WAC 388-444-0055 What are the penalties for refusing or failing to comply?

1. If you are nonexempt you must follow the food assistance work requirements as defined in WAC 388-444-0005 or WAC 388-444-0030 unless you have good cause as defined in WAC 388-444-0050. If you do not follow these rules, you will become an ineligible assistance unit member as provided in WAC 388-450-0140. The remaining members of the assistance unit continue to be eligible for food assistance.

2. If you do not follow these rules unless you have good cause, you cannot receive food assistance for the following periods of time and until you comply with program requirements:

   1. For the first failure to comply, one month; 

   2. For the second failure to comply, three months; and

   3. For the third or subsequent failure to comply, six months.

3. If you become exempt under WAC 388-444-0015 and are otherwise eligible, you may begin to receive food assistance.

4. If you are nonexempt and you do not comply with the work requirements of the following programs, you cannot receive food assistance:

   1. WorkFirst;

   2. Unemployment compensation;

   3. The refugee cash assistance program.

5. Within ten days after learning of your refusal to participate in your program, the financial worker will send you a notice that your food assistance will end unless you comply with your program requirements.

6. If you do not comply within ten days, you will be issued a notice disqualifying you from receiving food assistance until you comply with your program, or until you meet the FS E&T disqualification requirements in subsection (2) of this section.

7. After the penalty period in subsection (2) of this section is over, and you have complied with your program requirements, and you are otherwise eligible, you may receive food assistance:

   1. If you are alone in the assistance unit and apply to reestablish eligibility; or

   2. If you are a member of an assistance unit, you may resume receiving food assistance.

8. During the penalty period, if you begin to participate in one of the programs listed in subsection (4)(a) through (c) and that penalty is removed, the FS E&T disqualification also ends. If you are otherwise eligible, you may begin to receive food assistance.

9. You have a right to a fair hearing as provided in chapter 388-02 WAC.