Standards

Revised July 1, 2020

Purpose:

This chapter contains the sections and rules for need and payment standards

A. CASH ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
WAC 388-478-0005 Cash assistance need and payment standards and grant maximum.
WAC 388-478-0006 The clothing, personal maintenance, and necessary incidentals (CPI) payment standard for cash assistance.
WAC 388-478-0015 Need standards for cash assistance.
WAC 388-478-0020 Payment standards for TANF, SFA,  and RCA.
WAC 388-478-0027 What are the payment standards for Pregnant Women Assistance (PWA)?
WAC 388-478-0033 What are the payment standards for Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD) cash assistance?
WAC 388-478-0035 What are the maximum earned income limits for TANF, SFA, PWA, and RCA?
WAC 388-478-0050 Payment standards for ongoing additional requirements.
WAC 388-478-0055 How much do I get from my state supplemental payments (SSP)?
WAC 388-478-0057 Year-end adjustments to the SSI state supplement.

B.  FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
WAC 388-478-0060 What are the income limits and maximum benefit amounts for Basic Food?

Basic Food

Created on: 
Mar 10 2020

Revised September 24, 2020

Purpose:

This section includes information for the Washington Basic Food program (Basic Food):
  • Income standards used to determine eligibility for Basic Food.
  • The gross and net income tests for households.
  • Maximum monthly benefits for Basic Food.

WAC 388-478-0060 What are the income limits and maximum benefit amounts for Basic Food?

Clarifying Information - WAC 388-478-0060

  1. The federal government sets the income and resources standards.  The income standards are updated October 1st each year based on the federal poverty level in effect at the time.
  2. The gross income standard is based on 130% of the federal poverty level.
  3. The net income standard is based on 100% of the federal poverty level.

Worker Responsibilities -WAC 388-478-0060

  1. If the AU's income is over the standards for their AU size, deny or terminate assistance.  Remember to apply any appropriate exceptions allowed under Basic Food rules.
  2. See WAC 388-450-0245 when an increase in income causes the AU to be ineligible for one month.

165 Percent Standard for Recipients Who Are Both Elderly and Disabled

  1. A recipient who is both elderly and disabled and can’t cook their own meals may be in a separate AU only if the other people who would normally be in the AU (not counting the person's spouse) have combined income at or under the 165% standard.
  2. The recipient's spouse must always be in the AU if they live with the client. See ASSISTANCE UNITS - Basic Food.

Cash Assistance

Revised April 1, 2024

Purpose:

This section contains information about cash assistance need and payment standards, and eligibility standards based on income.

WAC 388-478-0005 Cash assistance need and payment standards and grant maximum.

WAC 388-478-0006 The clothing, personal maintenance, and necessary incidentals (CPI) payment standard for cash assistance.

WAC 388-478-0035 What are the maximum earned income limits for TANF, SFA, PWA and RCA?

Clarifying Information - WAC 388-478-0005

DSHS is required by state law [RCW 74.04.770] to establish, on an annual basis, standards of need for cash assistance programs.  These standards are based on studies of actual living costs for basic requirements.  They may vary by program and family size.

Payment standards are based on assistance unit size and are used to determine eligibility and benefit levels for cash assistance.

The percentage difference between the need and payment standard for an assistance unit is called the ratable reduction.  

Clarifying Information - WAC 388-478-0006

Defines the types of medical facilities or institutions where the CPI payment standard is used for TANF, SFA, PWA, ABD cash, and RCA while a person is a resident. For TANF/SFA, refer to WAC 388-454-0015 to determine if temporary absence rules apply and if CPI is appropriate.

Clarifying Information - WAC 388-478-0035

To determine a family's gross earned income, see WAC 388-450-0165.