WAC 388-478-0005 Cash assistance need and payment standards and grant maximum.

1. Need standards for cash assistance programs represent the amount of income required by individuals and families to maintain a minimum and adequate standard of living. Need standards are based on assistance unit size and include basic requirements for food, clothing, shelter, energy costs, transportation, household maintenance and operations, personal maintenance, and necessary incidentals. 

2. Payment standards for assistance units in medical institutions and other facilities are based on the need for clothing, personal maintenance, and necessary incidentals (see WAC 388-478-0040 and 388-478-0045).

3. Need and payment standards for persons and families who do not reside in medical institutions and other facilities are based on their obligation to pay for shelter.

   1. Eligibility and benefit levels for persons and families who meet the requirements in 388-478-0010 are determined using standards for assistance units with an obligation to pay shelter costs.

   2. Eligibility and benefit levels for all other persons and families are determined using standards for assistance units who have shelter provided at no cost.

   3. For recent arrivals to Washington state who apply for temporary assistance for needy families (TANF), see WAC 388-468-0005.

4. The monthly grant for an assistance unit containing eight or more persons cannot exceed the grant maximum payment standard for a family of eight listed in WAC 388-478-0020 (1).