WAC 388-450-0162 How does the department count my income to determine if my assistance unit is eligible and calculate the amount of my cash and Basic Food benefits?

1.      Countable income is all income your assistance unit has after we subtract the following:

a.      Excluded or disregarded income under WAC 388-450-0015; 

b.      For cash assistance, earned income incentives and deductions allowed for specific programs under WAC 388-450-0170 and 388-450-0175;

c.      For Basic Food, deductions allowed under WAC 388-450-0185; and

d.      Allocations to someone outside of the assistance unit under WAC 388-450-0095 through WAC 388-450-0160.

2.      Countable income includes all income that we must deem or allocate from financially responsible persons who are not members of your assistance unit under WAC 388-450-0095 through 388-450-0160.

3.      For cash assistance:

a.      We compare your countable income to the payment standards in WAC 388-478-0020 and WAC 388-478-0030.

b.      You are not eligible for benefits when your assistance unit's countable income is equal to or greater than the payment standard plus any authorized additional requirements.

c.      Your benefit level is the payment standard and authorized additional requirements minus your assistance unit's countable income.

4.      For Basic Food:

a.      We compare your countable income to the monthly gross and net income standards under WAC 388-478-0060:

i.        If your assistance unit is categorically eligible for Basic Food under WAC 388-414-0001, your assistance unit can have income over the gross or net income standard and still be eligible for benefits.

ii.      All other assistance units must have income at or below the gross and net income standards as required under WAC 388-478-0060 to be eligible for benefits.

b.      Your benefit level is the maximum allotment in WAC 388-478-0060 minus thirty percent of your countable income.