Washington Administrative Code

(1) The noncustodial parent (NCP) or parents (NCPs) satisfy their obligation to support the child or children by paying to the division of child support (DCS) the amount specified in a court order or administrative order, if a support order exists, when:(a) The department of chil…

(1) When the division of child support (DCS) is setting a support obligation for only one parent, DCS follows the steps set out in this section.(2) The noncustodial parent (NCP) for whom DCS is setting support is called the party NCP, because that parent is a party to the adminis…

(1) Prior to May 1, 2022, the division of child support (DCS) prepared an administrative support notice to establish a joint support obligation for the parents of a child in foster care, DCS followed the steps set out in this section for completing the worksheets under the Washin…

(1) RCW 26.23.040 requires all employers doing business in the state of Washington to comply with the employer reporting requirements regarding new hires.(2) For the purposes of this section, a "new hire" is defined as any person who resides or works in the state of Washington to…

(1) As provided in WAC 388-14A-3120(14), the noncustodial parent (NCP) and/or the mother of the child may request genetic testing, also called paternity tests, after the service of a notice and finding of parental responsibility.(2) After receiving a request for paternity tests, …

(1) If the department is providing or has provided cash assistance to the family, parties to a court order must give the division of child support (DCS) twenty calendar days prior notice of the entry of any final order and five days prior notice of the entry of any temporary orde…

(1) The division of child support (DCS) issues subpoenas requiring the production of documents or records, or appearance of witnesses, under RCW 34.05.588 and 74.04.290.(2) Compliance with DCS subpoenas is enforced under RCW 34.05.588 and 74.20A.350.[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.0…

(1) Under RCW 26.23.030(2), the division of child support (DCS) has the authority to assess and collect interest on unpaid child support that has accrued under any support order entered into the Washington state support registry (WSSR).(2) DCS does not assess or collect interest …

(1) The department provides limited English proficient (LEP) services to you if you are limited in your ability to read, write and/or speak English. These services provide a way for us to communicate with you even though you are limited in your ability to communicate in English. …

(1) If you have trouble speaking and/or understanding English, and a bilingual worker is not available to assist you, we get a qualified interpreter in your primary language to help you communicate verbally with us. A qualified interpreter is someone who is fluent in English and …

(1) We provide fully translated written communication in your primary language. This includes, but is not limited to:(a) Department pamphlets, brochures and other informational material that describe department services and client rights and responsibilities;(b) Department forms,…

The United States Repatriation Program provides temporary assistance to U.S. citizens and dependents who are brought from a foreign country to the United States because of lack of financial resources, illness, war, threat of war, natural disaster, or similar crisis."Assistance" m…

You apply for repatriation assistance by contacting the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or us.(1) If you contact HHS, we consider a referral from them as an approved application.(2) If you contact us directly, we apply for you to HHS.(3) During an emergency, re…

Repatriation assistance is a loan. You, or your representative if you are incapacitated, must:(1) Sign a statement recognizing repatriation assistance as a loan; and(2) Agree to repay the funds.Repayment goes to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and HHS is r…

(1) You are not eligible to receive repatriation assistance if your:(a) Income, as defined by temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) equal to or greater than the TANF need standards as described in WAC 388-478-0015; or(b) Resources, as defined by TANF under WAC 388-470-00…

(1) If you are incapacitated, you receive temporary care until you:(a) Can be released to the care of a relative or state agency; or(b) Are discharged or granted release from hospitalization.(2) If you are not incapacitated, you may receive repatriation assistance up to twelve mo…

(1) The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sets limits on how much we pay for repatriation assistance.(2) Within payment limits, repatriation assistance includes:(a) Travel to your place of residence, limited to:(i) One domestic trip at the lowest fare and using t…

(1) What is the WorkFirst program?The WorkFirst program offers services and activities to help people in low-income families find jobs, keep their jobs, find better jobs, and become self-sufficient. The program links families to a variety of state, federal, and community resource…

(1) Who is a mandatory participant and who is required to participate in WorkFirst activities?(a) You are a "mandatory participant," if you are receiving TANF or SFA cash assistance because you are pregnant or the parent or adult in the home.(b) When you are a mandatory participa…

(1) When may I be exempted from participating in WorkFirst activities if I am a mandatory participant?Either you or the other parent, living in the household, may claim an infant exemption from participating in WorkFirst activities provided you:(a) Have a child under two years of…

(1) When am I exempt from mandatory participation?Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, you are exempt from mandatory participation if you are:(a) A caretaker relative as defined by WAC 388-454-0010, included in the assistance unit and:(i) You are 55 years of age …

(1) What happens when I enter the WorkFirst program as a mandatory participant?You must follow instructions as written in your individual responsibility plan (IRP) as required under WAC 388-310-0500, which is written after you have participated in a comprehensive evaluation of el…

(1) What is the purpose of my individual responsibility plan?The purpose of your individual responsibility plan is to give you a written statement that describes:(a) What your responsibilities are; and(b) Which WorkFirst activities you are required to participate in; and(c) What …

(1) What is job search?Job search is an opportunity to learn and use skills you need to find and keep a job. Job search may include:(a) Classroom instruction; and/or(b) Structured job search that helps you find job openings, complete applications, practice interviews and apply ot…

(1) Why do I receive a comprehensive evaluation?You participate in a comprehensive evaluation with your case manager and other WorkFirst staff to determine:(a) Your employment strengths, your educational background, family situation and other factors; and(b) Which WorkFirst activ…

(1) Who can get support services?People who can get support services include:(a) WorkFirst participants who receive a TANF cash grant;(b) Sanctioned WorkFirst participants during the required participation before the sanction is lifted or applicants who were terminated while in n…

(1) What is basic education?Basic education is high school completion, classes to prepare for high school equivalency, testing to acquire high school equivalency, adult basic education (ABE) or English as a second language (ESL) training. Basic education also includes approved ho…

(1) What is vocational education?Vocational education is training that leads to a degree or certificate in a specific occupation, not to result in a bachelor's or advanced degree unless otherwise indicated in subsection (4) of this section, offered by an accredited:(a) Public and…

(1) What is skills enhancement training? Skills enhancement training, formerly known as job skills training, is training or education for job skills required by an employer to provide a person with the ability to obtain employment or to advance or adapt to the changing demands of…

(1) What is work experience?Work experience (sometimes called WEX) is an activity for mandatory participants that will teach you the basics of holding down a job and give you a chance to practice or expand your work skills. Work experience teaches you these skills by assigning yo…

(1) What is on-the-job training?On-the-job training (sometimes called OJT) is skills training provided by an employer at the their place of business. You are paid to both work and spend some time learning new skills to help you do your job better. You may receive the training at …

(1) What is the community jobs program?Community jobs is a paid work experience that assists you to gain work skills and experience. You are placed in a community job (up to twenty hours per week) where your wages are paid by the community jobs program. If you participate in the …

(1) What is community service?Community service is unpaid work (such as the work performed by volunteer workers) that:(a) You perform for a charitable nonprofit organization, federal, state, local or tribal government or district, including traditional activities that perpetuate …

(1) How do I know if I am eligible to participate in pregnancy to employment?If you are on temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) or state family assistance (SFA) and are pregnant or have a child under the age of two years, you are a participant in the pregnancy to employ…

(1) If I am a mandatory participant, are there any limitations on the type of paid or unpaid employment I must accept?If you are a mandatory participant, you must accept paid or unpaid employment (including any activity in which an employer-employee relationship exists) unless th…

(1) What WorkFirst requirements do I have to meet?You must do the following when you are a mandatory WorkFirst participant:(a) Give the department the information we need to develop your individual responsibility plan (IRP) (see WAC 388-310-0500);(b) Show that you are participati…

(1) What is self-employment?When you work for yourself and do not have an employer, you are self-employed.(2) When can I be deferred from job search to pursue self-employment?(a) To be deferred from job search for self-employment, you must meet all the conditions below:(i) You mu…

(1) What is the purpose of post employment services?Post employment services help TANF or SFA parents who are working twenty hours or more a week keep and cope with their current jobs, look for better jobs, gain work skills for a career and become self sufficient.(2) How do I obt…

(1) When might I be referred to a tribal government?Your case manager may refer you to a tribal government when you are an American Indian who applies for or receives TANF assistance, and:(a) You are in the population and service area identified in a tribal government’s federally…

(1) What are individual development accounts?Individual development accounts (IDAs) are special savings accounts for people eligible for or receiving TANF or SFA. The IDA's will help families save money for qualified purchases that will help them become financially self-sufficien…

(1) Under RCW 74.08A.040, the department of social and health services is required to adopt rules regarding state maintenance of effort and reporting requirements for tribal TANF programs.(2) When statutorily required to adopt rules, the department must enact regulations in the W…

State maintenance of effort is a federal TANF requirement that a state shall spend at least a specified amount, as required by 45 C.F.R. 263.1, of state funds for benefits and services for members of needy families each year. A broad, but not unlimited, array of benefits and serv…

Yes. A tribe or a consortium of tribes may elect to operate a tribal TANF program under 45 C.F.R. 286. Per RCW 74.08A.040, the department shall transfer a fair and equitable amount of the TANF state maintenance of effort funds to eligible tribes, or consortium of tribes, within W…

In making an allocation of state maintenance of effort funding to a tribe or consortium of tribes for a tribal TANF program, the department shall ensure that the following mutually agreed upon agreements are in place:(1) Intergovernmental TANF agreement;(2) Data share agreement; …

State maintenance of effort funds for tribal TANF programs may be used as follows:(1) The funds may be used in a flexible manner that meets the needs of their service population within the four purposes of the TANF program, as set forth in 45 C.F.R. 260.20; and(2) The funds may b…

The department shall require quarterly reports that are specified in the intergovernmental TANF agreement. The reports shall provide program data in the following areas:(1) State maintenance of effort expenditure information;(2) Caseload information; and(3) Performance measures a…

(1) The transitional cash assistance program is a state-funded benefit administered by the department of social and health services and provides an additional cash benefit to low-income families who meet specific criteria.(2) The following definitions apply to this program:(a) "F…