PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
SOCIAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
(Economic Services Administration)
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The department may propose to amend WAC 388-408-0020 When am I not allowed to be in a TANF or SFA assistance unit?, 388-408-0025 When can I choose who is in my TANF or SFA assistance unit?, 388-432-0005 Can I get help from DSHS for a family emergency without receiving monthly cash assistance?, 388-436-0002 If my family has an emergency, can I get help from DSHS to get or keep our housing or utilities?, 388-436-0020 CEAP assistance unit composition, 388-436-0040 Excluded income and resources for CEAP, 388-450-0025 What is unearned income?, 388-470-0045 How do my resources count toward the resource limits for cash assistance and family medical programs?, and any other related rules.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.08.090, chapters 74.08A and 74.12 RCW.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department is proposing to include federal supplemental security income (SSI) recipients as part of the temporary assistance for needy families (TANF), or state family assistance (SFA), assistance unit and count their SSI income when determining the family's eligibility for cash assistance.
These changes are necessary in response to a growing WorkFirst budget shortfall, driven by increased demand for services by families affected by the economic recession as described [in] "WorkFirst reductions" announcement dated December 17, 2010.
The reduction is necessary to achieve a balanced WorkFirst budget for the current fiscal year and the 2011-13 biennium.
Process for Developing New Rule: DSHS welcomes the public to take part in developing the rules. Anyone interested should contact the staff person identified below. At a later date, DSHS will file a proposal with the office of the code reviser with a notice of proposed rule making. A copy of the proposal will be sent to everyone on the mailing list and to anyone who requests a copy.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Leslie Kozak, Program Manager, Community Services Division, P.O. Box 45470, Olympia, WA 98504-5470, phone (360) 725-4589, fax 360-725-4904, e-mail Leslie.Kozak@dshs.wa.gov.
February 15, 2011
Katherine I. Vasquez
Rules Coordinator