PDFWAC 388-310-0400
WorkFirst—Entering the WorkFirst program as a mandatory participant.
(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 elements related to your employability. If you have been identified as someone who needs necessary supplemental accommodation (NSA) services as defined in chapter 388-472 WAC, your WorkFirst worker will first develop an accommodation plan to help you access WorkFirst services. The WorkFirst worker will use the accommodation plan to help develop your IRP with you. If you have been identified as a victim of family violence as defined in WAC 388-61-001, you and your WorkFirst worker will develop an IRP to help you with your situation, including referrals to appropriate services.
Your WorkFirst worker will refer you to WorkFirst activities unless any of the following applies to you:
(a) You work thirty-two or more hours a week (or, if you are a member of a two-parent family, you work thirty-five hours or more a week). "Work" means to engage in any legal, income generating activity that is taxable under the United States tax code or would be taxable with or without a treaty between an Indian nation and the United States;
(b) You participate the equivalent of twenty or more hours a week (or if you are a member of a two-parent family, you participate the equivalent of thirty or more hours a week) in job search, vocational education, issue resolution, or paid or unpaid work that meets the federal definition of core activities, which may include work of sixteen or more hours a week in the federal or state work study program, and you attend a Washington state community or technical college at least half time;
(c) You work twenty or more hours a week (or if you are a member of a two-parent family, you work thirty or more hours a week) in unsubsidized employment and attend a Washington state community or technical college at least half time;
(d) You are under the age of eighteen, have not completed high school, GED, or its equivalent and are in school full time;
(e) You are eighteen or nineteen years of age and are attending high school or an equivalent full time;
(f) You are pregnant or have a child under the age of two years old, and are participating in other pregnancy to employment activities as defined in WAC 388-310-1450;
(g) Your situation prevents you from looking for a job and you are conducting activities identified on your IRP to help you with your situation (for example, you may be unable to look for a job while you have health problems or you are homeless); or
(h) Your situation prevents you from looking for work because you are a victim of family violence and you are conducting activities on your IRP to help you with your situation.
(2) How will I know what my participation requirements are?
(a) Your IRP will describe what you need to do to be able to enter job search or other WorkFirst activities and then find a job as described in WAC 388-310-0500 and 388-310-0700.
(b) If you enter the pregnancy to employment pathway as described in WAC 388-310-1450(3), you must take part in an assessment.
(3) What happens if I do not follow my WorkFirst requirements?
If you do not participate in creating an IRP, job search, or in the activities listed in your IRP, and you do not have a good reason, the department will follow the sanction rules in WAC 388-310-1600.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08A.270, 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and chapter 74.12 RCW. WSR 18-03-059, § 388-310-0400, filed 1/10/18, effective 2/10/18. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and chapters 74.08A and 74.12 RCW. WSR 10-22-062, § 388-310-0400, filed 10/29/10, effective 12/1/10. Statutory Authority: 45 C.F.R. 260, 42 U.S.C. 601, chapters 74.08A and 74.12 RCW, RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.08.090, and 74.04.057. WSR 09-14-019, § 388-310-0400, filed 6/22/09, effective 7/23/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.08.090. WSR 08-07-046, § 388-310-0400, filed 3/14/08, effective 5/1/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090. WSR 06-08-044, § 388-310-0400, filed 3/30/06, effective 6/1/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08A.010(4), 74.08A.340, 74.08.090, 74.04.050. WSR 02-15-067, § 388-310-0400, filed 7/11/02, effective 8/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.04.050. WSR 00-06-062, § 388-310-0400, filed 3/1/00, effective 3/1/00; WSR 99-10-027, § 388-310-0400, filed 4/28/99, effective 5/29/99; WSR 98-23-037, § 388-310-0400, filed 11/10/98, effective 12/11/98; WSR 97-20-129, § 388-310-0400, filed 10/1/97, effective 11/1/97.]