WSR 02-18-102

PROPOSED RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)

[ Filed September 3, 2002, 3:30 p.m. ]

     Original Notice.

     Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 02-09-073.

     Title of Rule: WAC 388-478-0060 What are my income limits for food assistance?

     Purpose: The Division of Employment and Assistance Programs is amending this rule to comply with federal requirements for gross income limits, net income limits, 165% of poverty level standard, and the maximum food assistance benefit amount.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 7 C.F.R. 273.9.

     Statute Being Implemented: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 7 C.F.R. 273.9.

     Summary: WAC 388-478-0060 contains multiple standards for food assistance. This includes the gross income limit, net income limit, 165% of poverty level standard, and the maximum food assistance allotment. This revision adopts the federal standards for federal fiscal year 2003 which begins on October 1, 2002.

     Reasons Supporting Proposal: The United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) requires publishing new income and benefit standards at the end of each federal fiscal year to be used in the next federal fiscal year. The use of the standards from FNS is required under 7 C.F.R. 273.9.

     Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: John Camp, Division of Employment and Assistance Programs, P.O. Box 45480, Olympia, WA 98504-5480, (360) 413-3232.

     Name of Proponent: Department of Social and Health Services, governmental.

     Rule is necessary because of federal law, 7 C.F.R. 273.9.

     Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: See Summary and Reasons Supporting Proposal above.

     Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: See Summary and Reasons Supporting Proposal above.

     No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The changes as a result of these rules do not affect small businesses. The rule only affects standards of client eligibility and payment standards for department assistance.

     RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to this rule adoption. The rule does not meet the definition of significant legislative rule per RCW 34.05.328 (5)(c)(iii). Also, the rule is exempt under RCW 34.05.328 (5)(b)(iii), "this section does not apply to... rules adopting or incorporating by reference without material change federal statutes or regulations." The rule adopts federal standards contained in 7 C.F.R. 273.9.

     Hearing Location: Blake Office Park (behind Goodyear Courtesy Tire), 4500 10th Avenue S.E., Rose Room, Lacey, WA 98503, on October 8, 2002, at 10:00.

     Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Andy Fernando, DSHS Rules Coordinator, by October 4, 2002, phone (360) 664-6094, TTY (360) 664-6178, e-mail FernAX@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., October 8, 2002.

     Date of Intended Adoption: No earlier than October 9, 2002.

August 29, 2002

Brian H. Lindgren, Manager

Rules and Policies Assistance Unit

3161.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 01-21-059, filed 10/16/01, effective 12/1/01)

WAC 388-478-0060   What are ((my)) the income limits and maximum benefit amounts for food assistance?   If your assistance unit (AU) meets all other eligibility requirements for food assistance, your AU must have income at or below the limits in column ((())B(())) and ((())C(())) to get food assistance, unless you meet one of the exceptions listed below((:)). The maximum monthly food assistance benefit your AU could receive is listed in column D.

EFFECTIVE 10-1-((2001)) 2002
Column A

Number of Eligible AU Members

 Column B

Maximum

Gross Monthly

Income

 Column C

Maximum Net

Monthly Income

 Column D

Maximum

Allotment

 Column E

165% of Poverty

Level
1 $((931)) 960 $((716)) 739 $((135)) 139 $((1,182)) 1,219
2 ((1,258)) 1,294 ((968))

995

 ((248))

256

 ((1,597)) 1,642
3 ((1,585)) 1,628 ((1,220)) 1,252 ((356))

366

 ((2,012)) 2,066
4 ((1,913)) 1,961 ((1,471)) 1,509 ((452))

465

 ((2,427)) 2,489
5 ((2,240)) 2,295 ((1,723)) 1,765 ((537))

553

 ((2,843)) 2,913
6 ((2,567)) 2,629 ((1,975)) 2,022 ((644))

663

 ((3,258)) 3,336
7 ((2,894)) 2,962 ((2,226)) 2,279 ((712))

733

 ((3,673)) 3,760
8 ((3,221)) 3,296 ((2,478)) 2,535 ((814))

838

 ((4,088)) 4,183
9 ((3,549)) 3,630 ((2,730)) 2,792 ((916))

943

 ((4,504)) 4,607
10 ((3,877)) 3,964 ((2,982)) 3,049 ((1,018))

1,048

 ((4,920)) 5,031
Each Additional Member +((328)) 334 +((252)) 257 +((102))

105

 +((416)) 424

     Exceptions:

     (1) If your AU is categorically eligible as under WAC 388-414-0001, your AU does not have to meet the gross or net income standards in columns ((())B(())) and ((())C(())). ((However,)) We do budget your AU's income to decide the amount of food assistance your AU will receive.

     (2) If your AU includes a member who is sixty years of age or older or has a disability, your income must be at or below the limit in column ((())C(())) only.

     (3) If you are sixty years of age or older and cannot buy and cook your own meals because of a permanent disability, we will use column ((())E(())) to decide if you can be a separate AU.

     (4) If your AU has zero income, your benefits are the maximum allotment in column ((())D(())), based on the number of eligible members in your AU.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510. 01-21-059, § 388-478-0060, filed 10/16/01, effective 12/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510, 74.08.090. 00-23-013, § 388-478-0060, filed 11/3/00, effective 12/4/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510. 99-24-053, § 388-478-0060, filed 11/29/99, effective 12/30/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.510. 99-16-024, § 388-478-0060, filed 7/26/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.500, 74.04.510, 74.08.090. 99-05-074, § 388-478-0060, filed 2/17/99, effective 3/20/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-478-0060, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]

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