WAC 388-450-0195

Effective October 1, 2007

WAC 388-450-0195 Utility allowances for Basic Food Programs.

  1. For Basic Food, "utilities" include the following: 

    1. Heating or cooling fuel;

    2. Electricity or gas;

    3. Water or sewer;

    4. Well or septic tank installation/maintenance;

    5. Garbage/trash collection; and

    6. Telephone service.

  2. The Department uses the amounts below if you have utility costs separate from your rent or mortgage payment.  We add your utility allowance to your rent or mortgage payment to determine your total shelter costs.  We use total shelter costs to determine your Basic Food benefits.

    1. If you have heating or cooling costs, you get a standard utility allowance (SUA) that depends on your assistance unit's size.
Assistance Unit (AU) Size Utility Allowance
1 $328
2 $338
3 $348
4 $358
5 $368
6 or more $378

  1. If your AU does not qualify for the SUA and you have any two utility costs listed above, you get a limited utility allowance (LUA) of two hundred fifty nine dollars.

  2. If your AU has only telephone costs and no other utility costs, you get a telephone utility allowance (TUA) of forty dollars.

This is a reprint of the official rule as published by the Office of the Code Reviser. If there are previous versions of this rule, they can be found using the Legislative Search page.