a student's remaining educational assistance equal to the difference between the student's appropriate need standard and payment standard is excluded.

(6) Any remaining income is unearned income and budgeted using the appropriate budgeting method for the assistance unit.

(7) When a student participates in WorkFirst work study, educational assistance made available to the student is:

(a) Disregarded for cash and medical assistance;

(b) Counted as earned income for food assistance.

(8) When a student participates in a work study program that is not excluded by subsections (1) and (2) or (7)(a) of this section, the income received is treated as earned income:

(a) Applying the applicable earned income disregards;

(b) For TANF/SFA, RCA, GA, and TANF/SFA-related medical assistance, excluding the difference between the student's appropriate need standard and payment standard; and

(c) Budgeting remaining income using the appropriate budgeting method for the assistance unit.

(((8))) (9) When a student receives Veteran's Administration Educational Assistance:

(a) All applicable attendance costs are subtracted; and

(b) The remaining unearned income is budgeted using the appropriate budgeting method for the assistance unit.

(((9))) (10) When a student participates in graduate school studies, educational assistance made available to the student is counted as:

(a) Assistance from another agency for cash and medical assistance;

(b) Earned income for food assistance if there are work requirements; or

(c) Unearned income for food assistance if there are no work requirements.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.510.      99-16-024, § 388-450-0035, filed 7/26/99, effective 9/1/99.      Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090.      98-16-044, § 388-450-0035, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]

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