Wash. Admin. Code § 388-450-0190 - How does the department figure my shelter cost income deduction for basic food?

The department calculates your shelter cost income deduction for basic food as follows:

(1) First, we add up the amounts your assistance unit (AU) must pay each month for shelter. We do not count any overdue amounts, late fees, penalties, or mortgage payments you make ahead of time as allowable shelter costs. We count the following expenses as an allowable shelter cost in the month the expense is due:

(a) Monthly rent, lease, and mortgage payments;

(b) Property taxes;

(c) Homeowner's association or condo fees;

(d) Homeowner's insurance for the building only;

(e) Utility allowance your AU is eligible for under WAC 388-450-0195;

(f) Out-of-pocket repairs for the home if it was substantially damaged or destroyed due to a natural disaster such as a fire or flood;

(g) Expense of a temporarily unoccupied home because of employment, training away from the home, illness, or abandonment caused by a natural disaster or casualty loss if your:

(i) AU intends to return to the home;

(ii) AU has current occupants who are not claiming the shelter costs for basic food purposes; and

(iii) AU's home is not being leased or rented during your AU's absence.

(h) A homeless AU with shelter costs is eligible for a homeless shelter expense deduction of $190. If the homeless AU has shelter costs in excess of this amount, the AU has the option to claim either:

(i) The homeless shelter deduction; or

(ii) Actual shelter costs.

(2) Second, we subtract all deductions your AU is eligible for under WAC 388-450-0185 (2)(a) through (2)(d) from your AU's gross income. The result is your AU's countable income.

(3) Finally, we subtract one-half of your AU's countable income from your AU's total shelter costs. The result is your excess shelter costs. Your AU's shelter cost deduction is the excess shelter costs:

(a) Up to a maximum of $712 if no one in your AU is elderly or disabled as defined in WAC 388-400-0040; or

(b) The entire amount if an eligible person in your AU is elderly or disabled, even if the amount is over $712.

Notes

Wash. Admin. Code § 388-450-0190

Amended by WSR 14-04-050, filed 1/27/14, effective 2/27/2014 Amended by WSR 15-02-041, Filed 1/2/2015, effective 2/2/2015 Amended by WSR 15-24-075, Filed 11/25/2015, effective 12/26/2015 Amended by WSR 16-24-051, Filed 12/1/2016, effective 1/1/2017 Amended by WSR 18-02-043, Filed 12/26/2017, effective 1/26/2018 Amended by WSR 19-01-031, Filed 12/12/2018, effective 1/12/2019 Amended by WSR 20-04-021, Filed 1/27/2020, effective 2/27/2020 Amended by WSR 21-13-122, Filed 6/21/2021, effective 7/22/2021 Amended by WSR 22-09-040, Filed 4/13/2022, effective 5/14/2022 Amended by WSR 23-07-095, Filed 3/17/2023, effective 4/17/2023 Amended by WSR 24-06-065, Filed 3/4/2024, effective 4/4/2024 Amended by WSR 25-01-045, Filed 12/10/2024, effective 1/10/2025

Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.005, 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, 74.08A.120, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Administrative Notice 12-28 - Fiscal Year 2013 cost-of-living adjustments dated August 6, 2012. 12-24-018, § 388-450-0190, filed 11/27/12, effective 12/28/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.005, 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, 74.08A.120, "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Fiscal Year 2012 Cost of Living Adjustments" memo dated August 2, 2011, and "SNAP Standard Utility (SUA) Annual Review and Adjustment Waiver for Certain States--Modification and Extension" memo dated December 2, 2010. 11-24-027, § 388-450-0190, filed 12/1/11, effective 1/1/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.005, 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, and 7 C.F.R. 273.9. 10-23-114, § 388-450-0190, filed 11/17/10, effective 12/18/10; 09-24-001, § 388-450-0190, filed 11/18/09, effective 12/19/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, and 74.08.090. 08-24-050, § 388-450-0190, filed 11/25/08, effective 12/26/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510 and 7 C.F.R. § 273.9. 07-22-035, § 388-450-0190, filed 10/30/07, effective 11/30/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090 and 7 C.F.R. § 273.9. 06-21-012, § 388-450-0190, filed 10/6/06, effective 11/6/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, and 74.08.090. 05-21-101, § 388-450-0190, filed 10/18/05, effective 11/18/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057. 04-23-025, § 388-450-0190, filed 11/8/04, effective 12/9/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510. 04-07-138, § 388-450-0190, filed 3/22/04, effective 5/1/04; 03-21-030, § 388-450-0190, filed 10/7/03, effective 12/1/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090. 02-22-045, § 388-450-0190, filed 10/30/02, effective 12/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510. 01-21-059, § 388-450-0190, filed 10/16/01, effective 12/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.510. 01-06-030, § 388-450-0190, filed 3/2/01, effective 4/2/01; 99-16-024, § 388-450-0190, filed 7/26/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-450-0190, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.