PROPOSED RULES
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 00-13-035.
Title of Rule: WAC 388-478-0055 SSI standards.
Purpose: To reduce SSI state supplement amounts to hold total state spending for SSI state supplements to levels mandated by the Washington state legislature. The state supplement is being lowered in the amount of $4.10 per month for the months of November and December 2000 only, for individuals living alone.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.057, 74.08.090.
Statute Being Implemented: Chapters 74.04, 74.08 RCW.
Summary: We are reducing the SSI state supplement amounts for individuals living alone for the months of November and December 2000 only.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Carla Gira, Program Manager, Lacey Government Center, 1009 College Street S.E., Lacey, WA 98503, (360) 413-3264.
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 will reduce the state supplement for SSI recipients who are "individuals living alone," for the months of November and December 2000. This must be done to stay with legislatively set funding limits.
Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: This proposal changes the amount of the SSI state supplement for individuals living alone, in the amount of $4.10 per month for the months of November and December 2000.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. This rule does not impact small business.
RCW 34.05.328 applies to this rule adoption. The rule meets the definition of a "significant legislative rule" but DSHS is exempt from preparing a cost benefit analysis under RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(vii).
Hearing Location: Lacey Government Center (behind Tokyo O'Bento Restaurant), 1009 College Street S.E., Room 104-B, Lacey, WA 98503, on September 26, 2000, at 10:00.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact DSHS Rules Coordinator by September 19, 2000, phone (360) 664-6094, TTY (360) 664-6178, e-mail coopekd@dshs.wa.gov.
Submit Written Comments to: Identify WAC Numbers, DSHS Rules Coordinator, Rules and Policies Assistance Unit, P.O. Box 45850, Olympia, WA 98504-5850, fax (360) 664-6185, by September 26, 2000.
Date of Intended Adoption: No sooner than September 27, 2000.
August 18, 2000
Marie Myerchin-Redifer, Manager
Rules and Policies Assistance Unit
2802.1(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)) November 1, 2000, the federal,
state and combined benefit levels for an eligible individual and
couple are:
(a) Living alone area 1: King, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston, and Kitsap Counties.
| LIVING ALONE - Own household or alternate care, except nursing homes or medical institutions | Federal Benefit Level |
State Supplement Benefit Level |
Combined Federal/State Benefit Level |
|||
| Individual | $ 512.00 | $ (( |
$ (( |
|||
| Individual with: One essential person |
$ 769.00 | $ 21.00 | $ 790.00 | |||
| Individual with: Multiple essential persons |
$ 512 for the eligible individual plus $ 257 for each essential person (no state supplement) | |||||
| Individual with an ineligible spouse | $ 512.00 | $ 167.20 | $ 679.20 | |||
| Couple | $ 769.00 | $ 21.00 | $ 790.00 | |||
| Couple with one or more essential persons | $ 769 for eligible couple plus $ 257 for each essential person (no state supplement) | |||||
| LIVING ALONE - Own household or alternate care, except nursing homes or medical institutions | Federal Benefit Level |
State Supplement Benefit Level |
Combined Federal/State Benefit Level |
|||
| Individual | $ 512.00 | $ (( |
$ (( |
|||
| Individual with: One essential person |
$ 769.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 769.00 | |||
| Individual with: Multiple essential persons |
$ 512 for the eligible individual plus $ 257 for each essential person (no state supplement) | |||||
| Individual with an ineligible spouse | $ 512.00 | $ 137.25 | $ 649.25 | |||
| Couple | $ 769.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 769.00 | |||
| Couple with one or more essential persons | $ 769 for eligible couple plus $ 257 for each essential person (no state supplement) | |||||
| SHARED LIVING | Federal Benefit Level | State Supplement Benefit Level | Combined Federal/State Benefit Level | |||
| Individual | $ 341.34 | $ 4.81 | $ 346.15 | |||
| Individual with: One essential person |
$ 512.00 | $ 5.30 | $ 517.30 | |||
| Individual with: Multiple essential persons |
$ 341.34 for the eligible individual plus $170.67 for each essential person (no state supplement) | |||||
| Individual with an ineligible spouse | $ 341.34 | $ 102.76 | $ 444.10 | |||
| Couple | $ 512.67 | $ 5.30 | $ 517.97 | |||
| Couple with one or more essential persons | $ 512.67 for eligible couple plus $ 170.67 for each essential person (no state supplement) | |||||
| 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.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.057. 00-11-130, § 388-478-0055, filed 5/22/00, effective 7/1/00; 99-18-063, § 388-478-0055, filed 8/30/99, effective 10/1/99. 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.]