Statutes, codes, and regulations
Washington Administrative Code
Title 388 - Social and Health Services, Department ofASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Chapter 388-412 - Benefit issuances
Section 388-412-0015 - General information about your food assistance allotments

Wash. Admin. Code § 388-412-0015

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Current through Register Vol. 24-23, December 1, 2024
Section 388-412-0015 - General information about your food assistance allotments
(1) Your monthly allotment under the Washington basic food program, food assistance program for legal immigrants (FAP), Washington combined application project (WASHCAP), or the transitional food assistance (TFA) program is the total dollar value of benefits your assistance unit (AU) receives for a calendar month.
(2)How we determine monthly allotments:
(a) We calculate your monthly allotment for federally funded basic food as described under WAC 388-450-0162.
(b) We calculate your monthly allotment for state-funded food assistance as described under WAC 388-400-0050.
(3)Maximum allotment:
(a) The maximum allotment for the number of people in your AU eligible for federally funded basic food benefits is described under WAC 388-478-0060.
(b) The maximum allotment for the number of people in your AU eligible for state-funded FAP benefits is set by the legislature in the biennial operating budget as described in WAC 388-400-0050.
(4)Prorated benefits in the first month. If we determine you are eligible for food assistance, your first month's benefits are calculated from the date you applied through the end of the month of your application. This is called proration and is based on a 30-day month:
(a) If your prorated benefits for the first month are under 10 dollars, you will not receive an allotment for the first month.
(b) If there was a delay in processing your application, we determine when your benefits start under WAC 388-406-0055.
(5)Combined allotment for first and second month's benefits. If you apply for benefits on or after the 16th of the month and we determine you are eligible for food assistance for both the first and second month, we will issue both months' benefits in one allotment.
(6)Minimum allotment. Unless it is the first month of your certification period and your benefits are prorated as described in subsection (4) of this section, your monthly allotment will be at least:
(a) $23 if your AU has one or two members and at least one person is eligible for federally funded basic food; or
(b) $23 dollars if your AU has one or two members and all members of your AU are eligible for state-funded FAP.
(7)Use of food assistance benefits. Your food assistance benefits may only be used to buy eligible food items as described under WAC 388-412-0046. If you use your benefits in any other way, it is an intentional program violation under WAC 388-446-0015 and could result in fines, imprisonment, disqualification from receiving food assistance benefits, or any combination of these penalties.

Wash. Admin. Code § 388-412-0015

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 16-20-087, Filed 10/4/2016, effective 2/1/2017
Amended by WSR 18-02-043, Filed 12/26/2017, effective 1/26/2018
Amended by WSR 20-04-021, Filed 1/27/2020, effective 2/27/2020
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

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, § 388-412-0015, filed 8/27/12, effective 9/27/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, 74.04.510, 74.04.770, 74.12.260, 74.08.580, 9.91.142, 7 C.F.R. 273.16, the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 as amended and 42 U.S.C. 601a; and 2011 c 42 . 11-19-047, § 388-412-0015, filed 9/13/11, effective 10/14/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, 74.04.500, 74.08A.120, and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. 09-14-018, § 388-412-0015, filed 6/22/09, effective 7/23/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090. 08-24-051, § 388-412-0015, filed 11/25/08, effective 12/26/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090. 05-02-016, § 388-412-0015, filed 12/27/04, effective 1/27/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510. 03-22-038, § 388-412-0015, filed 10/28/03, effective 12/1/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.510 and 74.08.090. 01-18-054, § 388-412-0015, filed 8/30/01, effective 9/30/01; 99-16-024, § 388-412-0015, 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, § 388-412-0015, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.