Wash. Admin. Code § 388-450-0195 - Does the department use my utility costs when calculating my basic food or WASHCAP benefits?

(1) The department uses utility allowances instead of the actual utility costs your assistance unit (AU) pays when we determine your:

(a) Monthly benefits under WAC 388-492-0070 if you receive Washington state combined application project (WASHCAP); or

(b) Shelter cost income deduction under WAC 388-450-0190 for basic food.

(2) We use the following amounts if you have utility costs separate from your rent or mortgage payment:

(a) If your AU has heating or cooling costs or receives more than $20 in low income home energy assistance program (LIHEAP) benefits each year, you get a standard utility allowance (SUA) of $502.

(b) If your household does not receive a LIHEAP payment and the reason is solely because of your immigration status, you get a SUA of $502.

(c) If your AU does not qualify for the SUA and you have any two utility costs listed in subsection (3) of this section, you get a limited utility allowance (LUA) of $396.

(d) If your AU has only telephone costs and no other utility costs, you get a telephone utility allowance (TUA) of $56.

(3) "Utility costs" include the following:

(a) Heating or cooling fuel;

(b) Electricity or gas;

(c) Water;

(d) Sewer;

(e) Well installation/maintenance;

(f) Septic tank installation/maintenance;

(g) Garbage/trash collection; and

(h) Telephone service.

(4) If you do not have a utility cost separate from your rent or mortgage payment and do not receive LIHEAP, you do not receive a utility allowance.

Notes

Wash. Admin. Code § 388-450-0195

Amended by WSR 14-04-001, filed 1/22/2014, effective 2/22/2014 Amended by WSR 14-12-085, Filed 6/3/2014, effective 7/4/2014 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 17-10-069, Filed 5/3/2017, effective 6/3/2017 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, "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, § 388-450-0195, 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(d)(6)(3). 10-18-050, § 388-450-0195, filed 8/26/10, effective 10/1/10. 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. 09-24-001, § 388-450-0195, filed 11/18/09, effective 12/19/09. 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. 08-21-106, § 388-450-0195, filed 10/16/08, effective 11/16/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510 and 7 C.F.R. § 273.9. 07-22-036, § 388-450-0195, 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 (d)(6)(iii)(b). 06-21-011, § 388-450-0195, filed 10/6/06, effective 11/6/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090. 06-10-056, § 388-450-0195, filed 5/1/06, effective 6/1/06. 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. 05-19-062, § 388-450-0195, filed 9/16/05, effective 10/17/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090. 05-09-087, § 388-450-0195, filed 4/19/05, effective 6/1/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057. 04-23-025, § 388-450-0195, filed 11/8/04, effective 12/9/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510. 03-21-030, § 388-450-0195, 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, § 388-450-0195, filed 10/30/02, effective 12/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510. 01-21-059, § 388-450-0195, filed 10/16/01, effective 12/1/01. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510. 00-22-065, § 388-450-0195, filed 10/27/00, effective 11/1/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.040.510 [74.04.510]. 99-24-052, § 388-450-0195, filed 11/29/99, effective 12/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510. 99-09-055, § 388-450-0195, filed 4/19/99, effective 5/20/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510 and 7 C.F.R. 273.9 (d)(6). 99-01-069, § 388-450-0195, filed 12/14/98, effective 1/14/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. 98-16-044, § 388-450-0195, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.