Per 2SSB 5793 (2)(e):
"As allowable by federal and state law, state agencies will minimize, to the greatest extent possible, the impact of stipends and reimbursements on public assistance eligibility and benefit amounts."
Federal and state income-based programs such as those that provide assistance with housing, health care, and money for food and other living expenses typically require reporting of any earnings by the recipient of said assistance. Many people are enrolled in more than one of these programs. State agencies which plan to compensate people must consider how this may affect each of the assistance programs from which workgroup members receive assistance. Stipends and gift cards may also be considered income and could impact these benefits programs.
Washington state agencies are currently reviewing public assistance programs to eliminate benefit impact to the greatest extent possible. Until analysis is complete for a public assistance program, agencies should inform workgroup members about possible benefit impacts and recommend they contact the respective agency for benefits counseling.
Below is the chart that demonstrates which public assistance eligibility and benefit amounts are impacted by stipends and reimbursements, and which will require statutory changes in order to avoid negatively impacting a workgroup members’ benefits.
| Program | Agency | Benefit Eligibility & Amount Impact Analysis |
|---|---|---|
| Public Housing | Dept. Of Commerce (COM) | Currently under analysis |
| Consolidated Homeless Grant | COM | Payments excluded from income determination |
| Housing Choice Voucher | COM | Payments excluded from income determination if temporary and sporadic (received/earned no more than 3 times per year) or nonrecurring |
| Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program | COM | Payments included - Commerce to update state plan |
| Project-Based Voucher/Public Housing | COM | Payments excluded from income determination if temporary and sporadic (received/earned no more than 3 times per year) or nonrecurring |
| Housing Trust Fund | COM | Payments excluded from income determination if temporary and sporadic (received/earned no more than 3 times per year) or nonrecurring |
| National Housing Trust Fund | COM | Payments excluded from income determination if temporary and sporadic (received/earned no more than 3 times per year) or nonrecurring |
| HOME- Home Investment Partnerships | COM | Payments excluded from income determination if temporary and sporadic (received/earned no more than 3 times per year) or nonrecurring |
| Affordable Connectivity Program | COM | Still under analysis |
| Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) | COM | Still under analysis |
| Head Start | Dept. of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) | Payments excluded from eligibility determination |
| Early Childhood Education & Assistance Program (ECEAP) | DCYF | Payments excluded from eligibility determination |
| Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) | DCYF | Payments excluded from eligibility determination |
| Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) | Department of Health (DOH) | Still under analysis - adjunctive eligibility - if member eligible for SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid would automatically qualify for WIC |
| SNAP/FAP (Food Assistance Program) |
Dept. Of Social & Health Services (DSHS)/Community Services Division (CSD) |
Payments included - Federal waiver requested |
| TANF | DSHS/CSD | Payments exluded from income determination |
| Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD) cash assistance | DSHS/CSD | Payments exluded from income determination |
| Tribal TANF | DSHS/CSD | Currently under analysis |
| Child Support | DSHS/Division 0f Child Support (DCS) | Payments excluded from withholding effective January 2023 |
| Refugee Cash | DSHS/CSD | Payments excluded from indome determination |
| Medical Assistance | DSHS/CSD | Payments excluded from indome determination |
| Veterans’ nonservice-connect pension or survivors’ pension | Dept. Of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) | Income included - DVA to request change with federal VA. |
| Unemployment | Employment Security Department (ESD) | Payments excluded from income determination |
| Paid Family Medical Leave | ESD | Payments excluded from income determination |
| MAGI-Medical | Health Care Authority (HCA) | Payments excluded from eligibility determination |
| Non-MAGI Medical | HCA | Payments excluded from eligibility determination |
| Free/Rediced Lunch | Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) | Payments excluded from eligibility determination |
| Supplemental Security Income (SSI) | Social Security Administration (SSA) | SSA provided a decision that these payments must be reported but is excluded from income for SSI purposes |
| Social Security or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) | SSA | No impact - assistance not based on need |