Ongoing Additional Requirements (OAR)

Revised April 30, 2014

Purpose:

This category describes special payments which are available to aged, blind or disabled clients who are receiving cash assistance but have other needs not covered by their monthly cash benefit. This category defines persons who qualify and the needs that qualify for ongoing additional requirement benefits.

WAC 388-473-0010 What are ongoing additional requirements and how do I qualify? 

• Clarifying Information

WAC 388-473-0040 Food service animals as an ongoing additional requirement. 

• Clarifying Information and Worker Responsibilities

WAC 388-473-0060 Laundry as an ongoing additional requirement. 

• Clarifying Information and Worker Responsibilities

Clarifying Information - WAC 388-473-0010

1. Social Service staff determine the need, payment amount and the length of approval time for OAR.
2. SFA recipients are eligible for OAR.

Needs not specified under OAR may still be requested under the exception to rule provision. See: EXCEPTION TO RULE.

Clarifying Information - WAC 388-473-0040

"Trained" does not require training at a recognized school or training facility. It means the animal has been trained to perform some function for the client.

Worker Responsibilities -  WAC 388-473-0040

1. You can ask any of the following:
   1. What tasks the animal performs for the person?
   2. How the animal is necessary for the health and safety of the person?
   3. How the animal supports the person's ability to live independently (or more independently)?
   4. How the animal was trained (Professional training, private/personal training, etc?
2. Do not ask for proof of training. Accept the client's statement relating to the animal's training.
   1. The animal does not need:
      1. To be trained at a facility or school;
      2. To have a certificate. It is acceptable for the person to have trained the animal themselves, a private trainer, or by a friend or volunteer.
3. The difference between a pet and services animal is the animal must be performing a services to allow the individual to live independently.

Clarifying Information - WAC 388-473-0060

1. OAR maximum amounts are:
   1. Restaurant meals: $187.09 per month (or $6.04 per day with the payment rounded down to the nearest amount);
   2. Home delivered meals: The amount charged by the agency providing the meals;
   3. Service animal food: $33.66 per month;
   4. Telephone: the local telephone flat rate for the area, or the Washington Telephone Assistance Program (WTAP) rate, whichever is less; and
   5. Laundry: $11.13 per month.
2. Needs not specified under OAR may still be requested under the exception to rule provision. See EXCEPTION TO RULE

Worker Responsibilities - WAC 388-473-0060

1. Refer requests for ongoing additional requirements to Social Services. Set a Barcode tickle for a ten day response.
2. For the procedure on denials and approvals, see ACES procedures which follow.
3. If the amount authorized by social services is over the standard allowed, contact the social service specialist to see if an exception to rule has been approved for the higher amount.
4. If the client is also receiving Food Assistance, the OAR amount is treated as unearned income, (with the exception of benefits for service animal food) and budgeted against food assistance benefits according to the budgeting method in effect for that assistance unit. Allow 10 days advance notice. See: INCOME Budgeting.

ACES PROCEDURES

• See Additional Requirement - Ongoing Additional Requirement (AREQ)