Additional Requirements (AR): Emergency Cash Help

If you live in Washington State, you might be eligible for this once-a-year cash payment. It is for emergency needs. DSHS gives you an extra payment to help you get or keep safe housing or utilities.  

Yes, if:

• You can or already get Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), State Family Assistance (SFA), or Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA).

• You got TANF in another state before you moved to Washington.  You can get AR the same month you moved here.

• You have not gotten AR in the past year.

Yes. You can use it to keep you from being evicted or having your home foreclosed. Or you can use it to get new housing or housing help, if you are escaping domestic violence or are homeless.

Yes, if they cause a risk to health or safety.  (Read Tenants: If You Need Repairs.)  If it would cost less to move, DSHS will pay for your move instead.

Yes. It can go to repairs, deposits, fees and services for electricity, water, sewer, and fuel for heating or cooking.  DSHS will pay for basic local phone service if needed for your health and safety.

You must have good reason for not meeting these needs.   This can include:

• An emergency, such as injury or illness

• You had basic or emergency expenses for such things as shelter, food clothing, medical care needed for work or to cure pain, emergency childcare, or other expenses

• You were involved in a disaster such as theft, house fire, flood, severe weather, accident, or medical emergency

•  Extra, short-term expenses caused by homelessness, domestic violence, or other situations put your family's health and safety at risk

• DSHS lowered or ended your family's cash assistance due to income you actually cannot use

You can get up to $750 in a 12-month period. DSHS will pay the least amount to get you through the emergency.

Maybe, if your emergency is about to cause a health or safety risk. 

No.  DSHS pays AR to a third party, such as the utility company, the mortgage company, or the landlord.

You can appeal by asking for an administrative hearing. You have up to 90 days from the date of the denial notice to do this. Starting July 1, 2023, if circumstances beyond your control, such as medical issues, housing instability, language barriers, or domestic violence, keep you from meeting that deadline, you should still ask for a hearing as soon as you can.

There are different ways you can do this.
In writing: Write the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH), P.O. Box 42488,
Olympia, WA 98504.

Verbally: You can call OAH at (360) 407-2700 or 1-800-583-8271 or tell DSHS that you want a hearing. DSHS may have you follow up with a written request.

When will the hearing take place?

If it is an emergency, you should call OAH to ask them to hold the hearing as soon as possible. This is called anexpedited hearing. Otherwise, your hearing will probably be 20 days or more after you ask for it.

If it is an emergency, you should call OAH to ask them to hold the hearing as soon as possible. This is called anexpedited hearing. Otherwise, your hearing will probably be 20 days or more after you ask for it.

Maybe. Talk to a supervisor or the administrator of the DSHS office.  They might change the caseworker's decision. Do not take back (do not withdraw) your hearing request until you get written notice that you are getting AR after all.

Maybe not. Contact CLEAR. See below. Read Representing Yourself at an Administrative Hearing to learn more.

Yes: 

• Diversion Cash Assistance (DCA)—if you choose not to apply for TANF. Read DCA to learn more.  

• Consolidated Emergency Assistance (CEAP)—if you cannot get TANF. Read CEAP to learn more.

• Disaster Cash Assistance Program (DCAP)—if you suffered losses in a place the Governor has declared a disaster.