PDFWAC 388-450-0185
What income deductions does the department allow when determining if I am eligible for food benefits and the amount of my monthly benefits?
(1) We determine if your assistance unit (AU) is eligible for basic food and calculate your monthly benefits according to requirements of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 and federal regulations related to the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP).
(2) Under these federal laws, we subtract the following amounts from your AU's total monthly income to determine your countable monthly income under WAC 388-450-0162:
(a) A standard deduction based on the number of eligible people in your AU under WAC 388-408-0035:
Eligible AU members | Standard deduction |
3 or fewer | $198 |
4 | $208 |
5 | $244 |
6 or more | $279 |
(b) 20% of your AU's gross earned income (earned income deduction);
(c) Your AU's expected monthly dependent care expense needed for an AU member to:
(i) Keep work, look for work, or accept work;
(ii) Attend training or education to prepare for employment; or
(iii) Meet employment and training requirements under chapter 388-444 WAC;
(d) Medical expenses over $35 a month owed or anticipated by an elderly or disabled person in your AU as allowed under WAC 388-450-0200; and
(e) A portion of your shelter costs as described in WAC 388-450-0190.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, and 74.08.090. WSR 24-06-065, § 388-450-0185, filed 3/4/24, effective 4/4/24. 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.010, 74.08A.120, and 74.08A.250. WSR 23-17-065, § 388-450-0185, filed 8/14/23, effective 9/14/23; WSR 23-07-095, § 388-450-0185, filed 3/17/23, effective 4/17/23; WSR 22-09-040, § 388-450-0185, filed 4/13/22, effective 5/14/22. 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 and 7 C.F.R. § 273.9 (a)(3), "USDA, Food and Nutrition Service, SNAP—Fiscal Year 2021 Cost-of-Living Adjustments (July 29, 2020)," and "USDA, Food and Nutrition Service, Standard utility allowance approval letter (August 4, 2020)" and H.R.133 Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021. WSR 21-13-122, § 388-450-0185, filed 6/21/21, effective 7/22/21. 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, and P.L. 115-334 § 4004. WSR 20-04-021, § 388-450-0185, filed 1/27/20, effective 2/27/20. 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 and 7 C.F.R. §§ 273.1, 273.9 (d)(iii)(B); SNAP - FY 2019 COLAS dated July 27, 2018; and SNAP UA 2019 dated August 23, 2018. WSR 19-01-031, § 388-450-0185, filed 12/12/18, effective 1/12/19. 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 74.08A.120, 7 C.F.R. §§ 273.1 and 273.9 (d)(iii)(B), SNAP Administrative Notice 17-30, and SNAP memo dated August 28, 2017. WSR 18-02-043, § 388-450-0185, filed 12/26/17, effective 1/26/18. 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 and SNAP Administrative Notice 16-38, dated August 12, 2016, 7 C.F.R. § 273.9 (d)(iii)(B), SNAP 10-6-WA-SUA, dated August 15, 2016. WSR 16-24-051, § 388-450-0185, filed 12/1/16, effective 1/1/17. 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, FNS per SNAP Administrative Notice 15-28: SNAP - FY 2016, FNS 7 C.F.R. § 273.9 (d)(iii)(B)), and SNAP 10-6-WA-SUA dated August 18, 2015. WSR 15-24-075, § 388-450-0185, filed 11/25/15, effective 12/26/15. 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. WSR 15-02-041, § 388-450-0185, filed 1/2/15, effective 2/2/15. 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 and USDA, FNS, per SNAP Administrative Notice 13-26, SNAP - FY 2014 COLAS and ARRA Sunset Impact on Allotments dated August 2, 2013, and USDA SNAP 10-6-WA-SUA dated August 8, 2013, approving the proposed SUA. WSR 14-04-050, § 388-450-0185, filed 1/27/14, effective 2/27/14. 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, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Administrative Notice 12-28 - Fiscal Year 2013 cost-of-living adjustments dated August 6, 2012. WSR 12-24-018, § 388-450-0185, filed 11/27/12, effective 12/28/12. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.005, 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.500, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, 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. WSR 11-24-027, § 388-450-0185, 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. WSR 10-23-114, § 388-450-0185, filed 11/17/10, effective 12/18/10. 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 U.S.C. 2014 (a) and (e)(1); 7 C.F.R. §§ 273.1 and 273.9 (d)(1). 10-16-104, § 388-450-0185, filed 8/2/10, effective 9/2/10. 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 P.L. 107 - 171 § 4101. WSR 09-23-004, § 388-450-0185, filed 11/5/09, effective 11/15/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090, 74.08A.120, and Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, Title 7 Part 273 of the C.F.R. WSR 09-07-054, § 388-450-0185, filed 3/11/09, effective 4/11/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, 74.08.090. WSR 08-24-051, § 388-450-0185, filed 11/25/08, effective 12/26/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510 and 7 C.F.R. § 273.9. WSR 07-22-035, § 388-450-0185, 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. WSR 06-21-012, § 388-450-0185, filed 10/6/06, effective 11/6/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510, and 74.08.090. WSR 05-21-101, § 388-450-0185, filed 10/18/05, effective 11/18/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057. WSR 04-23-025, § 388-450-0185, filed 11/8/04, effective 12/9/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.04.510. WSR 03-21-030, § 388-450-0185, filed 10/7/03, effective 12/1/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and H.R. 2646 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. WSR 02-22-044, § 388-450-0185, filed 10/30/02, effective 12/1/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090 and 74.04.510. WSR 99-16-024, § 388-450-0185, filed 7/26/99, effective 9/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057 and 74.08.090. WSR 98-16-044, § 388-450-0185, filed 7/31/98, effective 9/1/98.]