RCW 388-424-0020 - How does my alien status impact my eligibility for federally funded Basic Food benefits?

(1) If you are a U.S. citizen or U.S. national as defined in WAC 388-424-0001 and meet all other eligibility requirements, you may receive federal Basic Food benefits.

(2) If you are not a U.S. citizen or U.S. national, you must fall within (a) or (b) of this subsection, and meet all other eligibility requirements, in order to receive federal Basic Food benefits:

(a) You are a member of one of the following groups of lawful immigrants as defined in WAC 388-424-0001:

(i) Amerasian;

(ii) Asylee;

(iii) Cuban or Haitian entrant;

(iv) Deportation or removal withheld;

(v) Refugee;

(vi) Afghan nationals paroled into the U.S. between July 31, 2021, and September 30, 2023; or

(A) Their spouse or child paroled into the U.S. after September 30, 2023; or

(B) Their parent or legal guardian paroled into the U.S. after September 30, 2023, if they were an unaccompanied child when paroled into the U.S.;

(vii) Special immigrant from Iraq or Afghanistan;

(viii) Certified victim of trafficking;

(ix) Noncitizen American Indian;

(x) Hmong or Highland Lao tribal member;

(xi) Individuals from the Ukraine granted humanitarian parole between February 24, 2022, and September 30, 2024; or

(A) Their spouses and children paroled into the U.S. after September 30, 2023; or

(B) A parent, legal guardian, or primary caregiver of an unaccompanied refugee minor or an unaccompanied child who is paroled into the U.S. after September 30, 2023;

(xii) Citizens of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.

(b) You are a member of one of the following groups of qualified aliens as defined in WAC 388-424-0001:

(i) Conditional entrant;

(ii) Lawful permanent resident (LPR);

(iii) Paroled for one year or more; or

(iv) Abused spouse or child, parent of an abused child, or child of an abused spouse.

(v) And, one of the following also applies to you:

(A) You have worked or can get credit for 40 Social Security Administration (SSA) work quarters - as described in WAC 388-424-0008;

(B) You are an active duty personnel or honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. military or you are the spouse, unmarried surviving spouse, or unmarried dependent child of someone who meets this requirement, as described in WAC 388-424-0007;

(C) You receive cash or medical benefits based on supplemental security income (SSI) criteria for blindness or disability;

(D) You have lived in the U.S. as a "qualified alien" as described in WAC 388-424-0001 for at least five years;

(E) You are under age 18; or

(F) You were lawfully residing in the U.S. on August 22, 1996, and were born on or before August 22, 1931.

(3) If you are a legal immigrant not eligible for federal benefits under Basic Food only because of your alien status, you may be eligible for state-funded food assistance program (FAP) benefits under WAC 388-400-0050.

Notes

RCW 388-424-0020

Amended by WSR 22-12-038, Filed 5/25/2022, effective 6/25/2022 Amended by WSR 23-02-035, Filed 12/29/2022, effective 1/29/2023 Amended by WSR 25-08-068, Filed 4/1/2025, effective 5/2/2025

Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.005, 74.04.500, 74.04.510, 74.04.515, 74.08.090, and 74.08A.120. 12-18-024, § 388-424-0020, filed 8/27/12, effective 9/27/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.500, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, and 74.08A.120. 11-02-035, § 388-424-0020, filed 12/29/10, effective 2/1/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.08A.020, and Sec. 8120 of Pub. L 111-118 (DOD appropriations law); USDA Food and Nutrition Service federal guidance from January 29, 2010; U.S. DHHS Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance federal guidance letter No. TANF-ACF-PI-2010-05 issued on June 16, 2010. 10-15-045, § 388-424-0020, filed 7/13/10, effective 7/27/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.08A.320, Pub. L. No. 110-181, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, Pub. L. No. 111-08, the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009, Division F, Title VI, Section 602; Office of Refugee Resettlement State Letter 09-17 from April 9, 2009; and federal guidance issued on May 15, 2009, by the Food and Nutrition Service, United States Department of Agriculture. 09-21-046, § 388-424-0020, filed 10/14/09, effective 11/4/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08A.320, 74.08.090, and Public Law 110-161 Section 525; Public Law 110-181 Section 1244; FNS Admin Notice 08-17; State Letter 04-12 from the Office of Refugee Resettlement. 08-14-116, § 388-424-0020, filed 6/30/08, effective 8/1/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090. 04-15-004, § 388-424-0020, filed 7/7/04, effective 8/7/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, and 74.04.510. 03-05-029, § 388-424-0020, filed 2/10/03, effective 4/1/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and H.R. 2646 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. 02-22-046, § 388-424-0020, filed 10/30/02, effective 12/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510, S. 1150, the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998. 99-01-058, § 388-424-0020, filed 12/11/98, effective 1/11/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-424-0020, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98. Formerly WAC 388-518-1805.