(1) What is the heat and eat program?
(a) The heat and eat program is an energy assistance program for certain assistance units (AUs) that receive basic food, Washington combined application project (WASHCAP), or the food assistance program for legal immigrants (FAP).
(b) AUs in the heat and eat program that receive federal basic food benefits are issued $20.01 in federal low-income home energy assistance program (LIHEAP) benefits if they meet the requirements in subsection (3) of this section. This benefit makes the AU eligible for the standard utility allowance (SUA) under WAC 388-450-0195 for 12 months. AUs that receive state-funded FAP benefits and meet the requirements in subsection (3) of this section qualify for the SUA when calculating basic food eligibility but do not receive the LIHEAP payment.
(2) If you receive WASHCAP, you will get LIHEAP and your AU is eligible for the SUA under WAC 388-450-0195 for 12 months.
(3) Is your AU eligible for heat and eat?
Your AU is eligible for heat and eat if you meet all of the following:
(a) The AU contains an elderly or disabled member, as defined in WAC 388-400-0040;
(b) You receive at least one dollar in basic food or FAP benefits prior to any recoupments;
(c) Your basic food or FAP AU includes at least one U.S. citizen or qualified alien as defined under WAC 388-424-0001 and required by 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1611 (a)(1);
(d) You do not receive transitional food assistance under WAC 388-489-0005;
(e) You are not eligible for SUA under WAC 388-450-0195 because you do not have out-of-pocket costs for heating or cooling;
(f) You have not received a regular LIHEAP benefit amount of more than $20.00 in the past 12 months;
(g) You have not received a LIHEAP payment within the last 12 months from a community agency contracted with the department of commerce; and
(h) You do not receive the maximum allotment for your AU size under WAC 388-478-0060 without using the SUA.
(4) How do you receive heat and eat?
(a) If you are eligible for a heat and eat payment, we deposit the cash benefit on your EBT card.
(b) The heat and eat program provides a single payment to eligible households once every 12 months.
(c) Eligibility for heat and eat is renewed annually.
(5) How do you apply for heat and eat?
(a) Heat and eat doesn't have an application process.
(b) We will determine if your food program AU is eligible to receive heat and eat and automatically provide the benefit to you if you qualify.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.300, 74.04.500, 74.04.510, 74.04.515, 74.08.090, 74.08A.010, 74.08A.120, 74.08A.903, 82.08.0206, and H.R.1 (P.L. 119-21). WSR 26-13-005, s 388-400-0047, filed 6/3/26, effective 7/4/26. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.04.515, 74.08.090, 74.04.500, 74.08A.010, 74.08A.903 and P.L. 110-246, 7 U.S.C. as amended by P.L. 113-79. WSR 17-09-008, § 388-400-0047, filed 4/6/17, effective 5/7/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.04.515, 74.08.090, 74.04.500, 74.08A.010, 74.08A.903, and P.L. 110-246, 7 U.S.C. as amended by P.L. 113-79 and 7 C.F.R. 273. WSR 16-24-050, § 388-400-0047, filed 12/1/16, effective 1/1/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.04.515, 74.08.090, 74.04.500, 74.08A.010, 74.08A.903, and P.L. 110-246, 7 U.S.C. as amended by P.L. 113-79. WSR 14-22-076, § 388-400-0047, filed 11/3/14, effective 1/1/15.]