Clarifying Information - WAC 388-406-0005

1. Applications by others:

For cash and Basic Food, third parties (i.e., persons not applying for themselves or their legal dependents) may apply for other persons. To apply on someone's behalf, third parties must:

Be familiar enough with the applicant's circumstances to complete the application accurately; and

Tell us why they are applying on behalf of the applicant to help us identify if the applicant should receive Equal Access (EA) services under chapter 388-472 WAC . Examples of when someone might apply for another person include when the applicant is: Physically or mentally ill or otherwise incapacitated; A minor child; Subjected to domestic violence; For Basic Food, living in a qualified DDD group home or qualified Drug & Alcohol treatment facility; or For ABD cash temporarily residing outside the state.

2. Authorized representative:

An authorized representative can be any adult who isn’t a member of the AU and has sufficient knowledge of the applicant's circumstances to act on the their behalf. In general, the applicant chooses who will be their authorized representative. For more information, see Authorized Representative – Food Assistance and Authorized Representative - Food, Cash and Medical Benefit Issuances | DSHS (wa.gov)

3. Applications while in a public institution:

Prior to release from a public institution, residents may apply for public assistance. Expedited eligibility -- determinations for food benefits and timely access to medical assistance is available for applicants with mental disorders before release from confinement. A Medical ID card is sent to the facility so that the client can leave the institution with the ID card in hand. The goal is to provide eligible people with a medical assistance identification card on the date they are released, whenever possible.

Transitional Outreach ABD Program (TOAP) applications must be tracked for reporting purposes.

4. Program Options for Justice Involved Individuals

Department of Corrections (DOC) and county and city jails have a variety of programs that may be used in placing offenders outside public institutions. The Program Options for Inmates Matrix, accessed from the staff desk aids page, is intended to clarify how placement in a correctional options program affects a person's eligibility for public assistance benefits.