Title 74 — Title 74 PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

Referrals to the state department of social and health services for vocational rehabilitation made in accordance with section 1615 of Title XVI of the Social Security Act, as amended, shall be accepted by the state.The department shall be reimbursed by the secretary of the depart…

Notwithstanding any other provisions of RCW 74.04.600 through 74.04.650, those individuals who have been receiving supplemental security income assistance and failed to comply with any federal requirements, including those relating to drug abuse and alcoholism treatment and rehab…

(1) The economic services administration shall work jointly with the division of vocational rehabilitation to develop an assessment tool that must be used to determine whether the programs offered by the division of vocational rehabilitation could assist persons receiving benefit…

During the application process for benefits under RCW 74.62.030 and 43.185C.220, the department shall inquire of each applicant whether he or she has ever served in the United States military service. If the applicant answers in the affirmative, the department shall confer with a…

During the application process for public assistance benefits, the department shall inquire of each applicant whether he or she has ever served in the United States military services or is a family or household member of someone who has ever served in the United States military s…

The department shall establish a consolidated emergency assistance program for families with children. Assistance may be provided in accordance with this section.(1) Benefits provided under this program shall be limited to one period of time, as determined by the department, with…

(1) For purposes of RCW 74.04.005(13)(a), an applicant or recipient is not eligible for long-term care services if the applicant or recipient's equity interest in the home exceeds an amount established by the department in rule, which shall not be less than five hundred thousand …

(1) To assist with family-related expenses, households with children receiving food benefits under this title, who are not simultaneously receiving temporary assistance for needy families, are eligible to receive a one-time state-funded cash benefit in the final month of eligibil…

(1) Applicants and recipients under this title must satisfy all reporting requirements imposed by the department.(2) The secretary shall have the discretion to consider: (a) Food stamp allotments or food stamp benefits transferred electronically and/or (b) rent or housing subsidi…

Payment of assistance shall not be made for any month if the payment prior to any adjustments would be less than ten dollars. However, if payment is denied solely by reason of this section, the individual with respect to whom such payment is denied is determined to be a recipient…

(1) The department shall establish consolidated standards of need each fiscal year which may vary by geographical areas, program, and family size, for temporary assistance for needy families, refugee assistance, supplemental security income, and benefits under RCW 74.62.030.(2)(a…

(1) For purposes of this section only, "assault" means an unauthorized touching of a child protective, child welfare, or adult protective services worker employed by the department of children, youth, and families or the department of social and health services resulting in physi…

(1)(a) The secretary of social and health services and the secretary of the department of children, youth, and families shall review current department policies and assess the adequacy and availability of programs targeted at persons who receive services through the department wh…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2632.SL) ***(1) The department is responsible for determining eligibility for referral for essential needs and housing support under RCW 43.185C.220. Persons eligible for a referral are persons who:(a) Have been determined to be eligible for the aged, …

(1) As used in this section:(a) "Dependent" means a spouse, birth child, adopted child, or stepchild of a military service member.(b) "Legal resident" means a person who maintains Washington as his or her principal establishment, home of record, or permanent home and to where, wh…

Victims of human trafficking, as defined in RCW 74.04.005, are eligible for state family assistance programs as provided in rule on February 1, 2022, who otherwise meet program eligibility requirements.[ 2020 c 136 s 3.]Notes:Effective date—2020 c 136: See note following RCW 74.0…

For the purposes of this chapter, the terms spouse, marriage, marital, husband, wife, widow, widower, next of kin, and family shall be interpreted as applying equally to state registered domestic partnerships or individuals in state registered domestic partnerships as well as to …

(1) Public assistance may be awarded to any applicant:(a) Who is in need and otherwise meets the eligibility requirements of department assistance programs; and(b) Who has not made a voluntary assignment of property or cash for the purpose of qualifying for an assistance grant; a…

In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements of RCW 74.08.025, an applicant for old age assistance must be an applicant who:(1) Has attained the age of sixty-five: PROVIDED, That if an applicant for old age assistance is already on the assistance rolls in some other progra…

In determining the living requirements of otherwise eligible applicants and recipients of supplemental security income and benefits under RCW 74.62.030 and 43.185C.220, the department is authorized to consider the need for personal and special care and supervision due to physical…

The department is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations establishing eligibility for alternate living arrangements, and license the same, including minimum standards of care, based upon need for personal care and supervision beyond the level of board and room only, but l…

The department may purchase such personal and special care at reasonable rates established by the department from substitute homes and intermediate care facilities providing [provided] this service is in compliance with standards of care established by the regulations of the depa…

There is designated to be included in the public assistance payment level a monthly energy assistance allowance. The allowance shall be excluded from consideration as income for the purpose of determining eligibility and benefit levels of food stamp or benefits program recipients…

Application for a grant in any category of public assistance shall be made to the county office by the applicant or by another on his or her behalf, and shall be reduced to writing upon standard forms prescribed by the department, and a written acknowledgment of receipt of the ap…

(1) Each applicant for or recipient of public assistance shall complete and sign a physical application or, if available, electronic application for assistance which shall contain or be verified by a written declaration that it is signed under the penalties of perjury. The depart…

The department shall approve or deny the application within forty-five days after filing, and shall immediately notify the applicant in writing of its decision. If the department is not able within forty-five days, despite due diligence, to secure all information necessary to est…

(1)(a) A public assistance applicant or recipient who is aggrieved by a decision of the department or an authorized agency of the department has the right to an adjudicative proceeding. A current or former recipient who is aggrieved by a department claim that he or she owes a deb…

The department is hereby authorized to make rules and regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of this title to the end that this title shall be administered uniformly throughout the state, and that the spirit and purpose of this title may be complied with. The department…

Proof of age and length of residence in the state of any applicant may be established as provided by the rules and regulations of the department: PROVIDED, That if an applicant is unable to establish proof of age or length of residence in the state by any other method he or she m…

No assistance payments shall be made to recipients living outside the state of Washington unless in the discretion of the secretary there is sound social reason for such out-of-state payments: PROVIDED, That the period for making such payments when authorized shall not exceed the…

Grants awarded under this title shall not be transferable or assignable, at law or in equity, and none of the money paid or payable under this title shall be subject to execution, levy, attachment, garnishment, or other legal process, or to the operation of bankruptcy or insolven…

If any plan of administration of this title submitted to the federal security agency shall be found to be not in conformity with the federal social security act by reason of any conflict of any section, portion, clause or part of this title and the federal social security act, su…

In order to comply with federal statutes and regulations pertaining to federal matching funds and to provide for the prompt payment of initial grants and adjusting payments of grants the secretary is authorized to make provisions for the cash payment of assistance by the secretar…

If any person receiving public assistance has demonstrated an inability to care for oneself or for money, the department may direct the payment of the installments of public assistance to any responsible person, social service agency, or corporation or to a legally appointed guar…

The department is authorized to provide such social and related services as are reasonably necessary to the end that applicants for or recipients of public assistance are helped to attain self-care.[ 1963 c 228 s 16; 1959 c 26 s 74.08.283. Prior: 1957 c 63 s 6.]

The department is hereby authorized to suspend temporarily the public assistance granted to any person for any period during which such person is not in need thereof.If a recipient is convicted of any crime or offense, and punished by imprisonment, no payment shall be made during…

(1) Any person who by means of a willfully false statement, or representation, or impersonation, or a willful failure to reveal any material fact, condition, or circumstance affecting eligibility or need for assistance, including medical care, surplus commodities, and food stamps…

Temporary assistance for needy families and benefits under RCW 74.62.030 and 43.185C.220 shall not be granted to any person who has made an assignment or transfer of property for the purpose of rendering himself or herself eligible for the assistance. There is a rebuttable presum…

When the consideration for a deed executed and delivered by a recipient is not paid, or when the consideration does not approximate the fair cash market value of the property, such deed shall be prima facie fraudulent as to the state and the department may proceed under RCW 43.20…

All assistance granted under this title shall be deemed to be granted and to be held subject to the provisions of any amending or repealing act that may hereafter be enacted, and no recipient shall have any claim for compensation, or otherwise, by reason of his or her assistance …

All old age assistance grants under this title shall be a charge against and payable out of the general fund of the state. Payment thereof shall be by warrant drawn upon vouchers duly prepared and verified by the secretary of the department of social and health services or his or…

The state hereby accepts the provisions of that certain act of the congress of the United States entitled, An Act to provide for the general welfare by establishing a system of federal old age benefits, and by enabling the several states to make more adequate provisions for aged …

The department of social and health services may conduct research studies, pilot projects, demonstration projects, surveys and investigations for the purpose of determining methods to achieve savings in public assistance programs by means of restoring individuals to maximum self-…

(1) Any person receiving public assistance is prohibited from using electronic benefit cards or cash obtained with electronic benefit cards:(a) For the purpose of participating in any of the activities authorized under chapter 9.46 RCW;(b) For the purpose of parimutuel wagering a…

A person who has in his or her possession or under his or her control electronic benefit cards issued in the names of two or more persons and who is not authorized by those persons to have any of the cards in his or her possession is guilty of a misdemeanor.[ 2012 c 253 s 3.]Note…

Nothing in this chapter except RCW * 74.08.070 and 74.08.080 applies to **chapter 74.50 RCW.[ 1989 c 3 s 3.]Notes:Reviser's note: *(1) RCW 74.08.070 was repealed by 1989 c 175 s 185.**(2) Chapter 74.50 RCW was repealed by 2019 c 325 s 6004.

(1) A family that includes an adult who has received temporary assistance for needy families for 60 months after July 27, 1997, shall be ineligible for further temporary assistance for needy families assistance.(2) For the purposes of applying the rules of this section, the depar…

All families who have received temporary assistance for needy families since March 1, 2020, are eligible for the extension under RCW 74.08A.010(4)(a)(ii), regardless of whether they are current recipients. Eligible families shall only receive temporary assistance for needy famili…

By October 2002, the department shall develop and implement an electronic benefit transfer system to be used for the delivery of public assistance benefits, including without limitation, food assistance.The department shall comply with P.L. 104-193, and shall cooperate with relev…

(1) The department shall allow religiously affiliated organizations to provide services to families receiving temporary assistance for needy families on the same basis as any other nongovernmental provider, without impairing the religious character of such organizations, and with…