Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 02-10-040.

     Title of Rule: WAC 388-450-0005, 388-450-0035, and 388-450-0065.

     Purpose: Implementation of RCW 74.08A.100 and 74.09.415 as revised by SB 6833 (chapter 366, Laws of 2002). These amendments are necessary to eliminate DSHS state-funded medical coverage for undocumented children and for legal immigrant children and adults that are ineligible for Medicaid due to their INS status or the requirement of a five-year ban.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.08A.100, 74.09.080, 74.09.415, 74.08.090.

     Statute Being Implemented: RCW 74.08A.100 and 74.09.415 (chapter 366, Laws of 2002).

     Summary: See Purpose above.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Joanie Scotson, MAA, P.O. Box 45534, Olympia, WA 98504-5534, (360) 725-1330.

     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: These amendments are necessary to eliminate DSHS state-funded medical coverage for children with no INS status and for legal immigrant children and adults that are ineligible for Medicaid due to their INS status or the requirement of a five-year ban.

     Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: See Purpose above.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The proposed rules only affect client eligibility. There is no impact on small businesses.

     RCW 34.05.328 applies to this rule adoption. These rules meet the definition of a significant legislative rule under RCW 34.05.328. However, RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(vii) exempts DSHS eligibility rules.

     Hearing Location: Office Building 2 - Auditorium (DSHS Headquarters) (parking at 12th and Washington), 1115 Washington, Olympia, WA 98502, on July 23, 2002, at 10:00 a.m.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Andy Fernando, DSHS Rules Coordinator, by July 19, 2002, phone (360) 664-6094, TTY (360) 664-6178, e-mail fernaax@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, e-mail fernaax@dshs.wa.gov, by 5:00 p.m., July 23, 2002.

     Date of Intended Adoption: Not sooner than July 24, 2002.

June 13, 2002

Brian H. Lindgren, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

     (1) ((For TANF/SFA, RCA, GA, TANF/SFA-related medical and food assistance programs:

     (a))) The department counts all available income owned or possessed by a client ((is considered when determining)) to figure the client's eligibility and benefit level((.

     (b) Ownership of income is determined according to)) when:

     (a) You get or expect to get the income in the month.

     (b) It is income we must count under chapter 388-450 WAC.

     (c) You own the income. We use applicable state and federal laws pertaining to property ownership ((and eligibility for assistance programs)) to determine if you actually own the income. For married persons, ownership of separate and community income is determined according to chapter 26.16 RCW.

     (((c) Income owned by a client is considered available when it is at hand and may be used to meet the client's current need))

     (d) You have control over the income, which means the income is actually available to you.

     (e) You can user the income to meet your current needs. We count the gross amount of available income ((is counted)) in the month it is received((.)):

     (i) If the income is usually available on a specific day, ((it is considered)) we consider it to be available on that date.

     (ii) If you usually get the income ((is usually received)) monthly or semi-monthly and ((the)) your pay date changes due to a reason beyond ((the client's)) your control, such as a weekend or holiday, ((it is counted)) we count it in the month you actually get it ((is intended to cover rather than the month it is actually received)).

     (iii) If you usually get the income ((is usually received)) weekly or bi-weekly and ((the)) your pay date changes due to a reason beyond ((the client's)) your control, we count it in the month ((it is received)) you get it.

     (((d) The income of a person who is not a member of a client's assistance unit may be considered available to the client under the rules of this chapter if the person is financially responsible for the client and lives in the home with the client. For medical programs, financial responsibility is described in WAC 388-408-0055.

     (e) For medical programs, the income of a financially responsible person, not living in the home is considered available to the extent it is contributed.

     (f) Funds))

     (2) We consider the income that is legally yours as available income, even if it is paid to someone else for you. For example, the father of your child has a court order to pay you two hundred fifty dollars per month in child support. Instead of giving the money directly to you (as required in the court order), he gives the money to your landlord to pay part of your rent. We still count the two hundred fifty dollars as income even though you never actually got the money.

     (3) We may also count the income of certain people who live in your home, even if they are not getting assistance. Their income counts as part of your income.

     (a) For cash assistance, we count the income of ineligible, disqualified, or financially responsible people as defined in WAC 388-405-0100.

     (b) For food assistance, we count the income of ineligible assistance unit members as defined in WAC 388-408-0035.

     (c) For family and SSI-related medical assistance, we count the income of financially responsible people as defined in WAC 388-408-0055 and chapter 388-475 WAC.

     (d) For Long Term Care services, we count the income of financially responsible people as defined in WAC 388-506-0620.

     (4) If you have a joint bank account with someone who is not in your AU, we consider any money deposited into ((a bank)) that account ((which is held jointly by a client and another are considered income possessed by and available to the client)) as your income unless:

     (i) ((The client)) You can show that all or part of the funds belong exclusively to the other account holder and are held or used solely for the benefit of that holder; or

     (ii) ((The funds have been considered by the)) Social Security Administration (SSA) ((when determining)) used that money to determine the other account holder's eligibility for SSI benefits.

     (((g))) (5) Potential income is income ((a client)) you may have access to that can be used to reduce the need for assistance. ((For cash and medical programs, when the department determines)) If we determine that a potential income source exists, ((the client may be denied assistance when the client fails or refuses to)) you must make a reasonable effort to make the income available ((.

     (i) A client's eligibility is not affected until the income is received as long as the client makes reasonable efforts to make potential income available; and

     (ii) A client may)) in order to get cash or medical assistance.

     (a) We do not count that income until you actually get it; and

     (b) You can choose whether to receive TANF/SFA or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.

     (((2) For TANF/SFA, RCA, GA and food assistance programs))

     (6) The income of an alien's sponsor is considered available to the alien under the rules of this chapter when determining the alien's eligibility and benefit level.

     (((3))) (7) For SSI-related medical:

     (a) Income is considered available and owned when it is:

     (i) Received; and

     (ii) Can be used to meet the clients needs for food, clothing and shelter, except as provided in WAC 388-511-1130.

     (b) Loans and certain other receipts are not defined as income for SSI-related medical purposes as described in 20 C.F.R. Sec. 416.1103.

     (((4))) (8) For medical programs, ((trusts are described in WAC 388-505-0595)) see WAC 388-561-0100 for more information about trusts.

     (9) You may give us proof about an income source anytime, including when we ask for it or if you disagree with a decision we made, about:

     (a) Who owns the income;

     (b) Who has legal control of the income;

     (c) The amount of the income; or

     (d) The availability of the income.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.510. 99-16-024, § 388-450-0005, 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, § 388-450-0005, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98. Formerly WAC 388-505-0590 and 388-506-0610.]

     Reviser's note: RCW 34.05.395 requires the use of underlining and deletion marks to indicate amendments to existing rules. The rule published above varies from its predecessor in certain respects not indicated by the use of these markings.3124.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 00-18-057, filed 9/1/00, effective 9/4/00)

WAC 388-450-0035   Educational benefits.   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)) cash assistance, medical programs for children, pregnant women and families, and food assistance.

     (1) We do not count:

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

     (((b))) (ii) Pell grants; and

     (((c))) (iii) 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.

     (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.

     (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))

     (b) Educational assistance in the form of grants, loans or work-study 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.

     (2) For assistance in the form of grants, loans or work-study under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act, P.L. 101-391:

     (a) If you are attending school half-time or more, we subtract the following expenses:

     (i) Tuition;

     (ii) Fees;

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

     (iv) Books;

     (v) Supplies;

     (vi) Transportation;

     (vii) Dependent care; and

     (viii) Miscellaneous personal expenses.    

     (b) If you are attending school less than half-time, we subtract the following expenses:

     (i) Tuition;

     (ii) Fees; and

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

     (c) For cash assistance and medical programs for children, pregnant women and families, we also subtract the difference between the appropriate need standard and payment standard for your family size.

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

     (3) If you are participating in WorkFirst work study, that work study income is:

     (a)_Not counted for cash and medical assistance;

     (b) Counted as earned income for food assistance.

     (4) If you are participating in a work study program that is not excluded in subsection (1), of this section, we count that work study income as earned income:

     (a) You get any applicable earned income disregards;

     (b) For cash assistance, and medical programs for children, pregnant women and families, we also subtract the difference between the need standard and payment standard for your family size as described in chapter 388-478 WAC; and

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

     (5) If you get Veteran's Administration Educational Assistance:

     (a) All applicable attendance costs as subtracted; and

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

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.050. 00-18-057, § 388-450-0035, filed 9/1/00, effective 9/4/00. 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.]

     (1) A cash gift is a gift that is furnished as money, cash, checks or any other readily negotiable form.

     (a) For ((TANF/SFA, RCA, GA-S, GA-H, and TANF/SFA-related)) cash assistance and medical programs for children, pregnant women and families, cash gifts totaling no more than thirty dollars per calendar quarter for each assistance unit member are disregarded as income.

     (b) ((For GA-U, cash gifts are treated as unearned income.

     (c))) For food assistance programs:

     (i) Cash gifts to the assistance unit are excluded if they total thirty dollars or less per quarter;

     (ii) Cash gifts in excess of thirty dollars per quarter are counted in full as unearned income.

     (2) For ((TANF/SFA, RCA, GA-S, GA-H, GA-U and TANF/SFA-related)) cash assistance and medical programs for children, pregnant women and families, and food assistance, a noncash gift is treated as a resource.

     (a) If the gift is a countable resource, its value is added to the value of the client's existing countable resources and the client's eligibility is redetermined as specified in chapter 388-470 WAC.

     (b) If the gift is an excluded or noncountable resource, it does not affect the client's eligibility or benefit level.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.510. 99-16-024, § 388-450-0065, 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, § 388-450-0065, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]

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