Clarifying Information - WAC 388-406-0021

General information regarding seasonal farmworkers: A seasonal farmworker can work all year round and still be considered a seasonal farmworker. The unemployment compensation a seasonal farmworker may receive doesn't have to be from seasonal farmwork. We don't average a migrant or seasonal farmworker's income when determining if they are destitute. Seasonal farmworkers may be required to meet ABAWD participation.

Eligibility for expedited service: Destitute farm worker AUs with under $100 are eligible for expedited service. Migrant and seasonal farmworkers who aren't destitute may receive expedited service based on other criteria under WAC 388-406-0015 .

Earnings from a previous season: Don't use a previous season's information unless it reflects what the client anticipates for the current season.

The source of a farmworker's income: Consider the grower, not the crew chief, as the source of income.

Farmworkers with income from a new source: We consider a farmworker who has income from a new source destitute unless it is reasonably certain that the farmworker will receive more than $25 in income within 10 calendar days of the date of application.

Employer's statement of likely work: An employer’s statement that the client will likely have work shouldn't be considered a guarantee that the client will work and receive more than $25. Farm work is uncertain because harvests may be delayed or interrupted by weather problems. There also may be times when a grower discovers they need less labor than originally predicted.

Income from a terminated source: Consider income to be from a source no longer providing income when: The AU is usually paid at least once a month and income from that source isn't expected for the remainder of the month of application or the following month; or The AU is paid less often than monthly, such as quarterly, and the household won't receive the next payment in the month it would normally be received.

Income from a new source: Consider income to be from a new source when: The household is paid at least monthly and receives $25 or less from that source in the 30 days prior to the date of application; or The household is paid less often than monthly, such as quarterly, and receives $25 or less from that source since the last regular pay date.

Income from a terminated source and a new source in the same month: A farmworker AU may receive income from a source no longer providing income and a new source in the same month and still be considered destitute.

Travel advance: If a migrant/seasonal farmworker client gets an advance from an employer to cover travel costs, we don't consider the advance when deciding if the client is destitute. We exclude the travel funds if they are a reimbursement for travel expenses. If the funds are an advance on wages and not a reimbursement for travel, we budget the advance as earned income.

Budgeting income: For the standard rule on how to budget a client's income, see WAC 388-450-0215 . For the rule about budgeting a destitute client's income, see WAC 388-450-0230 .