Washington LawHelp

General Info (6)+

• Applying for Public Assistance

  Information about the application process to receive public assistance. #7903EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

  Russian / Pусский

• DSHS Benefits and Lump Sum Payments

  A lump sum is any money you get once and do not expect to get regularly. Examples are a settlement from a court case, insurance claims or a back payment of benefits you are owed (such as from Social Security or L&I). You must report these payments to DSHS. Publication #7140EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

• DSHS Support Services for WorkFirst Participants

  DSHS may provide goods and services for WorkFirst participants to help them look for work, prepare for work, or keep work. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

  Read this in:

  Russian / Pусский

• The Self-Sufficiency Calculator for Washington State

  The Calculator can help you: plan and develop career goals so you can work towards a better paying job; decide if a job you are considering will pay enough to meet your family's needs; determine if you might be eligible for public benefits that can help with expenses like health care or child care; test and compare different work or living options and see how they affect your bottom line. Read More

  By:

  Workforce Development Councils of Washington State

• Washington State Self-Support Reserve

  Basic subsistence limitation chart for determining amount necessary to provide for basic needs. The amounts are adjusted annually. Read More

  By:

  Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts

• Your Rights Dealing with DSHS

  This lists services available by DSHS and your rights when dealing with this state agency. #7900EN. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

  Russian / Pусский

Denials and Terminations (4)+

• Fighting a Denial of DSHS Public Assistance

  Read this for what to do if you apply for cash, food stamps, medical, or child care assistance from the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and their office denies you benefits. #7100EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

  Russian / Pусский

• How To Fight a Termination or Reduction of DSHS Public Assistance

  This explains your rights if DSHS tells you it will stop (terminate) or cut back (reduce) the cash, food stamps, medical, or child care assistance they have been giving you. The most important thing to know is that you must ask for an administrative hearing soon, usually within ten days of DSHS mailing written notice, to keep getting your benefits while you appeal. Publication #7102EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

  Russian / Pусский

• Representing Yourself at an Administrative Hearing

  If you do not agree with any decision, either verbal or written, made by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), you have the right to appeal that decision by asking for an administrative hearing. This tells you about 1) the deadline to request a hearing, 2) how to make the request, 3) how to prepare for your hearing, and 4) what to expect at your hearing and afterward. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

  Russian / Pусский

  Ukrainian / Українська

  Chinese / 中文

• What if DSHS Stops My Benefits Because I am a “Fleeing Felon” or it Thinks I am Violating a Condition of Probation or Parole?

  If you are a fleeing felon, you are not eligible for many federal and state public benefits. This publication defines "feeling felon" and discusses the benefits that are affected. Publication #7406EN. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

Emergency cash (3)+

• Additional Requirements (AR)

  If you qualify for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), State Financial Assistance (SFA), or a Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) welfare grant through DSHS and you have an emergency, you may be eligible to get "Additional Requirements (AR).” AR is a once-a-year cash grant for emergency needs. #7108EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Consolidated Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP): Extra Money for Needy Families

  CEAP is a welfare (DSHS) program that provides money to needy families, children and pregnant women facing an emergency. You may qualify for a CEAP emergency grant only if you are not eligible for any other DSHS financial or emergency assistance program. #7106EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Diversion Cash Assistance

  Diversion Cash Assistance (DCA) is an emergency grant to a family facing a temporary financial crisis. #7121EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

Low income energy assistance programs (1)+

• Additional Requirements (AR)

  If you qualify for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), State Financial Assistance (SFA), or a Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) welfare grant through DSHS and you have an emergency, you may be eligible to get "Additional Requirements (AR).” AR is a once-a-year cash grant for emergency needs. #7108EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

Overpayments (1)+

• Fighting an Overpayment of Cash or Medical Assistance

  Use this when the Department of Social & Health Services (DSHS) or Health Care Authority (HCA) notifies you of a cash or medical overpayment. An overpayment is when you get benefits you are not eligible for according to DSHS or HCA rules. #7104EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

  Russian / Pусский

Public Benefits and Accommodations (2)+

• DSHS Help for People with Disabilities: Necessary Supplemental Accommodations

  If you get DSHS benefits, such as TANF, SFA, Disability Lifeline, Medicaid, or food assistance, DSHS must accommodate your disabilities. This means that DSHS must try to make their services and benefits available to you to the same extent that they are available to people without a disability. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

• How to Ask for a Reasonable Accommodation of Your Disability from the Office of Administrative Hearings

  The Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) must make sure its services and its hearings are fully available to all persons with disabilities. This may mean OAH needs to make a change in the way it handles a hearing or communicates with you to make sure you have the same chance to take part in the hearings as a person without disabilities. #8406EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

  Read this in:

  Ukrainian / Українська

Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) rules (7)+

• DSHS Benefits and Lump Sum Payments

  A lump sum is any money you get once and do not expect to get regularly. Examples are a settlement from a court case, insurance claims or a back payment of benefits you are owed (such as from Social Security or L&I). You must report these payments to DSHS. Publication #7140EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

• Questions and Answers on the TANF 5-Year Time Limit

  There is a sixty-month (five-year) time limit for receiving TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) and SFA (State Family Assistance) cash assistance. The existence of the time limit does not mean that your family will automatically stop receiving cash assistance at the end of 60 months. #7150EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

• TANF and WorkFirst for College Students

  If you get a TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) grant, you probably have to take part in WorkFirst if you want to go to college and keep getting TANF. #7138EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) for Teen Parents

  If you are a teenager under the age of 18, low income, and have children or are pregnant, you may be able to get help (money) from the state TANF program. Read on for answers to your questions about how to get TANF. Publication #7122EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): Rules and Eligibility

  Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is the welfare program that gives cash grants to needy families. This publication discusses who is eligible for TANF and what is required under the law. #7123EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

  Russian / Pусский

• The Self-Sufficiency Calculator for Washington State

  The Calculator can help you: plan and develop career goals so you can work towards a better paying job; decide if a job you are considering will pay enough to meet your family's needs; determine if you might be eligible for public benefits that can help with expenses like health care or child care; test and compare different work or living options and see how they affect your bottom line. Read More

  By:

  Workforce Development Councils of Washington State

• Washington State Self-Support Reserve

  Basic subsistence limitation chart for determining amount necessary to provide for basic needs. The amounts are adjusted annually. Read More

  By:

  Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts

WorkFirst rules, benefits and problems (7)+

• Questions and Answers about Workfirst

  Almost all families who get TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) must participate in Workfirst. Most parents must do a job search program and take a job if one is offered. #7126EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

  Russian / Pусский

• TANF and WorkFirst for College Students

  If you get a TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) grant, you probably have to take part in WorkFirst if you want to go to college and keep getting TANF. #7138EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

• Workfirst and the Family Violence Amendment

  DSHS will screen and identify TANF (Welfare) recipients for a history of family violence, notify TANF recipients about the Family Violence Amendment, maintain confidentiality, refer individuals needing counseling to supportive services, and waive Workfirst requirements where the requirements would make it more difficult to escape family violence, or put victims at further risk of family violence. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• WorkFirst Education and Training Opportunities

  Are you interested in training or education? You can ask your WorkFirst worker to add the options in this booklet to your IRP as WorkFirst activities. Most of these activities are not required. However, studies show that the best way to get and keep a good job is to improve your education and training. #7135EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

• WorkFirst For Working Families

  This should help you understand how working affects your family’s eligibility for TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) and other public benefits. #7137EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

• WorkFirst: Individual Responsibility Plans (IRP)

  This should help you understand how an IRP is created so that you can get the best possible plan for yourself. #7134EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line

  Read this in:

  Russian / Pусский

• WorkFirst Sanctions

  Read this to understand sanctions under the WorkFirst program and help you fight a sanction that is wrong. #7132EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project - CLEAR Intake Line