Original Notice.

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

     Title of Rule: WAC 388-450-0170, 388-450-0210, 388-450-0105, and 388-523-0100.

     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

     (a))) TANF/SFA, ((GA-S, GA-H; and

     (b) TANF/SFA-related)) RCA, and medical programs for children, pregnant women, and families except as specified under WAC 388-450-0210.

     (((2) When determining countable income,))

     (1) If a client works, the department only counts some of the income to determine eligibility and benefit level.

     (2) We only count fifty percent of ((a client's)) your monthly gross earned income ((is disregarded as an incentive to employment)). We do this to encourage you to work.

     (3) ((The actual cost of care of each dependent child or incapacitated adult living in the same home and receiving TANF/SFA is deducted when determining countable income under the following conditions:

     (a) An applicant is eligible for a dependent care deduction for expenses incurred prior to the open effective date in the month of grant opening on a prorated basis;

     (b) A recipient is eligible for a dependent care deduction if:

     (i) The assistance unit received AFDC on October 13, 1988;

     (ii) The dependent care deduction was applied when determining the benefit level for that month;

     (iii) The assistance unit has remained continuously eligible for AFDC or TANF/SFA since that time; and

     (iv) The assistance unit has chosen to use the deduction rather than state-paid dependent care.

     (4) The dependent care deduction specified in subsection (3) of this section is not allowed unless:

     (a) The care provided by a parent or stepparent;

     (b) The care provider verifies the cost incurred;

     (c) The cost is incurred for the month of employment being reported; and

     (d) The amount deducted for each dependent child or incapacitated adult, depending on the number of hours worked per month does not exceed the following)) If you pay for care before we approve your benefits, we subtract the amount you pay for those dependent children or incapacitated adults who get cash assistance with you.

     (a) The amount we subtract is:

     (i) Prorated according to the date you are eligible for benefits;

     (ii) Cannot be more than your gross monthly income; and

     (iii) Cannot exceed the following for each dependent child or incapacitated adult:

Dependent Care Maximum Deductions
Hours Worked Per Month				((Dependent)) Child Under Two Years of Age ((or Older))				((Dependent Under)) Child Over Two Years of Age or Incapacitated Adult
0 -		40		$	43.75			$	50.00
41 -		80		$	87.50			$	100.00
81 -		120		$	131.25			$	150.00
121 or		More		$	175.00			$	200.00

     (b) In order to get this deduction:

     (i) The person providing the care must be someone other than the parent or stepparent of the child or incapacitated adult; and

     (ii) You must verify the expense.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-450-0170, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]

     (a) The income cannot be specifically excluded; and

     (b) All appropriate deductions and disregards allowed by a specific program, have been applied.

     (2) A client's countable income cannot exceed the income standard for the specific medical programs described in WAC 388-478-0065, 388-478-0070, 388-478-0075, 388-478-0080, or 388-513-1305, 388-513-1315, or 388-513-1395 unless the program allows for those limits to be exceeded.

     (3) Unless modified by subsection (4) of this section, the TANF/SFA income rules, as described in this chapter, are used to determine a client's countable income for the following programs:

     (a) Family medical program as described in WAC 388-505-0220;

     (b) Medical extensions as described in chapter 388-523 WAC;

     (c) Pregnant women's program as described in WAC 388-462-0015;

     (d) Children's medical program as described in WAC 388-505-0210;

     (e) ((Children's health program as described in WAC 388-505-0210; and

     (f))) Medically Indigent (MI) program as described in WAC 388-438-0100.

     (4) Exceptions to the TANF/SFA cash assistance methodology apply as follows:

     (a) The financial responsibility of relatives when a client is applying for medical for families, children, pregnant women or for the medically indigent program is specified in WAC 388-408-0055;

     (b) Actual work-related child and dependent care expenses, which are the client's responsibility, are income deductions (the limits on this deduction in WAC 388-450-0170 (3) and (4) do not apply);

     (c) Court or administratively ordered current or back support paid to meet the needs of legal dependents, are income deductions;

     (d) Only income actually contributed to an alien client from the alien's sponsor is countable unless the sponsor signed the affidavit of support I-864 or I-864A. See subsection (5) of this section;

     (e) TANF/SFA gross earned income limits as described in WAC 388-450-0165 do not apply;

     (f) The fifty percent earned income deduction is not used to calculate countable income for CN programs with income levels based upon the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). These programs are listed in subsection (3)(c), and (d) ((and (e))) of this section. The only work related income deductions for these programs are:

     (i) Ninety dollars; and

     (ii) Actual work-related child and dependent care expenses, as described in (b) of this subsection; and

     (iii) Child support as described in (c) of this subsection.

     (g) When determining medically needy (MN) or MN scope of care coverage for children or pregnant women for the programs described in subsection (3)(c) and (d), the exception described in subsection (4)(f) is not used as the MN income standards are not based on the FPL;

     (h) A nonrecurring lump sum payment is considered as income in the month the client receives payment, and a resource if the client retains the payment after the month of receipt;

     (i) Diversion cash assistance (DCA), is not countable income;

     (j) Effective April 1, 2002, the department will disregard an increase in earned income when:

     (i) A family is receiving benefits under the family medical program; and

     (ii) The increase occurs during the second or third month of eligibility. The disregard stops the last day of the third month of eligibility for a family medical program.

     (5) When an alien's sponsor has signed the affidavit of support I-864 or I-864A, the sponsor's income and resources are counted as described in WAC 388-450-0155, 388-450-0156, 388-450-0160, and 388-470-0060.

     (6) Except when this state has adopted more liberal rules, SSI income rules are used to determine a client's countable income for the following programs:

     (a) SSI-related CN or MN; and

     (b) Medicare savings programs. Refer to chapter 388-475 WAC.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.08A.100, and Title XIX State Plan amendment 00-008. 02-03-009, § 388-450-0210, filed 1/4/02, effective 2/4/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-450-0210, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98. Formerly WAC 388-505-0580, 388-505-0590 and 388-519-1910.]

     (1) Any applicable earned income incentive and work expense or deduction for the financially responsible person in the assistance unit, if that person is employed;

     (2) The payment standard amount for the ineligible assistance unit members living in the home; and

     (3) An amount not to exceed the department's standard of need for court or administratively ordered current or back support for legal dependents.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-450-0105, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]

     (a) Child or spousal support, which exceeds the payment standard described in WAC 388-478-0065, and they are not eligible for any other categorically needy (CN) medical program; or

     (b) Increased earned income, resulting in income exceeding the CN income standard described in WAC 388-478-0065.

     (2) A family is eligible to receive extended medical benefits beginning the month after termination from TANF((/SFA)) cash or family medical program for:

     (a) Four months for a family described in subsection (1)(a) of this section; or

     (b) Up to twelve months, in two six-month segments, for a family described in subsection (1)(b) of this section. For the purposes of this chapter, months one through six are the initial six-month extension period. Months seven through twelve are the second six-month extension period.

     (3) A family member is eligible to receive six months of medical extension benefits as described in subsection (2)(b) of this section unless:

     (a) The individual family member:

     (i) Moves out of state;

     (ii) Dies;

     (iii) Becomes an inmate of a public institution;

     (iv) Leaves the household; or

     (v) Does not cooperate, without good cause, with the division of child support or with third party liability requirements.

     (b) The family:

     (i) Moves out of state;

     (ii) Loses contact with the department or the department does not know the whereabouts of the family; or

     (iii) No longer includes a child as defined in WAC 388-404-0005(1).

     (4) A family member is eligible to receive the second six months of medical extension benefits as described in subsection (2)(b) of this section unless:

     (a) The family is no longer eligible for the reasons described in subsection (3)(a) or (b); or

     (b) The individual family member is the caretaker adult who:

     (i) Stops working or whose earned income stops;

     (ii) Does not, without good cause, complete and return the completed medical extension report or otherwise provide the required income and child care information; or

     (iii) Does not, without good cause, pay the billed premium amount for one month.

     (5) A family described in subsection (3) will not receive medical extension benefits for any family member who has been found ineligible for TANF/SFA cash because of fraud in any of the six months prior to the medical extension period.

     (6) For the purposes of this chapter, only individual family members that are eligible for Medicaid are certified to receive medical benefits under this program.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 2001 c 7 § 209. 02-10-018, § 388-523-0100, filed 4/22/02, effective 5/23/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-523-0100, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98. Formerly WAC 388-522-2210, 388-523-2305 and 388-523-2320.]

© Washington State Code Reviser's Office