Section 388-432-0005 - [Effective 1/1/2025] Can I get help from DSHS for a family emergency without receiving monthly cash assistance?The department of social and health services (DSHS) has a program called diversion cash assistance (DCA). If your family needs an emergency cash payment but does not need ongoing monthly cash assistance, you may be eligible for this program.
(1) To get DCA, you must:(a) Meet all the eligibility rules for temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) WAC 388-400-0005 or state family assistance (SFA) per WAC 388-400-0010. If DSHS finds you eligible, you are not required to fulfill the following TANF-related requirements:(i) Participation in WorkFirst as defined in chapter 388-310 WAC; and(ii) Assignment of child support rights or cooperation with the division of child support as defined in chapter 388-422 WAC;(b) Have a current bona fide or approved need for living expenses;(c) Provide proof that your need for DCA exists; and(d) Have or expect to get enough income or resources to support you and your family for at least 12 months.(2) You may get DCA to help pay for one or more of the following needs: (d) Expenses to get or keep a job;(e) Food costs, but not if an adult member of your family has been disqualified from Washington's basic food program;(f) Medical costs, except when an adult member of your family is not eligible because they failed to provide third party liability (TPL) information as defined in WAC 182-503-0540.(3) DCA payments are limited to: (a) Two thousand dollars once in a 12-month period that starts with the month DCA benefits begin; and(b) The cost of your need.(4) DSHS does not budget your income or make you use your resources to lower the amount of DCA payments you can receive.(5) DSHS may make DCA payments:(b) As separate payments over a 30-day period that starts on the date of your first DCA payment.(6) DSHS will pay your DCA benefit directly to the service provider when possible.(7) You are not eligible for DCA if one or more of the following applies:(a) Any adult member of your assistance unit got DCA within the last 12 months;(b) Any adult member of your assistance unit gets TANF/SFA currently;(c) Any adult member of your assistance unit is not eligible for cash assistance for any reason unless one parent in a two-parent-assistance unit currently receives Social Security Income (SSI);(d) Your assistance unit does not have a needy adult, such as when you do not receive TANF/SFA for yourself but for your children only;(e) Any adult member of your assistance unit is not eligible for cash assistance for any one of the following sanctions: (i) TANF/SFA closure because of a noncompliance sanction (NCS) termination;(ii) TANF/SFA closure while in WorkFirst sanction on or after July 1, 2021; or(iii) Noncooperation with division of child support.(8) If you apply for DCA after your TANF/SFA grant is terminated, DSHS considers you an applicant for DCA.(9) If you apply for TANF/SFA and you received DCA less than 12 months ago, DSHS sets up a DCA loan:(a) The amount of the DCA loan is 1/12th of the total DCA benefit times the number of months that are left in the 12-month period;(b) The first month begins with the month your DCA benefits began; and(c) DSHS will collect the loan only by reducing your TANF/SFA grant by 5% each month.(10) If you stop getting TANF/SFA before you have repaid your DCA loan, DSHS will stop collecting the loan unless you get back on TANF/SFA.Wash. Admin. Code § 388-432-0005
Amended by WSR 17-07-042, Filed 3/8/2017, effective 4/8/2017Amended by WSR 21-21-065, Filed 10/18/2021, effective 11/18/2021Amended by WSR 24-19-076, Filed 9/17/2024, effective 1/1/2025Statutory Authority: RCW 74.04.050, 74.04.055, 74.04.057, 74.08.090, and chapters 74.08A and 74.12 RCW. WSR 10-24-064, § 388-432-0005, filed 11/30/10, effective 12/31/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.04.050. WSR 01-03-066, § 388-432-0005, filed 1/12/01, effective 3/1/01.